Part 2 – Financial Growth & Investment Outlook

In Part 2 of our Financial Growth & Investment Outlook series, host Daniel Glyn Jones sits down with Paul Jenkinson to explore the evolving investment landscape impacting scale-ups, SMEs, and innovators across the defence and AI sectors. Paul provides first-hand insight into current investor sentiment, explaining why this space is both highly attractive and increasingly complex for founders and investors alike.

The conversation opens with a reflection on the shift in attitudes towards defence. Once a sector many investors avoided, it has now become a significant focus for renewed interest and capital deployment. Paul discusses how recent global events have reshaped perceptions, leading to a broader recognition of defence’s critical role not only in national security, but also in supporting ESG considerations and wider societal resilience.

As the discussion progresses, Paul outlines the realities of raising capital in today’s market. While enthusiasm for both defence and AI is growing, so too are the challenges. From navigating the long sales cycles and procurement complexities of defence business models to differentiating in an increasingly saturated AI landscape, the episode offers a candid assessment of what it truly takes to secure investment and scale successfully.

Key topics include:

• The changing perception of defence as an investable sector
• The patience, relationships, and credibility required to build investor confidence
• The impact of regulatory and tax changes on UK investment appetite
• The importance of genuine differentiation as hyperscalers reshape the AI market

Whether you are a founder navigating the defence ecosystem, an investor seeking clarity on market sentiment, or simply interested in the intersection of technology, capital, and growth, this episode provides timely and practical insights into a landscape defined by both opportunity and complexity.

Join us as Paul shares valuable lessons on resilience, strategic positioning, and the drivers of long-term value in today’s competitive environment.

You can also revisit Part 1: Strategic Context & Expansion: Defence, Tech and Change here:
https://www.ioassociates.co.uk/part-1-strategic-context-expansion-defence-tech-and-change/