NATO Innovation Fund Enters New Chapter with Two New Partners
After securing $1 billion in commitments from over 20 countries two years ago, the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) is embarking on a new phase with the addition of two new partners and the departure of a founding team member.
Since its inception in 2021, the NIF has seen a surge in investment in dual-use technology, reflecting the increased military spending among NATO members. This shift has attracted institutional investors to the defense and resilience tech sector, with Europe seeing a record high of 10% of all VC funding directed towards this industry, where most of NIF’s backers are located.
Despite the favorable market conditions, NIF faced challenges in management and experienced several high-profile departures. However, following the reaffirmation of its importance at the 2025 NATO Summit, the fund is now revitalized with a new investment team comprising three partners.
The new partners, Ulrich Quay and Sander Verbrugge, bring diverse industrial and scientific backgrounds to the team. Quay, a former vice president at BMW overseeing corporate investments, and Verbrugge, a Dutch PhD in molecular biophysics with experience in deep tech VC, join London-based VC Patrick Schneider-Sikorsky, the last remaining original member of the investment team.
The restructuring of the team comes in the wake of the departure of founding team partner Kelly Chen, who is stepping away to pursue a new venture. While some observers may have hoped for a focus on pure defense investments in response to geopolitical events, NIF remains committed to its mission of supporting deep tech founders addressing challenges in defense, security, and resilience.
In addition to its dual-use technology investments, NIF has ramped up efforts in defense innovation, playing a key role in NATO’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan to accelerate the integration of new technologies for defense purposes. The fund has also strengthened its Mission Platform Group with strategic hires to support portfolio startups in navigating military procurement processes.
Looking ahead, NIF aims to further enhance its impact by focusing on defense, security, and resilience opportunities. The fund’s leadership emphasizes the importance of building a cohesive team that can drive the Alliance’s technological agenda and support startups across European ecosystems.
As NIF continues to evolve, it remains dedicated to fostering innovation and resilience within NATO and beyond. The fund’s commitment to supporting deep tech startups and driving industrial scale growth underscores its role in shaping the future of defense and security technologies.
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