NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) Overview

The NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) is a venture capital fund established to invest in cutting-edge science and technology startups that enhance the defense, security, and resilience of NATO member nations. Backed by 24 NATO allies, NIF operates independently, providing deep tech entrepreneurs with access to both commercial and government markets across these countries. The fund focuses on sectors such as novel materials and manufacturing, energy, space, artificial intelligence, autonomy, quantum technologies, biotechnologies, hypersonic systems, and next-generation communications. NIF typically leads initial investments with up to €15 million, with substantial reserves for follow-on funding, and prefers to invest in companies headquartered in participating NATO countries.

Is NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) the right investor for your startup? Browse their investment focus, stage preferences, and geographic scope to see how well they align with your fundraising goals. Your full match score with NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), along with a list of other relevant VCs, is available on Hopohopo.io.

NATO Innovation Fund (NIF)

VC Fund

Investment focus

Invest in

  • Baltics
  • Nordics 3 / 9
  • Western Europe 4 / 14
  • Southern Europe 3 / 9
  • Central Eastern Europe 7 / 17
  • North America 2 / 5
View all

Industries / verticals

  • Defence Tech
  • Energy
  • Logistics / Supply Chain
  • SpaceTech / Aviation

Investment role

Lead and follow

Stages

Seed, Series A, Series B or later

First ticket size

€0 - €15,000,000

How to approach funds like NATO Innovation Fund (NIF)

When approaching NIF, founders should highlight how their technology directly addresses critical defense or dual-use challenges relevant to NATO allies, demonstrating both commercial scalability and strategic impact. Emphasize your team's ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and your traction or partnerships within government or security sectors. Articulate a clear path to deployment across multiple NATO markets, showcasing how your solution can be a force multiplier for allied resilience and security.

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