New on-the-ground team reflects the Fund’s commitment to building defence, security and resilience capacity on NATO’s eastern flank
The NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), the €1 billion venture capital firm launched by NATO and backed by 24 Allied nations, has established a branch in Warsaw, deepening its engagement with Poland and the broader Central and Eastern European region.
From Warsaw, the team will work directly with the region’s deep tech founders, investors, government and industry partners, as well as the defence and security community across the Alliance’s eastern flank. The firm’s Warsaw team – starting with the appointment of Jan Duthel, who joins as CEE Adoption Lead – will lead these engagements with Polish and CEE-based startups to help boost the NIF’s reach in the region, and accelerate the adoption of deep tech dual-use technologies. Jan joins the firm with a background in policy and go-to-market consulting in the defence industry.
The firm is also announcing a partnership with the Polish Dual-Use Chamber to strengthen its ties with Poland’s deep tech, government and industry communities, engage with promising Polish founders and expand the presence of its portfolio companies in the country.
“The NATO Innovation Fund’s decision to establish a permanent presence in Warsaw is a significant vote of confidence in Poland’s economy and its innovation ecosystem,” said Minister of Finance and Economy Andrzej Domański. “The NATO Innovation Fund is the first major fund, not originating from Poland, to establish a substantial presence in our country, and this reflects the strength of our growth, our deep tech talent, and our ambition to be a leading hub for dual-use innovation in the region.”
“Poland is investing heavily in defence and security, but financial resources alone do not generate military capability. What matters is the ability to identify the right technologies, validate them quickly and translate innovation into operational advantage,” said Secretary of State Cezary Tomczyk. “The NATO Innovation Fund’s decision to establish a permanent presence in Warsaw reflects Poland’s growing importance in shaping the Alliance’s innovation ecosystem. By connecting Allied investment, innovative companies and military requirements, it will help accelerate the development of capabilities essential for NATO’s defence and deterrence. This is a strategic investment in both Poland’s security and a stronger technological and industrial foundation for NATO’s Eastern Flank.”
Poland is one of NATO’s most consequential defence markets. With investment in defence among the highest in the Alliance as a share of GDP, an ambitious modernisation agenda, and the fastest-growing economy in Europe, Poland sits at the intersection of strategic need and emerging technological capacity. The country’s growing deep tech startup base, its Drone Revolution programme, and its deep industrial ties make it a natural focal point for the NIF’s work on the eastern flank.
“Being on the ground in Warsaw changes what we can do in the region,” said Ari Jonsson, President of the NATO Innovation Fund. “Poland and the broader CEE region are producing serious founders building serious technologies. Our job is to get those technologies into the hands of the governments and militaries that need them. That work is faster and better when you are physically present, part of the ecosystem, and trusted by the people in it.”
The NIF’s Warsaw team will concentrate on three areas: identifying promising deep tech companies across Poland and the CEE region; supporting portfolio companies in navigating the path from pilot to procurement contract; and deepening relationships with Allied governments and industry partners to accelerate technology adoption.
Opening the Warsaw branch builds on the NIF’s extensive engagement with Poland’s VC and startup ecosystem, including its investments in Expeditions and OTB Ventures – two funds backing ambitious founders who are advancing the Alliance’s defence, security and resilience.
About the NATO Innovation Fund
The NATO Innovation Fund is a venture capital firm that sets the direction for NATO’’s defence, security and resilience (DSR) ecosystem. We invest in and champion deep tech founders across the 24 NATO countries backing us to address the Alliance’s most pressing needs and protect our nations. We back companies from seed to Series B, with initial tickets of 3 – 10 million Euro, with reserves to follow on as companies scale. To learn more, go to https://www.nif.fund/.
Media contact: press@nif.fund →