July 25, 2025
The NATO Innovation Fund Announces New Investment Partners
- Senior deep-tech investors Ulrich Quay and Sander Verbrugge appointed as Investment Partners
Today, the NATO Innovation Fund announced it is appointing two seasoned deep tech investors to its investment team.
Industrial adoption and deep-tech expertise will be crucial to implement the agenda agreed at the 2025 NATO Summit. In the light of the Alliance’s strategic needs, Ulrich Quay and Sander Verbrugge will join the NATO Innovation Fund as Partners.
- Ulrich Quayis joining the NATO Innovation Fund from BMW, where he most recently was in charge of Corporate Investments as a Vice President. He previously was the Founder and Managing Partner of BMW i Ventures – BMW’s autonomous EUR 500M Venture Fund, focused on automotive technology, manufacturing, supply chain and AI, among others. Ulrich brings to the Fund a stellar track record of identifying and investing in innovations that have critically helped strengthen Europe’s industrial base.
- Sander Verbruggeis a highly experienced deep tech investor, joining the NATO Innovation Fund as a partner from Innovation Industries – a 900M EUR AUM European deep tech VC fund. He previously worked at NXP – a semiconductor design and manufacturing company. With a PhD in Molecular Biophysics and hands-on experience helping start-ups to grow their products and expand their market reach, Sander combines a very strong understanding of the operational demands for start-ups and scale-ups with exceptional technological insights.
Ulrich Quay and Sander Verbrugge bring the expertise needed to drive the Fund’s mission and deliver tangible impact for the Alliance. With proven track records in deep tech investment and industrial resilience, both have extensive experience in scaling and deploying breakthrough technologies. This complements the work of the Fund’s Mission Platform Group, led by Chief Adoption Officer John Ridge, which was established to bridge the gap between startups and Ministries of Defence to accelerate the adoption of technological capabilities, protect those technological capabilities, and ensure the sustainment and responsible use of those technologies.
Kelly Chen has decided to step away from her role as a founding team partner to build a new venture. The NATO Innovation Fund is thankful for her leadership and contributions in laying the groundwork for what we’ve built today.
“We warmly welcome Ulrich and Sander to the Fund’s partnership. Our two new Partners bring exceptional expertise in deep-tech investing, bringing experience and wisdom in adoption and scaling to founders and to other fund managers. They will enable us to move even more rapidly and decisively to drive the Alliance’s technological agenda and support the best founders across European ecosystems. We would also like to thank Kelly for her contribution to the Fund’s first two years. She will remain a valued member of the extended NATO Innovation Fund community. Building an ecosystem is what we set out to do. The Fund is now at the centre of a vast DSR network that spans the Alliance and is crucial to meeting its technological needs.”
“It’s an incredible time to be joining the NATO Innovation Fund. Technological breakthroughs are often the solution to some of the most pressing issues facing humanity and I’m confident that we are well-positioned to strengthen the foundations of the Alliance’s defence and security, while also helping revitalise the industrial base of Allied nations.”
“After years of combining my scientific background with my passion for supporting startups, I’m grateful for the opportunity to use my skillset in order to serve the NATO Innovation Fund’s important mission. I’m looking forward to working with some of the Alliance’s boldest entrepreneurs to unlock the potential of innovative technologies and help meet some of the Alliance’s most pressing needs.”
“With the addition of Ulrich and Sander, we are in an even stronger state to back entrepreneurs and managers aligned with our mission. Together, we’re supporting breakthrough technologies, funds in growing ecosystems and the adoption of technologies that are addressing some of the Allies’ most pressing capability needs.”
The NATO Innovation Fund has been instrumental in establishing a vibrant DSR (Defence, Security and Resilience) ecosystem to strengthen the Alliance’s technological edge over the last two years. Building on this foundation, the 2025 NATO Summit has clearly signalled the Alliance’s need to prioritise scaling and accelerating the pace at which these technologies are effectively deployed to address NATO’s most pressing strategic necessities. The Fund’s commitment to engage deeply with the wider DSR community and bridge the gap between start-ups and governments is reflected by the additions to its senior investment team.
Given the complex and ever-changing geopolitical environment, this new team will make investments that can help deliver urgent capabilities which address the Alliance’s strategic needs and drive innovation on an efficient cost base, while helping governments and industry to adopt and deploy emerging technologies at speed and scale. By sharpening its strategy and empowering its world-class team, the Fund is charting a bold course to ensure the Alliance remains secure, resilient, and future-proof.
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