NATO Innovation Fund
The NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) is a EUR 1 billion venture capital fund backed by 24 NATO allied nations, established to invest in deep tech startups that strengthen defence, security, and resilience across the alliance. It targets early-stage companies working on breakthrough science and engineering, leading rounds of up to EUR 15 million with significant follow-on reserves. Notable portfolio companies include ARX Robotics (autonomous defence robotics), Fractile (AI computing hardware), and Space Forge (in-space semiconductor manufacturing).
Focus Areas
Portfolio
3 companies in our directory
Kraken Technology
Kraken Technology Group is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of high-performance uncrewed surface vessels for defence and commercial maritime operations. Founded by Mal Crease, a 25-year veteran of the maritime industry with a background in high-performance offshore racing and Formula One engineering, the company develops modular, open-architecture autonomous vessels using composite materials. Key products include the K3 SCOUT reconnaissance USV, K4 MANTA subsurface delivery platform, and K5 KRAKEN precision engagement platform. Kraken secured a £12.3M Royal Navy order for 20 uncrewed surface vessels under Project Beehive and has partnered with NVL, one of the world's premier shipbuilders, to scale manufacturing globally. The company is backed by the NATO Innovation Fund and UK National Security Strategic Investment Fund.
Fractile
HiringFractile is a London-based AI chip startup developing in-memory computing processors designed to run large language model inference up to 100x faster and 10x cheaper than current GPU systems. Founded by Oxford Robotics Institute PhD graduate Walter Goodwin, the company's novel chip architecture fuses computation with memory to eliminate the data-shuttling bottleneck that limits conventional hardware. Fractile emerged from stealth in July 2024 and has since announced a £100M commitment to expand UK operations, including a new hardware engineering facility in Bristol. The team includes senior hires from NVIDIA, ARM, and Imagination Technologies.
Greenjets
Greenjets was founded in 2022 by chief executive Anmol Manohar and chief technology officer Dr Guido Monterzino, and builds propulsion for uncrewed and electric aircraft, with a portfolio running from electric ducted fans to geared turbofan engines. Products include the Sycamore 160 and Aspen 212, designed for higher efficiency, greater speed and a lower acoustic signature than conventional designs, and the team draws on Rolls-Royce, General Electric, BAE Systems and Formula 1 experience. The company sells to NATO, the UK MoD and the German MoD, and was selected under the MoD's Low-Cost Air Defence Effectors programme to build a British low-cost drone interceptor. It grew from 160 to more than 250 staff and expanded UK facilities from 12,000 to nearly 70,000 square feet. The $40M Series A was led by Blossom Capital, with the NATO Innovation Fund, the National Security Strategic Investment Fund, Tanglin Ventures and NSFO Family Office.