NATO · NATO Allied Command Transformation (HQ SACT) with SHAPE
A recurring pitch-style competition run by NATO Allied Command Transformation, now past its 18th edition, in which industry proposes solutions to a specific operational problem set via a Request for Innovative Participation. The 2026-1 edition, run with SHAPE, sought agentic AI tools for cognitive warfare at TRL 5-7, drew over 100 company submissions, and shortlisted 10 finalists for a pitch day in Rennes in May 2026. Winning typically leads to pilot activity and engagement with NATO commands rather than a fixed cash prize.
A low-cost way to put a product in front of NATO's strategic commands and earn pilot work and visibility across 32 Allies, without a long procurement runway.
24 NATO Allies (standalone venture capital fund)
The only sovereign-backed VC dedicated to Alliance defence, security and resilience: patient capital comfortable with defence sales cycles, and a cheque that signals credibility to ministries and co-investors.
NATO / NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), governed by the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD)
AFSC is the largest and most complex capability procurement effort NATO has undertaken, offering sustained long-term contracting opportunities for defence and deep-tech companies across all 32 Allied nations. Companies working in ISR, unmanned systems, space-based surveillance, AI/data fusion, cloud architectures, and C2 systems are directly in scope for national and multinational development contracts tailored to AFSC requirements. Entering the Realization Stage in 2026 signals that procurement contracts for actual capability delivery—not just studies—are now on the near-term horizon.
The fastest single door into NATO for a dual-use startup: non-dilutive cash, military end-users, test infrastructure, and since 2026 a direct contracting path to Allied ministries via the Rapid Adoption Service.