​A Fireside Chat with Tanya Suarez, CEO of IoT Tribe and John Ridge, NATO Innovation Fund

​IoT Tribe invites its global community of deeptech founders and executives to a fireside chat focused on accessing capital, accelerating growth and navigating strategic investment at scale.

​This conversation brings together Tanya Suarez, CEO and Founder of IoT Tribe, and John Ridge, Chief Adoption Officer of the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) - one of the world’s most significant institutional investors backing dual-use and defence-relevant deep technologies across NATO member states. Bringing our ecosystem a rare opportunity to hear directly from the NIF on its investment thesis, priorities and what it looks for when backing breakthrough technologies.

​John Ridge brings a combination of frontline military experience, senior government leadership and deeptech investment expertise. A decorated former Brigadier who spent over three decades in the British Armed Forces and Civil Service, including leading Defence Innovation at the MOD and representing the UK on the NATO DIANA Board. He is now responsible for ensuring NIF's portfolio companies' technologies reach end-users across the Alliance. Few people in this space can speak to both the operational realities of defence adoption and the venture capital dynamics shaping the sector.

​The NIF represents a new model of patient, values-driven capital designed to support technologies critical to security, resilience and economic growth. Understanding how to engage with funds of this calibre, and how to position your company for long-term impact, is increasingly essential for ambitious deeptech businesses.

​Tanya Suarez has spent over a decade building and scaling global ecosystems that connect deeptech innovators with investors, corporates and governments. Under her leadership, IoT Tribe has supported hundreds of startups and scaleups worldwide, helping them unlock capital, partnerships and international growth opportunities.

​This fireside chat is part of IoT Tribe’s ongoing commitment to providing its community with direct access to decision-makers capital, and insight that shapes the future of deeptech.

​More about IoT Tribe

​IoT Tribe is a globally recognised venture builder and ecosystem platform for deeptech. With a track record of supporting companies from early-stage through scale and a network spanning Europe, North America, and beyond, Tribe plays a critical role in helping founders access investment, navigate complex markets and grow responsibly on the world stage.