Session Description

Startups can build brilliant prototypes — but how do those innovations become trusted tools for militaries and industry partners? NATO is experimenting with a new model to answer that question. This panel brings together two leaders at the forefront of the effort: Ryan Benitez, Chief Commercial Officer of NATO DIANA, and John Ridge, Chief Adoption Officer of the NATO Innovation Fund. Their roles are the first of their kind in the startup ecosystem — focused on connecting startups with the networks, customers, and pathways needed for adoption. In this conversation, they’ll explore why bridging the gap between innovation and operational use matters now more than ever, what NATO is doing differently, and what lessons wider industry and government can draw from their approach.