Paladin has also endorsed DIANA’s Allied Capital Community Investment Principles, which align with the Investment Principles and Commitments for Trust, Safety, and Security that Paladin and other capital firms presented to the White House National Security Council in March.

In this new partnership, Chris Steed, Paladin’s Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director, will take a seat on the Venture Advisory Board, which guides the Allied Capital Community.

These steps highlight a global dedication to fostering a safer investment landscape that upholds democratic values, protects free societies, and drives worldwide innovation.

“We are proud to join NATO DIANA in putting trust, safety, and security at the centre of technological innovation to protect the world’s democracies from emerging threats,” said Chris Steed, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of Paladin Capital Group. “Trusted capital is about protecting the critical infrastructure of democracies everywhere. That’s why we’re pleased to join DIANA’s commitment to free, open societies while further advancing stronger returns for investors. Paladin is proud to partner with them in that pursuit, and I am grateful for the opportunity to join their Venture Advisory Board to continue driving this work forward."

DIANA’s Allied Capital Community Investment Principles are a set of voluntary commitments for investors from NATO Member Nations to promote strategic alignment, security, risk management, and best practices for themselves and their portfolio companies. The DIANA principles have been updated based on Paladin’s own robust set of principles and commitments, demonstrating an international commitment to protecting democracies around the globe. These principles exist to advance the mission of NATO and its underlying values of individual liberty, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

“Paladin Capital Group’s Investment Principles for Trust, Safety, and Security serve as a model for investors worldwide, which is why DIANA has shaped our own set of principles in line with theirs,” said Deeph Chana, Managing Director of DIANA. “Our joint commitment to advancing technology, while also protecting the democratic institutions that are foundational to the basic functioning of society, lies at the core of the Allied Capital Community. We look forward to a long partnership with Chris Steed, who is truly a leading force to advance trusted capital, and continuing to work closely with all of Paladin Capital Group.”

The Venture Advisory Board comprises seasoned professionals with extensive experience in venture capital, investments, and the dual-use industry. Hailing from NATO member countries, these experts are dedicated to advancing the goals of the DIANA Allied Capital Community, which focus on investing in trust, safety, and security. The Board is chaired by Andrea Traversone, Managing Partner of the NATO Innovation Fund.

In 2023, DIANA selected Hushmesh, a Paladin portfolio company dedicated to securing digital infrastructure, as one of the inaugural participants in its accelerator programme after a highly competitive selection process. DIANA aims to secure additional funding and provide access to Allied defence and security markets for more innovators through the Allied Capital Community.

This announcement follows the NATO Innovation Fund’s endorsement of Paladin’s Investment Principles and Commitments in June. The NIF, a standalone venture capital fund backed by 24 NATO allies, manages over €1 billion in deeptech investments.

The NIF has joined Paladin and eleven other leading advanced technology investors in signing the Investment Principles and Commitments, including America’s Frontier Fund, Ballistic Ventures, Forgepoint Capital, Gula Tech Adventures, Razor’s Edge Ventures, Scout Ventures, Shield Capital, Squadra Ventures, New North Ventures, Tech Operators, and SYN Ventures.