Global Resilience Innovation Fund Research
Investment Thesis
Global Resilience Innovation Fund (GRIF) is a Luxembourg-domiciled venture capital fund (structured as an SCS SICAV-RAIF) that backs disruptive technologies strengthening the resilience of western democracies. The fund's thesis holds that growing global interdependencies have become vulnerabilities: geopolitical tensions, cyberattacks, and climate-related disruptions now pose short- and long-term threats that demand a strategic, resilient approach to defence, disaster preparedness, and innovation. GRIF frames its focus as grounded in deep operational experience rather than hype, drawing on a team and extended network that has worked in defence, security, and disaster-management fields for years.
Sector Focus
GRIF organizes its mandate around a five-point focus:
- Defence technologies
- Aviation and space (including launch and propulsion)
- Critical infrastructure protection
- Disaster management and resilience
- (Cyber)security
The fund backs founders building disruptive, often dual-use technologies (civilian and military application) relevant to NATO members and allied nations.
Stage Focus
GRIF's public investor materials describe a broad stage mandate spanning Pre-Seed through Series B and beyond, suggesting a flexible approach with reserves available for follow-on participation in winning portfolio companies rather than a strict early-stage-only fund.
Check Size
Ticket size is disclosed on the firm's site as "> EUR 500k," i.e., a minimum check of roughly 500,000 euros with no stated upper bound. Given the fund's ability to invest through Series B+, larger checks at later stages are plausible but not independently confirmed.
Lead Tendency
Not clearly disclosed. Public reporting on GRIF's HyImpulse investment describes the fund as one of several participants completing the round rather than the sole or explicit lead, so lead tendency is marked as unknown pending further evidence.
Recent Activity
GRIF was incorporated in Luxembourg and became fully operational in mid-2025. Its first disclosed investment was in HyImpulse Technologies GmbH, a German hybrid-rocket-propulsion company: GRIF completed two further investments in HyImpulse as part of a roughly EUR 45-50 million Series A2 extension round announced in mid-October 2025, ahead of HyImpulse's planned 2026 launches. Coverage of the round appeared in Satellite Today, SpaceWatch.Global, and on GRIF's own LinkedIn page. GRIF has also disclosed two additional "stealth" investments in German defence companies that are completed but not yet publicly named. As of its most recent public communications the firm describes itself as actively investing and raising.
Portfolio Highlights
- HyImpulse Technologies GmbH (hyimpulse.de) — German hybrid, paraffin-fuelled rocket propulsion company; developer of the SL1 small launcher; raised a roughly EUR 45-50 million Series A2 extension in October 2025 that GRIF participated in.
- Two additional stealth investments in German defence companies, not yet publicly named.
Team
GRIF is run by a partnership of three Managing Partners plus a Managing Director and a broader advisory board:
- Faik Yargucu, Managing Partner — asset management, operations & sales, co-owner of an investment boutique
- Dr. Sabine Hampel, Managing Partner — ex-military and finance background; asset management, defence, economics, sustainability
- Dr. Priscilla Schelp, Managing Partner — venture capital scouting, startups & networks, disaster-risk expert (natural and manmade)
- Alex M. Lawrence, Managing Director (INED) — venture capital scouting, adjunct professor in PE/entrepreneurship, independent director
- Eva Weber, Fund Operations & Investment Manager — venture capital investments and portfolio management, scale-up strategy & operations
- Dr. Moritz Brake, Advisory Board Member — reserve officer, German Navy; maritime security specialist; entrepreneur
- Bernhard Langer, Advisory Board Member — asset management, quantitative finance, big data & AI
- Maik Ludewig, Advisory Board Member — digitalization, data & AI, scaling startups
- Tim von Törne, Advisory Board Member — serial tech entrepreneur; building/scaling, fundraising & exits, digital business models, autonomous systems & AI
- Dr. Judith Wunschik, Advisory Board Member — cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, CISO for an energy company
Decision Process
GRIF operates as a partnership of three Managing Partners supported by a Managing Director and a large advisory board, rather than a publicly disclosed solo-GP structure or formal investment committee.
Founder Preferences
Not explicitly disclosed, but GRIF's public activity and advisory-board composition point to a strong preference for founders with deep operational backgrounds in defence, military, aerospace, cybersecurity, or disaster-risk management, building dual-use technologies relevant to NATO and allied governments.
Geographic Focus
GRIF invests in startups based across NATO member countries and allied nations, with an evident concentration of activity and network in Germany (HyImpulse) and Luxembourg, where the fund is domiciled.