Mariëlle van Bijsterveld has spent the past 15 years helping technology startups and scale-ups secure funding, build strong ventures, and accelerate growth. Most recently, she served as Program Manager for the NATO DIANA accelerator in the Netherlands, supporting international innovators developing technologies with both civilian and defence applications finding footholds in the defence space. Her focus has now shifted to strengthening the Dutch deep-tech and dual-use ecosystem, working closely with promising startups & scale ups from the Brabant region and ventures connected to the SecFund.

Her expertise spans investor readiness, venture growth, go-to-market strategies, team building, and connecting entrepreneurs with the partners and resources needed to scale breakthrough technologies. Driven by a strong belief that technological innovation is essential to Europe's resilience and security, she works to accelerate the path from breakthrough ideas to real-world impact in the defence and dual-use domains.