Ioan Istrate is a 2024 Millennium fellow and a 2025 Millennium Leadership Intensive participant. He envisions a transatlantic community leading the world in deep-tech innovation. As a senior advisor at NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, Istrate supports the growth and investment in advanced technology startups across the Alliance. He also serves as a jury member in the European Innovation Council Accelerator. He advised the Romanian government after his return to his home country and established national artificial-intelligence governance structures, exemplifying his commitment to innovation for public good. Istrate is a co-founder of the cybersecurity firm CyBourn, winner of 2016 XPRIZE Visioneers, and an UNLEASH Plus expert. Istrate holds an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was elected as vice president representing the graduate student body. He was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 and as Aspen Young Leaders fellow.