ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Ventures taps into America’s collective ingenuity by investing in software, hardware, and emerging tech startups that are developing differentiated technologies that can be applied to our platform strategy needs and client use cases.
ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Ventures
Fueling Technology to Change the World
ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Ventures is commemorating the two-year anniversary of itsÌýinvestments in early-stage technology poised to transform mission outcomes for the public sector.ÌýÌý
As a strategic investor, we are hyper-focused on accelerating private sector software innovation and capabilities positioned to disrupt the federal technology market. Through our venture capital fund, we aim to jumpstart the development and deployment of new solutions for critical mission applications.
In addition to investment funds, founders gain access to ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP’s decades of experience as one of the largest and most trusted solutions providers to federal agencies. Collaborating with our executive team and leading engineering talent empowers startups to reduce technology risks, identify near-term applications, and achieve fluency in the federal marketplace. This unique partnership translates into faster access to emerging technologies for the agencies we serve across sectors and missions.
Investing on the Front Lines of Mission Impact
ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Ventures seeks out emerging solutions that demonstrate clear potential to be deployed in the field where our clients need them most.Ìý
With an inherent aim of generating mission outcomes, we back founders who are innovating at the center of AI and machine learning (ML), cybersecurity, and core areas to advance Joint All-Domain Command and Control technologies. Our focus is on early-stage companies (Seed, Series A, and Series B) where we can provide technical and strategic support, client and contract access, and where there is potential to build joint intellectual property as part of a far-reaching collaboration with our engineering and client teams.
Spotlight Investments
We have invested in technology startups that dramatically streamline and transform how federal agencies carry out critical processes central to their missions. To increase speed to deploymentÌýand eliminate traditional barriers to moving research and development out of the lab and into the field, our team connects startups with ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP's developers, who areÌýskilled in delivering innovation for mission impact.
Explore some of the organizations we partner with today.
Detecting AI-Generated Content in Real Time with Reality Defender
Reality Defender
Reality Defender uses advanced AI tools to effectively combat identity-based fraud and ensure media authenticity across audio, video, and images.
Enhancing Satellite Servicing Technology with Starfish Space
Starfish Space
Starfish Space specializes in on-orbit satellite servicing with a focus on satellite life extension and end-of-life disposal.
Fueling AI and Automation in Space with Quindar
Quindar
Quindar is an early-stage commercial space technology company focused on automating and democratizing satellite operations.
Harnessing Space Data with Albedo
Albedo
Albedo is the first company to operate satellites in very low Earth orbit (VLEO), which enables them to offer ultra-high resolution commercial imagery from space.
Scaling Emerging Tech for National Security with 2F
Second Front Systems
Second Front Systems (2F) fast-tracks government access to disruptive, commercially proven SaaS applications for national security missions. 2F’s Game Warden DevSecOps platform and secure cloud hosting environment accelerate delivery and harness the cloud revolution at scale.
Improving ML with Latent AI
Latent AI
Latent AI’s tinyML technologies will help reliably use ML at the edge—increasing the operating speed of complex algorithms in low-compute, low-power environments. This innovation enables our clients to gain decision advantage with small form-factor devices such as Android Tactical Assault Kits (ATAK). Latent AI’s developer tools allow for ML to be deployed to processors as small as microcontrollers.
Scaling Synthetaic’s RAIC Platform
Synthetaic
Synthetaic’s advanced technologies dramatically streamline the process of labeling geospatial, video, image, and other types of data through its proprietary Rapid Automatic Image Categorization (RAIC) platform. By eliminating cumbersome manual tasks, the platform enables engineers to deploy object detection algorithms for rare objects in minutes through generative AI and unsupervised learning in a seamless AI pipeline.
Reveal Technology’s Drone-Powered Mapping
Reveal Technology
Reveal Technology’s Farsight software facilitates data streaming from drones to ATAK devices. Users can rapidly process data at the edge and create detailed two- and three-dimensional (3D) maps that depict terrain, roads, and structures. By turning full-motion video into shared 3D mapping with layered analytics, Reveal Technology dramatically increases insight per megabyte to improve situational awareness on the mission front lines.
Hidden Level's Counter UAS Technology
Hidden Level
Hidden Level’s passive sensing technology of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for high-interference environments, supports global defense missions that operate in information-driven conflict spaces across warfighting domains and at the tactical edge. This passive aerial monitoring technology delivers real-time airspace visibility, detects silent airborne threats, and informs critical countermeasure opportunities.
Credo AI's Responsible AI Platform
Credo AI
Credo AI, the pioneer of a responsible artificial intelligence (AI) platform, enables context-driven, comprehensive, and continuous governance, oversight, and accountability of AI. Credo AI enables organizations to create AI with the highest ethical standards to leverage the technology’s significant benefits while mitigating unintended negative consequences.
Shift5: The Onboard Data Company
Shift5
Shift5, the onboard data company that brings order to the complexity of onboard data, provides observability, critical insights, and cybersecurity protection to the world’s most critical commercial and military fleets and weapon systems.
HiddenLayer: A Security Platform to Safeguard AI Models
HiddenLayer
HiddenLayer, a security platform that safeguards AI models, will complement and accelerate ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP’s existing adversarial AI capabilities by advancing AI methodologies to safeguard systems against attacks.
Featured Press
Explore the latest news about our investments and venture activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Ventures identify startups to invest in?
We invest primarily in Seed, Series A, and Series B stage U.S.-based startups with mission-driven founders and strong technical teams working on innovative products that can improve the speed and scale with which we support our federal clients’ mission capabilities.
Ìý
We primarily focus on technologies aligned with DOD’s JADC2 efforts and the firm’s digital battlespace vision, artificial intelligence/machine learning, cybersecurity, and deep tech. We back founders building technologies with mission-specific applications demonstrating clear potential to outperform the industry standard.
ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Ventures allows us to use our existing Tech Scouting capability sources to recommend technology companies for our federal clients. This provides a unique source of deal flow and insight and enables ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP to gain upside potential from our promising startup partners.
Are there geographic requirements for ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Ventures—for example, a requirement to invest in U.S. companies only?
Yes, there are requirements for this. All ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP investments willÌýundergo a rigorous financial and legal due diligence process to ensure that we are not investing in companies that may have ties with foreign adversaries.
How do you help companies once you invest in them?
Leveraging ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP's unique scale and reach, ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Ventures helps companies identify and execute various federal opportunities through executive sponsorship, teaming agreements, marketing, co-development, and compliance support.
- Executive Sponsorship: For each deal ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Ventures invests in, we find a ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP executive to support the investment case. This executive sponsor serves as an advisor to the company, connecting the company with opportunities and offering guidance about the relevant market.
- Teaming Opportunities and Access to Federal Contracts: The most important aspect of value creation through ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Ventures is helping portfolio companies win federal revenue. ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Ventures helps companies in the near term by finding subcontracting opportunities to support existing client efforts and, in the longer term, by proposing teaming agreements for various proposals.
- Marketing and Conferences: Public announcements and promotions of our strategic investments mutually benefit the startup and ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP, driving interest and demand.
- Co-Development and Software Purchases: In some cases, ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP teams may co-develop products with our portfolio companies. In other instances, ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP developers may purchase software licenses to access a portfolio company’s technologies.
- Compliance Related to Authorities to Operate and the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program: ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Ventures can help our venture-backed partners achieve the security requirements necessary to work with federal clients more quickly.
Leadership
Learn More About ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Ventures
Whether you’re in government or Silicon Valley, contact us to learn more about ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Ventures, subscribe for email updates about emerging technology, or speak with our investment team.
Related Insights
Press Release
ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Launches $100M Venture Capital Fund
ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Launches $100M Venture Capital Fund
Aligned with client demand and the firm’s VoLT growth strategy, ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP Ventures will invest in early-stage companies and technologies within four core areas of demand: defense, artificial intelligence/machine learning, cybersecurity, and deep technology. Read More
