Dakota Private Markets is a highly curated intelligence platform covering GPs, funds, private companies, performance, and benchmarks across all asset classes. Click to learn more.
Aerospace, defense, and dual-use technology investing sits at the intersection of national security, advanced engineering, and commercial scale. Success in this sector depends not only on technical innovation, but on navigating procurement pathways, regulatory environments, and long government adoption cycles while serving both commercial and mission-driven customers.
The investors below stand out for their sustained focus on aerospace, defense, and dual-use technologies, and for helping companies transition from innovation to deployment at scale.
Want full profiles, portfolios, deal histories, check sizes, stage focus, co-invest networks, and subsector tagging for aerospace and defense investors?
Book a Dakota Demo at Dakota.com.
How We Selected the Top Aerospace, Defense, and Dual-Use Investors
This list represents a curated selection of investors with sustained leadership in aerospace, defense, and dual-use technology investing.
Firms were included based on:
- Demonstrated, consistent focus on defense, aerospace, or dual-use technologies (not incidental exposure)
- A proven ability to help companies navigate government procurement, compliance, and fielding
- Leadership across stages, from early innovation through scaled deployment
- The ability to bridge commercial scale with national security requirements
1. In Q Tel (IQT)
Focus Areas: National security aligned venture, dual-use tech transition, intelligence and defense mission needs
Why They’re Notable: IQT is a mission-driven platform built to bridge frontier technology and government adoption, with a long record of transitioning technologies into use.
2. Shield Capital
Focus Areas: Early stage dual-use, AI, autonomy, cybersecurity, space
Why They’re Notable: Shield is purpose-built for the commercial and government convergence, backing founders building scalable products with national security relevance.
3. Lux Capital
Focus Areas: Frontier tech, space systems, robotics and autonomy, defense tech, advanced manufacturing
Why They’re Notable: Lux is a long-time frontier science investor that supports technically complex companies across hardware and software from early stage through scale.
View full portfolio inside Dakota Marketplace. Book a Dakota Demo.
4. Founders Fund
Focus Areas: Defense, aerospace, AI, deep tech, industrial innovation
Why They’re Notable: Founders Fund is conviction driven and has repeatedly backed category defining defense and aerospace platforms with asymmetric outcomes.
5. AE Industrial Partners (AEI)
Focus Areas: National security, aerospace, industrial services; private equity plus venture via AE Ventures
Why They’re Notable: AEI combines sector specialization with operating depth and a multi-platform approach that spans control investing, aerospace leasing, and early stage venture.
6. Veritas Capital
Focus Areas: Defense and national security software, government IT services, cyber, data and analytics, ISR, mission-critical systems
Why They’re Notable: Veritas is one of the most influential private equity owners of defense and government technology platforms. The firm specializes in acquiring complex, mission-critical software and services businesses with long-term government customers, then scaling them through operational improvement, strategic M&A, and deep domain expertise across defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies.
7. Sequoia Capital
Focus Areas: Early to growth stage technology, including defense relevant infrastructure, autonomy, and systems software
Why They’re Notable: Sequoia brings multi-stage support and a strong company building platform, and has backed foundational infrastructure that becomes category standard.
View full portfolio inside Dakota Marketplace. Book a Dakota Demo.
8. Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
Focus Areas: Defense and national security technology, aerospace and space systems, infrastructure and industrial technology, applied AI
Why They’re Notable: a16z is a major backer of American Dynamism companies, pairing capital with a large operator network to help founders recruit, partner, and scale.
9. Arlington Capital
Focus Areas: Defense services, aerospace and government contracting, mission support, intelligence and national security platforms
Why They’re Notable: Arlington Capital Partners is a defense-focused private equity firm with a strong track record building scaled platforms in DoD and intelligence services. The firm is known for its deep understanding of government contracting, programmatic revenue, and carve-out execution, helping businesses professionalize, expand contract scope, and grow within highly regulated national security markets.
10. The Veteran Fund
Focus Areas: Seed stage critical tech led by veteran founders, national security aligned innovation
Why They’re Notable: The Veteran Fund is thesis driven around veteran led teams building mission aligned technologies with commercial scale potential.
Aerospace, Defense and Dual-Use Trends to Watch in 2026
1. Procurement pathways keep expanding beyond traditional primes, especially for software, autonomy, and data platforms
2. Space becomes more operational, with demand rising for resilient architectures, ISR, and in orbit infrastructure
3. Autonomy and counter autonomy accelerate across air, sea, and ground systems
4. Cybersecurity and zero trust become baseline requirements across defense supply chains
5. Manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and onshore capacity draw more growth and buyout capital
How We Know This
Dakota Private Markets tracks: GP strategies, fund histories, portfolio construction, deal activity, sector tagging and heatmaps, stage focus, check sizes, co-invest networks, and ongoing private company updates.
Ready to Explore the Full Aerospace and Defense Investor Landscape?
Thousands of investors, founders, and advisors rely on Dakota Private Markets to source deals faster, research smarter, and stay ahead of the market.
Book a demo of Dakota Marketplace!
