On November 7th, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced sweeping changes to how the Department of War buys technology. The centerpiece: rebranding the Defense Acquisition System (DAS) as the Warfighting Acquisition System (WAS), with an explicit mandate to push authority downward and move faster. The old system was built around compliance and process. The new system treats acquisition as a warfighting function and prioritizes speed to fielded capability. As the memo puts it: “Speed to capability delivery is now our organizing principle.”
The reforms also introduce Portfolio Acquisition Executives (replacing the old PEO structure), incentive-based compensation tied to delivery timelines, and a stated preference for commercial solutions. For founders, the signal is clear: the Department wants to buy from you faster.
So in your next strategy meeting, you’re probably asking: “Should I focus on winning OTAs now instead of SBIRs?”
Here’s the bottom line.
OTAs are a powerful tool. They move faster than traditional contracts and can lead to sticky production agreements. But SBIRs remain the best entry point for most startups because they help founders learn how to sell into the Department—not just pitch to it. They force you to nail down a user, a requirement, and a mission. And they make it far easier to graduate into larger contracting instruments later.
Think of SBIR as the beachhead. OTA is the ramp. The goal is not to stack non-dilutive grants forever. The goal is to reach procurement money—and eventually O&M funds—as fast as possible. That’s where real scale and enduring revenue live.
An OTA (Other Transaction Authority) is a non-Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)-based contracting instrument. In plain terms, it allows the government to buy, prototype, and scale technology without the full weight of traditional acquisition rules.
OTAs matter because they can be awarded faster, allow more commercial-style deal structures, bridge prototype to production, and convert real demand into real dollars. They sit in that critical middle zone between pilot and full procurement, giving your early champion more leverage to pull you through the system.
Under the new WAS framework, OTAs are likely to become even more prominent as the Department leans into speed and flexibility.
But there’s a catch.
Sometimes a unit or program office will use an OTA to buy a single prototype for an upcoming exercise. On paper, that looks like a win. But if it’s your first engagement with the Department, you’ve landed in the deep end without scaffolding—no built-in transition support, no structured portfolio shepherding.
OTAs can absolutely work as a first touch point, especially if you have a government champion with real operational urgency. But SBIR offices have something OTAs don’t: a mandate to transition what they fund. They bring resources, contracting support, portfolio leads, and workflows designed to help companies mature inside the DoW ecosystem. Even if you enter through an OTA, you should leverage SBIR and innovation networks to connect with requirements owners, align to the right Program Elements (PEs), and build a transition plan that leads to actual procurement.
OTAs aren’t bad. You just usually need the support structure around them to turn a prototype sale into something enduring.
SBIR forces discipline. It requires you to define the specific operational pain, the exact end user, and how your capability maps to mission execution. It also gives you support infrastructure, contracting help, and transition-focused resources.
In short, SBIR teaches you how to sell inside the Department—not just pitch outside of it.
It de-risks and matures your product before it reaches the warfighter, and it gives you credibility with every other buyer and contracting pathway you’ll encounter.
SBIR is how you build the muscle memory of how Warfighting Acquisition actually works.
Here’s something founders often overlook: the customer you’re talking to needs access to a Program Element (PE) with money aligned to your maturity level and use case. A PE is essentially a budget line that defines what Congress authorized that money to be spent on. If your champion doesn’t have the right PE, they literally cannot pay you—even if they want to.
This is why SBIR is so powerful early. It bypasses PE constraints because it’s congressionally carved-out RDT&E (Research, Development, Test & Evaluation) funding.
It’s also why founders often experience the Department as “interested” but not buying. They’re talking to officers and GS civilians who genuinely want the capability, but their PE is the wrong color of money at the wrong time of year.
If you’ve never sold to the government, SBIR is the cleanest on-ramp.
If you already have validated demand and operational pull, OTAs can accelerate your path to production and procurement.
Here’s a simple framework for running your Warfighting Acquisition OODA Loop:
SBIR is the ignition. OTA is the accelerant.
Use both.
Why Outlander VC?
We back pre-seed founders building for national security – and help them navigate their first DoW contracts. If you’re looking to raise outside capital, we’d love to chat. Apply here.
For the last decade, startups were told to “stay lean.” Don’t touch hardware. Be a pure software play. Today, that mindset is increasingly obsolete.
At Outlander VC, we believe that many consequential companies of the next decade won’t be built in the cloud alone. They’ll be built in factories.
The foundational AI boom (and horizon commoditization) has delivered easy-to-access powerful models. You can build a wrapper or deploy an API overnight. The result? A flood of lookalike startups chasing ephemeral distribution moats.
But when you embed intelligence into physical systems – into drones, vehicles, vessels, robots – you shift the playing field. Software is getting easier and easier to copy.
Physics isn’t so simple.
Hardware introduces real constraints: supply chains, manufacturing, motion, autonomy, edge sensing, and more. In today’s era, what used to be considered a hindrance can now be an advantage. Mastering how to navigate those constraints provides a layer of defensibility that just doesn’t exist in the software world anymore.
Over the last ten years, it was considered suicide by many to build a hardware company without $50M in venture funding. We were ahead of the curve then, backing companies like Coco and Skyways in years where robotics investments made up less than today’s estimated 10% of venture dollars. And we see a massive potential transformation ahead.
Today, founders can build prototypes quickly with off-the-shelf components or leveraging 3D printing for rapid iterations. With generative design and additive optimization tools like MecAgent or Vixiv, bringing your imagination to life in the physical world is happening faster and faster too.
The bottom line is this: we’re not anti-software; in fact we’re still extremely bullish on certain vertical and horizontal AI plays so continue to make active investments in what we believe will be transformative technologies in the app layer. But we do believe that some of the biggest problems in the world for the next 10 to 20 years and beyond will be solved by founders who ship things, not just code.
And to help the founders out there who share this vision of the future world, we’ve put together a list of 25 investors cutting checks at the earliest stages into industrial-focused tech startups.
These are the firms that, like us at Outlander VC, are backing ambitious founders at the very beginning, funding ideas that are reimagining how the physical world is built, moved, powered, and automated.
1. Outlander VC
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $500K–$2.5M
Focus: AI for the Physical World, Robotics, Space, and more (Generalist fund)
Notable Investments: ScaleAI, Coco, REGENT
Website: outlander.vc
2. Activate Capital Partners
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K–$1M
Focus: Factory automation, climate industrials, industrial IoT
Website: activatecap.com
3. Alchemist Accelerator
Stage: Pre-seed
Check Size: $150K–$500K
Focus: B2B industrial tech, robotics, manufacturing
Website: alchemistaccelerator.com
4. Alumni Ventures
Stage: Pre-seed–Series A
Check Size: $100K–$3M
Focus: AI, robotics, deep tech
Website: av.vc
5. BlueBear Capital
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $500K–$2M
Focus: Robotics, energy infrastructure, autonomy
Website: bluebearcap.com
6. Boost VC
Stage: Pre-seed
Check Size: $500K
Focus: Frontier tech, aerospace, robotics
Website: boost.vc
7. Brickyard
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $300K–$500K
Focus: Robotics, automation, technical teams
Website: justlaybrick.com
8. Construct Capital
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $2M–$4M
Focus: Robotics infrastructure, industrial SaaS, logistics
Website: constructcap.com
9. Contrarian Thinking Capital
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $150K–$250K
Focus: Robotics, logistics, modernizing industrial workflows
Website: contrarianthinkingcapital.com
10. Cybernetix Ventures
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $300K–$1.5M
Focus: Robotics, industrial autonomy, manufacturing automation
Website: cybernetix.vc
11. Detroit Venture Partners (DVP)
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $100K–$500K
Focus: Industrial automation, manufacturing tech, mobility
Website: detroitventurepartners.com
12. DO Venture Partners
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $300K–$1.2M
Focus: Robotics, automation, deep industrial software
Website: doventurepartners.com
13. Embark Ventures
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $300K–$1M
Focus: Robotics, autonomy, technical founders
Website: embark.vc
14. Fifty Years
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K–$500K
Focus: Hardtech, industrial systems, robotics, climate hardware
Website: fiftyyears.com
15. Future Ventures
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $500K–$2M
Focus: Tough tech, industrial robotics, climate + hard tech
Website: future.ventures
16. GoAhead Ventures
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $100K–$500K
Focus: Deep engineering teams, robotics, autonomy
Website: goaheadvc.com
17. Heroic Ventures
Stage: Pre-seed
Check Size: $200K–$1M
Focus: Robotics, autonomy, defense-aligned hard tech
Website: heroicvc.com
18. Ironspring Ventures
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $300K–$1.5M
Focus: Manufacturing innovation, construction, supply chain
Website: ironspring.com
19. Mana Ventures
Stage: Pre-seed
Check Size: $250K–$750K
Focus: Climate industrials, materials, space, hardtech
Website: manaventures.com
20. Pathbreaker Ventures
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K–$600K
Focus: Robotics, AI, deep tech
Website: pathbreakervc.com
21. Precursor Ventures
Stage: Pre-seed
Check Size: $250K–$750K
Focus: Founder-first investing, deep tech, industrial-adjacent hardware
Website: precursorvc.com
22. Razor’s Edge Ventures
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K–$1M
Focus: Autonomy, sensing, industrial AI, dual-use hardware
Website: razorsedge.vc
23. Right Side Capital Management
Stage: Pre-seed
Check Size: $200K–$500K
Focus: High-volume pre-seed, robotics and deep tech
Website: rightsidecapital.com
24. RockYard Ventures
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $100K–$500K
Focus: Construction, manufacturing, supply chain
Website: rockyardventures.com
25. The Engine
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K–$2M
Focus: Tough tech, industrial platforms, robotics, energy systems
Website: engine.xyz
How Space Startups can Start Working with the Government
Guest: SpaceWERX Director Arthur Grijalva
Host(s): AJ Smith, Donavan Moss
This is the first episode of Outlander Overmatch, our new series built to give founders fast, actionable insight straight from real DoD buyers, innovators, and operators. In this conversation, we sat down with Arthur Grijalva, Director of SpaceWERX, to talk about how space startups can successfully work with the U.S. government.
If you have not heard of SpaceWERX, they are the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force. Each year, they invest over $460M in startups tackling the most urgent challenges in space. Their mission is to bring game-changing commercial capabilities into national security. If you are building for space and want your technology to move from prototype to government procurement, understanding how SpaceWERX operates is a critical first step.
Watch the full interview below and read on for five takeaways from our conversation with Arthur.
SpaceWERX takes early risks, backing ideas as early as the white-paper stage. They might seed your concept with about $75K to prove feasibility or fund $1.25M–$2.25M to build a prototype through a Phase II. Larger opportunities come later through Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) awards, which combine SpaceWERX, program office, and private capital into efforts that can reach $60M+. At every step, they focus on whether your tech can scale into an operational capability for the Space Force.
Arthur breaks dual-use into “little C” (mostly defense-focused with private capital interest) and “big C” (commercially ubiquitous, like GPS). Both can work. The point is to avoid relying entirely on the government as your only customer. A credible commercial path (even if it’s just on your future roadmap) gives you staying power.
One of the biggest mistakes SpaceWERX sees is poor timing; companies showing up only when they need funding. Instead, engage early. Attend events, join programs, and build relationships before you ask for money. If they already know you and your tech, it is far easier to get pulled into funded opportunities.
If you can help the Space Force with space superiority, orchestration of proliferated satellite constellations, or AI/ML for space operations, you are solving high-priority problems right now. These are areas where funding and partnerships are actively being built.
SpaceWERX designs every award with a transition partner in mind, but only a fraction of projects make it across the finish line. Founders who keep transition pathways front and center from the beginning have a much better chance of success.
This is just the start. In future episodes, we will be speaking with other stakeholders across the DoD to go deeper on how to navigate defense procurement, secure funding, and scale inside this ecosystem.
If you are at the beginning of your journey and building technology with potential to serve both defense and commercial markets, apply for funding at www.outlander.vc.
And follow us on LinkedIn to get alerts for future value-add content like this!
There’s a moment in every founder conversation where the air in the room changes. With Aaron Chow of Vixiv, it happened when he casually mentioned that his platform had just generated twelve optimized drone component designs in 108 seconds. The engineers from the lab watching the demo had gone silent. “That would have taken us three months,” they finally said. “For one design.”
Edison’s famous quote about finding a thousand ways not to make a light bulb? That’s not historical trivia. That’s Tuesday at Northrop Grumman. That’s every hardware startup burning through runway trying to optimize a critical component.
Consider this mathematical reality: Between an empty space and a solid brick exists an infinite number of possible geometries. Traditional engineering is essentially random sampling from this infinite space, guided by intuition and experience. Even our fastest “move fast and break things” engineers are making educated guesses in a solution space too vast for human comprehension.
Engineering today:
The math is brutal: Optimizing for both thermal and mechanical performance doesn’t double your test matrix – it squares it. Add modal analysis for vibrations? Cubed.
Imagine if this entire process could be inverted and if engineers could navigate directly to viable solutions. No guessing. No checking. Just rapid convergence on designs that work.
That’s what Vixiv has built. A physics-based prediction engine trained on actual material behavior, not theoretical models.
How? They built tens of thousands of physical components and destructively tested every single one. This isn’t synthetic data or simulation results. It’s ground truth about how materials actually behave in the real world.
When base iteration drops from months to minutes, that squared or cubed matrix becomes tractable. You can explore the entire solution space, not just the corner your budget allows. This is how step-functions happen that change industries.
We’re entering an era where industrial leadership won’t be determined by who has the biggest factories or the most engineers. It will be determined by who can iterate fastest and deliver results. The race is on. And Vixiv is helping fuel that future.
To learn more about Vixiv, watch my interview with Aaron (below) or head on over to www.vixiv.net to request private beta access.
We’re witnessing the most consequential shift in enterprise software since the cloud migration. As compute costs plummet and GPU access becomes commoditized, a massive value capture opportunity is evolving in enterprise applications. Meta’s recent multi-billion dollar stake in Scale AI (a company we backed with their first VC check in 2016) signals what insiders already know: while infrastructure consolidates, the application layer is wide open for disruption.
But here’s the challenge every enterprise AI founder faces: navigating the fundraising maze at the idea stage. You’ll pitch dozens of firms, get enthusiastic meetings, only to hear “we love this, but you’re too early for us.” Many funds simply don’t write checks until seed or later, regardless of how compelling the opportunity.
The Outlander VC team has been backing idea-stage startups for 15 years. So, to help founders out there building towards an amazing vision…who want to know which VCs are actually cutting the early checks, we’ve put together a list of twenty-five VC funds backing enterprise AI companies at the pre-seed.
The Outlander VC team is known for making bold, founder driven bets pre-product and revenue, and has been a first or early investor in more than 15 unicorns, including Scale AI. As the first check in Scale AI in 2016, Outlander VC is a true pre-seed lead and has had a finger on the pulse of the enterprise AI space for a while and is actively deploying out of their third fund now.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $750K–$2.5M
Focus: AI/ML, SaaS, Defense Tech, FinTech, Consumer Tech
Notable Investments: Scale AI, Rinse, Coco Robotics
Website: https://outlander.vc/
Apply: Click Here
A thesis-driven fund focused on exponential technologies including AI, deep tech, and automation. They back technical founders building enterprise solutions that leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $300K–$600K
Focus: AI/ML, Fintech, Deep Tech, Health and Bio
Notable Investments: Airspace Link, Aerdome, GlossGenius
Website: https://www.2048.vc/
Apply: Click Here
Manufacturing and industrial automation investors focused on AI-driven production and smart factory technologies. They specialize in vertical SaaS solutions that leverage AI for industrial applications.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K–$400K
Focus: AI-Driven Production, Vertical SaaS, Smart Factory Tech
Notable Investments: Melrose, Aurelius, Pet’s Table
Website: https://640oxford.com/
Apply: Contact form on their website
Originally focused on gaming, a16z’s accelerator program has expanded to include AI and tech companies, now investing up to $1M per company (increased from $750K). Their 12-week program has backed companies like Hedra (AI video creation) and k-ID, with applications open for their Fall/Winter 2025 cohort.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $750K-$1M
Focus: AI, Gaming, Entertainment, Creative Tools
Notable Investments: k-ID, Hedra, Flat2VR Studios
Website: https://speedrun.a16z.com/
Apply: Click Here
Technical investors focused on AI/ML, SaaS, and FinTech with a particular emphasis on enterprise applications. They back founders building AI-powered solutions for business workflows and financial services.
Stage: Pre-Seed
Check Size: $500K–$2M
Focus: AI/ML, SaaS, FinTech
Notable Investments: Highlight, Kubecost, Factor
Website: https://www.afore.vc/
Apply: Apply
Founded by Andrew Ng, this unique venture studio doesn’t just invest—they co-found companies from scratch with entrepreneurs. With $370M+ raised and 35 portfolio companies, they actively participate in strategy, coding, and recruitment, recently launching companies like Gaia Dynamics (AI tariff compliance) and SkyFire AI (autonomous drones).
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K–$1M
Focus: AI/ML, Enterprise Applications, Industry-Specific AI
Notable Investments: Gaia Dynamics, SkyFire AI, Workhelix, Profitmind
Website: https://aifund.ai/
Apply: Click Here
Enterprise technology investors with deep expertise in AI/ML, SaaS, and cybersecurity. They focus on technical founders building intelligent enterprise software and have a strong track record in AI applications.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $500K–$3M
Focus: AI/ML, SaaS, Cybersecurity
Notable Investments: Hex, Hightouch, Runway
Website: https://www.amplifypartners.com/
A $150M pre-seed and seed stage fund dedicated to backing the most ambitious founders.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $500K-$3M
Focus: AI/ML, B2B SaaS
Notable Investments: Jamix, Planette
Website: https://www.audacious.co/
Specialists in three specific vectors: Human Machine Interaction (HMI), Machine-to-Machine Learning (M2ML), and Biological Machines (BioM). Recent enterprise AI and industrial automation investments include companies like TensorStax and Sourcetable that align perfectly with their thesis.
Stage: Pre-Seed
Check Size: $500K-$1.5M
Focus: HMI, M2ML, BioM
Notable Investments: TensorStax, Sourcetable, Deepscribe
Website: https://beepartners.vc/
Apply: Click Here
A hybrid venture capital firm and startup studio that has been building and investing in startups for over a decade. They focus on AI/ML applications and have a track record of early investments in platforms that became foundational internet infrastructure.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K–$750K
Focus: AI/ML, Web3, Decentralization
Notable Investments: Airbnb, Kickstarter, Tumblr
Website: https://www.betaworks.com/
Apply: Click Here
SaaS and enterprise tooling investors with growing focus on AI applications through their operator community. They leverage their network of operators to identify and support AI-powered enterprise solutions.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $100K–$1M
Focus: SaaS, FinTech, Digital Health, AI Enterprise Tools
Notable Investments: Pylon, Cassidy, Inngest
Website: https://comma.vc/
Platform economy and enterprise B2B investors with increasing focus on AI-powered tooling. They invest in companies building intelligent business solutions and AI-enhanced enterprise platforms.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Series A
Check Size: $500K–$3M
Focus: Platform Economies, FinTech, Enterprise B2B, AI Tooling
Notable Investments: Firsthand (AI agent platform), Rubie, DocJuris
Website: https://www.crossbeam.vc/
Enterprise AI specialists focusing on data science, ML infrastructure, and cybersecurity applications. They have deep technical expertise and focus on B2B companies building AI-powered enterprise solutions.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K–$1M
Focus: Enterprise AI, Data Science, ML Infrastructure, Cybersecurity
Notable Investments: Ocrolus, Reonomy, EdgeIQ
Website: https://www.differential.vc/
B2B enterprise software investors with growing emphasis on AI/ML applications. They focus on technical founders building intelligent business solutions and have backed several AI-focused companies in their portfolio.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $100K–$1M
Focus: B2B Enterprise Software, AI/ML
Notable Investments: Monterey AI, Coactive, LastMile AI, Gradient Labs
Website: https://www.exceptionalcap.com/
First Round has made 17 investments already in 2025 and focus exclusively on earliest-stage companies. With 14 unicorns in their portfolio including Notion and Uber, they back founders when they often have just an “imagine if.”
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K–$1M
Focus: Enterprise, AI/ML, B2B SaaS, Hardware
Notable Investments: Notion, Uber, Roblox
Website: https://firstround.com
Enterprise-focused investors specializing in AI, cybersecurity, and B2B solutions. They partner with technical founders building intelligent enterprise software and have deep domain expertise in AI applications for business.
Stage: Seed, Series A
Check Size: $1M-$5M
Focus: AI/ML, B2B Enterprise, Cybersecurity
Notable Investments: Ship Angel, Retrocausal, Telmai
Website: https://glasswing.vc/
A people-first fund that leads ~40 deals per year with a founder-friendly 6-day decision process. They focus on pre-seed and seed companies across all technology sectors, with particular interest in AI/ML and data-driven companies, and have raised over $200M+ in committed capital.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $200K–$1M
Focus: AI/ML, All Technology Sectors, Data-Driven Companies
Notable Investments: STRATxAI, GigEasy, Paratus Health
Website: https://www.goaheadvc.com/
Google’s AI-focused venture fund that invests in early-stage startups building with artificial intelligence. They provide unique access to Google’s AI research, infrastructure, and technical expertise.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $750K–$8M
Focus: AI/ML, Automation, Enterprise AI
Notable Investments: Lambda, Streamlit, FlutterFlow
Website: https://www.gradient.com/
A diverse-focused fund that backs underrepresented founders at the pre-seed stage. They’ve been increasingly active in AI/ML investments and pride themselves on being founder-friendly with quick decision-making.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $50K-$750K (Sweet Spot $150K)
Focus: AI/ML, FinTech, Healthcare
Notable Investments: Webflow, NerdWallet, Branch
Website: https://www.hustlefund.vc/
Apply: Click Here
A boutique fund known for early investments in transformative companies like OpenAI, Slack, and Airbnb. They focus on enterprise applications and AI/ML solutions, requiring warm introductions due to their selective approach.
Stage: Pre-Seed
Check Size: $100K-$750K (Sweet Spot $400K)
Focus: AI/ML, Healthcare, SaaS, Enterprise Applications
Notable Investments: OpenAI, Slack, Lyft
Website: https://www.k9ventures.com/
M25 is an early-stage venture firm based in Chicago, investing solely in tech startups headquartered in the Midwest.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K-$1M
Focus: AI/ML, HealthTech, FinTech, Vertical SaaS
Notable Investments: Astronomer, Arrellio, Prediction Guard
Website: https://www.m25vc.com/
Early-stage investors focused on emerging technologies including AI/ML, blockchain, and health tech. They back technical founders building innovative solutions across these verticals.
Stage: Pre-Seed
Check Size: $400K–$750K
Focus: AI/ML, Blockchain, Health Tech
Notable Investments: Alice, Parsec, Solana
Website: https://notation.vc/
The pre-seed arm of Pear VC, focusing on the earliest stage investments in technical founders. They back companies at the idea stage with strong technical teams building in AI/ML, SaaS, and climate technology.
Stage: Pre-Seed
Check Size: $250K-$2M
Focus: AI/ML, SaaS, Climate Tech
Notable Investments: Affinity, Aurora, DoorDash
Website: https://pear.vc/pearx/
Apply: Get notified when applications open
Known for backing underrepresented founders and making 75-100 investments per fund, they focus on first institutional rounds for B2B and B2C software applications with a particular emphasis on diverse founding teams.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $250K–$500K
Focus: B2B Software, B2C Software, Connected Hardware
Notable Investments: The Athletic, Bobbie, Carrot Fertility, Modern Health, Clearco
Website: https://precursorvc.com/
London-based early-stage fund with 20+ years of experience backing breakthrough companies like Revolut, Rippling, and Just Eat. While known for consumer successes, they actively invest in enterprise applications and recently backed AI companies like SponsWatch, with 10 investments in 2024 and continued deployment in 2025.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $500K-$2M
Focus: Enterprise Applications, Consumer Tech, AI/ML
Notable Investments: Revolut, Rippling, Just Eat, SponsWatch
Website: https://venrex.partners/
AI is evolving quickly, and the best investors are the ones who are willing to commit before the rest of the world catches on. The firms listed here are backing real companies, at the very beginning, with capital and conviction. If you are building something ambitious with artificial intelligence at its foundation, we at Outlander VC would love to hear about it. Apply now.
Here at Outlander VC, we have a simple philosophy: pedigree doesn’t predict success.
Often the most transformational companies are built by visionaries who might not fit the traditional venture capital mold. That’s why we’re committed to backing exceptional founders from Day Zero—regardless of where they’re building, what city they call home, or whether they have fancy generational legacy degrees.
We don’t invest in credentials. We invest in vision, execution, intelligence, and character.
If you’re building something extraordinary—especially if you’ve been underestimated or overlooked—we created this list specifically for you.
We’ve curated 25 VC funding sources for underrepresented founders in 2025. These early-stage funds truly understand what it means to back brilliance early, and they’re actively investing in women, people of color, LGBTQ+ founders, immigrants, veterans, and others who’ve historically been left out of the conversation.
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $750K–$2.5M
Focus: Visionary founders building software or hardware-enabled software. We’re spending time thinking about AI applications, autonomy, Future of Work, consumer tech, energy, infrastructure, health, and more (just no crypto, gaming, biotech/pharma, or CPG)
What Makes Us Different: We couldn’t care less where you went to school or who’s in your network—we care about your ability to build something world-changing.
Website: https://outlander.vc
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: Varies, $250K-$750K
Focus: Diverse Founders, Software, Healthcare, SaaS
Website: https://www.january.ventures/
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Check Size: Varies, $250K-4M
Focus: Underrepresented Founders, Female Founders, LGBTQ+
Website: https://precursorvc.com/
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Seed, Series A
Check Size: Varies, 500K – $750K.
Focus: Female Founders in B2B, Consumer, Healthcare, and Fintech
Website: https://femalefoundersfund.com/
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Seed
Check Size: $1M
Focus: Female Founders, healthcare and climate
Website: https://truewealthvc.com/
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Seed
Check Size: Varies
Focus: Female Founders in health, education, climate, and consumer
Website: https://www.bbgventures.com/
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: Varies, $500K-$1.5M
Focus: Underrepresented Founders, Healthcare, Consumer, Tech Agnostic
Website: https://www.chingona.ventures/
Apply:Click Here
Stage: Seed, Series A
Check Size: Varies
Focus: Female Founders, B2B Saas
Website: https://www.hearstlab.com/
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $300K average
Focus: Black and Latinx Founders, Sector Agnostic
Website: https://www.levelupventures.com
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Early Stage
Check Size: $750K-$1.5M pre-seed, $2M Seed+
Focus: Underrepresented Founders, Consumer
Website: https://westboundequity.com/
Apply: Get in Touch
Stage: Early Stage
Check Size: Varies, ~$500K
Focus: Female Founders, Impact
Website: https://www.contextvc.com/
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Early Stage
Check Size: Varies, ~250K-$1M
Focus: LGBTQ+ and allies
Website: http://gaingels.com/
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Early Stage
Check Size: Varies, ~$500K
Focus: Female Founders, Impact
Website: https://thehelm.co/
Apply: Get in Touch
Stage: Early Stage
Check Size: Varies, $25K-$400K
Focus: Female Founders
Website: https://grahamwalker.com/
Apply:Click Here
Stage: Seed
Check Size: Varies, $150K first check
Focus: Underrepresented Founders, Consumer, SaaS
Website: https://www.hustlefund.vc/
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Early Stage
Check Size: Varies
Focus: Female Founders
Website: https://chai-ventures.com/
Apply: Get in Touch
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: Varies, $500K-$1M
Focus: Underrepresented Founders
Website: http://harlem.capital/
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Early Stage
Check Size: Varies
Focus: Female founders, FinTech
Website: https://ecosystem.anthemis.com/female-innovators-lab/
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Pre-Seed to Series A
Check Size: Varies
Focus: Underrepresented Founders
Website: https://macventurecapital.com/
Apply:Get in Touch
Stage: Seed
Check Size: Varies
Focus: Latinx, Underrepresented Founders
Website: https://vamosventures.com/
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Seed
Check Size: $2-5M
Focus: Veteran Founders
Website: https://www.scout.vc/
Apply: Get in Touch
Stage: Seed
Check Size: $750K – $1.5M
Focus: Diverse tech founders in fintech, commerce, and caretech
Website: https://www.theartemisfund.com/
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Pre-Seed to Series A
Check Size: Varies
Focus: Female Founders
Website: https://gingerbreadcap.com/
Apply: Get in Touch
Stage: Seed, Series A
Check Size: Varies
Focus: Underrepresented founders
Website: https://www.wellington.com/en-us/intermediary/capabilities/wellington-access-ventures
Apply: Get in Touch
Stage: Early-Stage
Check Size: Varies
Focus: Underrepresented founders
Website: https://www.serenaventures.com/
Apply: Get in Touch
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
Check Size: $100-$200K
Focus: Women and wealth
Website: https://www.swizzle.vc/
Apply: Click Here
Stage: Early Stage, Pre-Seed-Series A
Check Size: $1-2M
Focus: US Latinx entrepreneurs
Website: https://lattitudeventures.com/
Apply: Click Here
The future of innovation depends on the diversity of those shaping it.
It’s not enough to just say “anyone can be a founder.” We need to back that belief with real capital. These 25 funds (and many more) are doing exactly that—tearing down barriers, challenging outdated norms, and funding tomorrow’s leaders today.
And if you’re one of those founders with a world-changing vision? We want to hear from you.
Pitch us: Here
Ever wondered how Scale AI grew to $14B by mastering government contracts? In this candid panel discussion, we sit down with Scale’s Director of Public Sector Deployment Strategy and veteran defense specialists to reveal their playbooks for success.
Why Watch:
Featuring Scale AI’s Shaliya Dehipawala, Frontera Group’s Thomas Williams, and Washington Office’s Evan Burfield, this is the guide we wish existed for every founder eyeing the federal market.
Watch now to unlock the full federal playbook.
Welcome to another deep dive into the minds of venture capital leaders who are shaping the startup ecosystem. In our latest Venture Visionaries conversation, we sat down with Alexa Von Tobel, founder of Inspired Capital, to unpack her insights on what truly makes a founder—and a startup—successful.
With a background as a founder herself (LearnVest, acquired by Northwestern Mutual for nearly $400 million) and now managing almost $1 billion in investments, Alexa brings a unique perspective grounded in real-world entrepreneurial experience.
1. Obsession is the Founder’s Secret Weapon
Alexa believes the biggest pitfall for founders is building a business they don’t genuinely want to think about every day for the next 15 years. Her advice? If you’re not obsessed with the problem you’re solving, don’t start the company.
For Alexa, this personal obsession was deeply personal. After losing her father, she became passionate about democratizing financial planning—a mission that fueled LearnVest. Without that obsession, it may never have become one of the largest FinTech acquisitions of the decade.
Founder Takeaway: At Outlander, we love obsessed founders who are consumed by a problem–who see a future state that needs fixing and that you are the one to do it. Your startup should solve a problem that keeps you up at night. When the going gets tough, passion isn’t just motivational—it’s fundamental to your persistence.
2. Adaptability Over Resilience
Alexa champions adaptability. She believes the most successful founders aren’t just those who survive challenges, but those who thrive because of them.
Drawing from her podcast interviewing over 260 top founders, she’s observed a common trait: these entrepreneurs view stress as a catalyst for growth. Like Darwin’s principle of survival, it’s not the strongest who succeed, but those most adaptable to change.
Founder Takeaway: At Outlander, we love founders who have demonstrated resilience. But more important than having endured hardship is showcasing the ability to learn from it and adapt to ever-changing environments. Your ability to pivot and learn quickly may be the most valuable asset in your founder journey.
3. Capital Efficiency is Your Competitive Advantage
In today’s market, Alexa emphasizes the critical importance of being a smart capital allocator. The best founders understand that a business is essentially a machine: you put a dollar in with the expectation of generating multiple dollars in return.
She warns against unnecessary spending, especially in early stages. The most impressive founders are those who can turn on meaningful traction with minimal capital, demonstrating “scrappiness” that becomes part of the company’s DNA.
Founder Takeaway: Every dollar matters. Be strategic about resource allocation and prove you can create value with constraints.
4. The DNA of Startup Success
Alexa draws a powerful analogy from her experience founding LearnVest during the 2008 recession. Founders who start businesses during challenging times develop a different operational DNA—they learn to run at “50 miles per hour” when others might be moving at “6 miles per hour.”
This forged resilience becomes a core part of the company’s culture, creating teams that know how to operate efficiently and effectively, even when resources are limited.
Founder Takeaway: Your early-stage constraints can become your greatest strength. Embrace the challenge and let it shape your company’s culture.
Final Thoughts
Inspired Capital’s approach, much like our Founder Framework at Outlander VC, is about backing people, not just business models. It’s about finding founders who are relentless, adaptable, and deeply committed to solving meaningful problems.
For founders reading this: obsess over your mission, embrace challenges, be capital-efficient, and never stop learning. Your journey is just beginning.
Stay inspired and outlandish and, as always, be sure to pitch our team your vision at: www.outlander.vc
You can learn more about Inspired Capital at https://www.inspiredcapital.com/
Watch the full interview:
Welcome back to Venture Visionaries, a series from Outlander VC where we dive deep into what distinguishes top investors and explore their unique perspectives on the startup ecosystem.
Join us as we engage with some of the most influential figures in venture capital, uncovering the strategies and insights that have shaped their success and learning how they navigate the evolving world of investing.
From investment philosophies to future predictions, these conversations will inspire entrepreneurs and anyone curious about the venture capital space.
This month, we had the privilege of sitting down with Tim Young, founding partner of Eniac Ventures (Eniac’s portfolio includes AirBnB, Headspace, Hinge, and more). In our conversation, Tim offered his perspective on what sets founders and investors up for success, rooted in his experience on both sides of that equation.
Tim’s unique, grounded outlook on how to identify promising teams and support them through the ups and downs of building a company are what have helped make him (and Eniac) wonderful investors that we love to partner with at Outlander.
You can watch the full conversation here!
And be sure to sign-up for our Fall 2024 portfolio showcase!
Here are three key takeaways from the conversation:
Integrity isn’t optional for Tim. He stresses that while founders might have many areas to grow or develop, trustworthiness is too easily shattered and difficult to repair for him to back a low-integrity founder. The ripple effect is massive: a founder lacking integrity can sabotage their team, erode investor confidence, and ultimately derail the entire company.
Often, integrity (and another key character trait we look for: grit) reveals itself in moments of adversity. How have challenges been handled in the past? Are you an ego-driven leader or a servant-leader who leads by example, respects their team, and constantly builds trust? Ultimately, as Paige expressed in the conversation, “power doesn’t come from rank; power doesn’t come from mission.” It comes from the earned respect of your team, your investors, and your customers.
Tim Young has a simple yet profound question he asks himself before committing to an investment: Would I leave my job and work for this person? It’s a gut check that cuts through all the hockey-stick financial projections and product demos to get at the heart of what matters—leadership.
This is something that we, at Outlander, call being an infectious evangelist: having the storytelling charisma and leadership ability to not only win over your co-founders, but team members, investors, and customers.
This question isn’t just about the founder’s vision; it’s about their ability to inspire trust and loyalty. And we love Tim’s gut check: When Paige was an early investor in Lyft (then Zimride), he described that feeling of wanting to not just get involved as a check-writer, but to actually go and join the team in the mission. Fast-forward 10 years and that litmus test checks out, with Lyft surpassing $5.22B market cap.
Moral of the story for founders: hone your leadership and evangelizing skills. Because if investors can’t see themselves willingly joining a founder’s team, it may be a sign that other talented individuals may feel the same. A great product can only go so far if the founder lacks the ability to attract and retain top talent.
Tim Young is realistic when evaluating founders—he knows no one is perfect. In his words, “There are no 10/10 founders.” Every founder has areas of strength and weaknesses, and as an investor, it’s essential to recognize this early. What matters isn’t having a flawless skill set but having the self-awareness and coachability to improve over time.
For Tim, identifying gaps in a founder’s abilities isn’t a dealbreaker. Instead, it’s about understanding where those gaps are and whether the founder is willing to address them. Are they open to bringing on team members who can complement their weaknesses? Are they willing to seek mentorship or guidance where they lack experience? Having a blind spot and being unwilling to hear about it can make it hard to reach conviction.
Savvy investors know to mostly stay out of the way except when necessary, so chances are that if you are working with an investor who has a track record like Eniac or Outlander, when they are pulling you aside, it’s important.
Final Thoughts
Tim Young’s approach to investing emphasizes a deep commitment to understanding founders as people. It’s a belief that we share at Outlander and is the driver of our Founder Framework. For us, it’s not just about metrics or market opportunities—it’s about asking the right questions and backing people that we believe in.
Watch the full conversation between Paige & Tim here.
Stay Outlandish and, as always, be sure to pitch our team your vision at: www.outlander.vc You can learn more about Eniac at www.eniac.vc
Global geopolitical tensions have reached their highest levels since WWII. 92 countries are currently involved in conflicts beyond their borders and the Global Peace Index has measured “peacefulness” declining in nine out of the last ten years. The push to decrease human casualties, combined with recent technological advances, has created a new environment that has governments turning to the historically innovative private sector to stay competitive and defend against potential threats.
In the last three years alone, U.S. venture capital (VC) funds have injected over $100B into defense-tech companies. And while Department of Defense (DoD) contracts have typically been awarded to established players like Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrup Grummon, and others, DoD innovation organizations (e.g., DIU, AFWERX, NavalX, and more) are increasingly working with startups to source innovative solutions.
As founders consider investment partners for their defense or dual-use technology ventures, we’ve put together a list of top funds to consider. And if you are an investor and think you should be on this list, contact us!
Outlander VC
About: Top decile-performing generalist pre-seed fund, led by U.S. Marine Corps veteran and defense & intelligence-tech founder Paige Craig, investing at the earliest stages (often first check in).
Stages: Mostly Pre-Seed to Seed
Notable Investments: Scale, ID.me, SpaceX, REGENT, Skyways, Havoc, Vidrovr, Next Stage
How to Apply: Apply directly through this form
Moonshots Capital
About: With 13 unicorns and 27 total exits, Moonshots is a veteran-led seed & early Series A fund investing in bold founders.
Stages: Seed to Series A
Notable Investments: Slack, LinkedIn, Carta, ID.me, Red 6
Application: Submit proposals through their website
Point72 Ventures
About: Point72 Ventures is the VC arm of Point72 Capital and has a team that includes Managing Partner Dan Gwak, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran turned investor.
Stages: Pre-Seed to Growth
Notable Investments: Shield AI, Vannevar Labs, STOKE Space, Saronic, REGENT
How to Apply: The best way to be considered is to get an intro to a relevant investing partner, but you can also email directly to ideas@p72.vc
Alumni Ventures
About: A top-quartile performing venture fund that also invests in defense & dual-use technologies.
Stages: Pre-seed to Growth
Notable Investments: Unstructured.io, Red 6, Picogrid, Antares Industries, Edgescale AI, Sphere Semi
How to Apply: Apply directly through this form
Decisive Point Ventures
About: A VC fund focused on making early-stage investments in technology for government, public safety, and defense.
Stages: Predominantly Seed & Series A
Notable Investments: Scout Space, Radiant, Aloft, Firehawk Aerospace
How to Apply: The best way to be considered is to get an intro to a relevant investing partner, but you can also email directly to info@decisivepoint.com
First In Ventures
About: Veteran-led fund investing in security tech solutions across commercial, military, or intelligence sectors.
Stages: Predominantly Pre-Seed & Seed
Notable Investments: Anduril, Shift5, RedOwl, Syncurity
How to Apply: Fill out this form
RTX Ventures
About: Venture capital division of RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies). Led by Daniel Ateya
Stages: Predominantly Seed & Series A
Notable Investments: Ursa Major, Hermeus, EnCharge AI, Tomorrow.io
How to Apply: Contact through the RTX Ventures website
In-Q-Tel
About: CIA-contracted investment fund, designed to source innovative information technology solutions for the Central Intelligence Agency. Led by Steve Bowsher.
Stages: Seed, Series A, sometimes later
Notable Investments: Palantir, Databricks, MongoDB, Anaconda
How to Apply: Apply directly through this form
Shield Capital
About: Former DoD Defense Innovation Unit leader and former Symantec CEO Michael Brown became a partner at Shield Capital in 2023 to invest in dual-use defense, cybersecurity, and space companies.
Stages: Seed to Series B
Notable Investments: Nexla, Apex, ASI, Rebellion
Application: Apply directly through this form
a16z’s American Dynamism
About: Andreesen Horowitz’s American Dynamism practice invests in founders and companies that support the national interest: aerospace, defense, public safety, education, housing, supply chain, industrials, and manufacturing.
Stages: Seed to Growth
Notable Investments: Anduril, Apex, Hadrian
How to Apply: Reach out or get an intro to a relevant investing partner
Silent Ventures
About: Early stage venture firm that invests in exceptional founders building unrivaled aerospace, defense, and national security companies.
Stages: Predominantly Pre-Seed & Seed
Notable Investments: Hadrian, Armada AI, Firestorm
How to Apply: Apply or reach out on LinkedIn
Lockheed Martin Ventures
About: The VC arm of defense giant, Lockheed Martin, doubled its fund commitment from $200M to $400M in 2022, rooted in its belief that the most dynamic defense innovations will come from startups.
Stages: Pre-seed to Growth
Notable Investments: Elroy Air, Hawkeye 360, Heilcity Space, X-Bow
How to Apply: Apply directly through this contact form
Champion Hill Ventures
About: Led by a former infantry and combat engineer officer in the US Marine Corps, Champion Hill has invested in some of the hottest defense tech & space startups.
Stages: Pre-Seed to Seed
Notable Investments: SpaceX, Anduril, and Umbra
How to Apply: Get an intro to or reach out to Managing Partner Josh Manchester.
Insight Partners
About: Generalist VC, increasingly making investments in defense-focused startups
Stages: Pre-seed to Growth
Notable Investments: Rebellion, Tenable, Digital Harbor
Application: Apply through their website
Lux Capital
About: Science & technology venture fund, making strategic investments to protect America’s economic security.
Stages: Any stage
Notable Investments: Anduril, Hadrian, Saildrone
Application: Connect with (or get introduced to) a relevant investing partner
Starburst Ventures
About: Aerospace & Defense investor for America and its allies.
Stages: Seed to Series A
Notable Investments: Strong Compute, Outpost, Aerocloud
Application: Join one of their accelerators or submit proposals through their website
Scout Ventures
About: Early-stage venture capital firm that invests in frontier technologies built by founders from the military, its intelligence community, and national research labs.
Stages: Seed to Series B
Notable Investments: ID.me, Radical, Voyager Space, Tomahawk Robotics
Application: Submit proposals through their website
For founders of dual-use start-ups seeking funding, Outlander VC offers unparalleled expertise and strategic support. If you are a defense technology start-up seeking funding and strategic guidance, apply to Outlander VC today.