What Squadra Ventures does

Squadra Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2019 (incorporated 2016) by Guy Filippelli, a former US Army intelligence officer and two-time exited founder (Red Owl Analytics, acquired by ForcePoint in 2017; Berico Technologies, acquired by Novetta in 2018). Headquartered in Baltimore, MD with a Washington, DC office, the firm invests at the seed and Series A stages in dual-use national security companies spanning autonomous systems, AI/ML, space technology, OT/ICS cybersecurity, RF spectrum management, advanced manufacturing, robotics, bioscience, and onboard data observability.

The firm operates as a thesis-driven investment platform rather than a capital-only fund. Its core service is equity investment across successive fund vintages — Fund I (2019), Fund II (2023/2025), and a Fund III currently in market — augmented by structured Portfolio Operations support: joint strategic planning, go-to-market execution, operational process building, and introductions to Pentagon decision-makers, Capitol Hill policymakers, defense primes, and commercial customers. The team applies a codified framework mapping investment opportunities to DoD's 14 critical technology areas and the seven joint warfighting functions. Squadra's 20+ active portfolio companies include PDW, Shift5, Nudge Security, NetRise, Airbase, Overwatch Imaging, Endolith, Launchpad, Citra Space, Copia Automation, Volund Manufacturing, Tidal Cyber, and others, with check sizes ranging from $4M seed rounds to $26M Series A co-leads and exits such as PDW's $110M+ Series B.

The business model follows standard venture capital economics: management fees on committed capital across fund vintages plus carried interest on realized exits via M&A or IPO. Customer concentration is structurally diversified across portfolio verticals (defense, commercial aviation, railroads, critical infrastructure, manufacturing, cybersecurity) and over a dozen portfolio companies. No revenue, AUM, or carry figures are disclosed publicly. Distribution channels are direct: founder pitch intake, network-driven deal sourcing, event platforms (Boundary Breakers, AUSA, Venture in the Capital), the Talent Squadra jobs board, and a monthly newsroom newsletter.

Name

Squadra Ventures

Legal name

Squadra Ventures

Website

https://squadra.vc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Squadra Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in dual-use national security technologies. Based in Baltimore and Washington, DC, the firm provides seed and Series A capital plus operational support to founders building autonomous systems, AI, space, and defense startups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)

Keywords

• Venture capital fund
• National security investing
• Dual-use technology
• Seed stage investment
• Defense technology fund

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Venture Capital Fund Management: Squadra generates returns through equity investments in early-stage dual-use and national security startups. The firm manages multiple funds (Fund I - 2019, Fund II - 2023/2025) and is raising Fund III. Returns are realized through portfolio company exits via M&A or IPO.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Squadra Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that makes seed and Series A equity investments in national security and dual-use technology companies. The firm provides capital combined with transformational portfolio support including strategic planning, go-to-market execution, operational resources, and introductions to Pentagon decision-makers, defense primes, and commercial customers. Squadra has managed multiple funds (Fund I 2019, Fund II 2023/2025) and is raising Fund III.

Product overview

Squadra Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm specializing in national security and dual-use technology investments. The firm operates as a unified investment platform offering thesis-driven deal sourcing, portfolio operational support, and an expansive network. The core offering consists of capital investment combined with thesis alignment services, augmented by Portfolio Operations support and Network access for portfolio companies. The firm does not offer distinct software products but rather investment and advisory services structured around their national security focus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Squadra Ventures Investment Platform Core early-stage venture capital investment platform providing seed and Series A equity capital to dual-use technology companies serving national security, defense, and adjacent commercial markets.
• Portfolio Operations Support Post-investment operational support service for portfolio founders, covering strategic planning, go-to-market strategy development, operational efficiency, leadership capacity building, and introductions to key hires.
• Network and Ecosystem Access Network-driven service connecting portfolio companies to government decision-makers, defense primes, technology accelerators, and commercial customers through Squadra's Washington DC and Baltimore-based ecosystem relationships.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple portfolio companies have secured major government contracts including PDW ($110M+ Series B, $15M+ Army contracts), Shift5 (Missile Defense Agency SHIELD IDIQ), and Nudge Security (nearly 200 customers).
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor, strategic and core.

• Georgetown University (Venture in the Capital 2026)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Squadra Managing Partner Guy Filippelli participated as a panelist on a defense tech panel at Georgetown's Venture in the Capital 2026 student-run forum.
• Johns Hopkins Technology VenturesstrategicGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 October 2025Squadra Ventures co-hosted Boundary Breakers, a showcase of critical technology innovations in national security, as part of DC Startup & Tech Week with Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures.
• Johns Hopkins Tech Ventures (Boundary Breakers)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 October 2025Squadra Ventures sponsored and co-organized Boundary Breakers with Johns Hopkins Tech Ventures as part of DC Startup & Tech Week, spotlighting defense tech founders in lightning talks.
• AUSA (Association of the United States Army)strategicGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Six Squadra portfolio companies exhibited at AUSA 2025, the Association of the United States Army's annual meeting, providing access to defense customers and primes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Shield Capital: Early-to-growth stage VC exclusively focused on national security, dual-use, and cybersecurity companies. Shield Capital's national security thesis, government network, and stage focus make it the most direct comparable to Squadra Ventures.
• In-Q-Tel: The CIA's strategic venture arm investing in national security and intelligence community startups. In-Q-Tel's domain specialization in national security technology and deep intelligence community ties parallel Squadra's positioning with DoD.
• Lux Capital: Early-stage VC with a significant defense tech, space, and dual-use portfolio (Anduril, Hadrian, Apex Space). Lux's thesis-driven approach to frontier technology national security investments overlaps with Squadra's mandate.
• American Exceptionalism Ventures (AE Ventures): Early-stage fund investing in American Dynamism and national security founders. AE Ventures co-led Copia Automation's $26M round alongside Squadra, directly overlapping in thesis, stage, and portfolio.
• Razor's Edge Ventures: Veteran-founded early-stage VC focused on national security, defense tech, and dual-use startups. Razor's Edge's military founder pedigree and DoD ecosystem focus make it a closely aligned peer to Squadra.
• Booz Allen Hamilton Ventures: Corporate venture arm of Booz Allen Hamilton investing in dual-use national security technology. Booz Allen Ventures' direct defense prime backing and dual-use focus parallel Squadra's positioning.
• DCVC (Data Collective): Early-stage deep-tech VC with a long-running thesis on computational and dual-use technologies for national security, science, and industry. DCVC's stage and technology focus closely align with Squadra's mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Founders Fund: Premier deep-tech and defense VC with landmark bets on SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril. Founders Fund's national security portfolio and stage range (seed through growth) make it a broader incumbent comparable to Squadra's category.
• Andreessen Horowitz (a16z): a16z's American Dynamism thesis explicitly targets national security, defense, manufacturing, and public sector technology. Andreessen Horowitz co-invested with Squadra in Airbase and represents a much larger generalist entrant into Squadra's category.
• General Catalyst: Large multi-stage VC with an expanding defense and public sector portfolio (including Applied Intuition, Anduril partnerships). General Catalyst represents a broader incumbent moving into Squadra's category with materially larger AUM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeluma.com/squadra
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/squadravc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments31 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Squadra Ventures