What Lockheed Martin Ventures does

Lockheed Martin Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Lockheed Martin Corporation, operating as a strategic investment vehicle that channels minority equity into early- and growth-stage technologies aligned with Lockheed Martin's four core business areas: Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, the unit invests in dual-use and defense-adjacent startups spanning additive manufacturing, AI and robotics, autonomous systems (air, surface, and undersea), space propulsion, optical interconnect, advanced materials, terahertz sensing, battery technology, and solar power. It is led by Vice President and General Manager J. Christopher Moran, sits within a parent of more than 110,000 employees, and is one of the largest dedicated defense corporate venture funds in the U.S.

The business model is strategic rather than financial: Lockheed Martin Ventures deploys parent-funded capital in order to (i) maintain visibility into emerging dual-use technologies, (ii) secure supply-chain and integration options for Lockheed Martin programs, and (iii) accelerate commercialization for companies whose products can be embedded in LM platforms, including the LM Evolve, Sikorsky Innovations, and Skunk Works ecosystems. Typical posture in 2025-2026 has been to lead or co-lead select rounds (e.g., Agile Space Industries, Machina Labs, South 8 Technologies) and participate as a strategic investor in larger rounds led by growth-stage funds (e.g., Cambium, Teradar, HavocAI, Vatn Systems). Returns are realized through a combination of capital appreciation, commercial offtake, and integration of portfolio technology into Lockheed Martin program-of-record contracts.

Lockheed Martin Ventures does not sell a product; its customers are internal — the Lockheed Martin business areas, program offices, and engineering leadership — and external, the founders and co-investors in its portfolio. The unit is differentiated from financial VCs by privileged access to LM's program managers, clearances, and procurement channels, and from other CVCs by the breadth of the parent platform (air, land, sea, space, cyber). Reported activity in 2025-2026 included approximately a dozen disclosed rounds with aggregate portfolio round sizes exceeding $700 million, indicating an active deployment cadence even though LM's specific ticket sizes are undisclosed.

Name

Lockheed Martin Ventures

Legal name

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Website

https://lockheedmartin.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Venture Capital

NAICS

Other Financial Vehicles (52599), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480), Aircraft (3721)

akta.pro primary industry

Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Innovation & Technology Scouting Units (with investment mandate) (FSANAHAI)

Keywords

• Corporate venture capital
• Defense technology investing
• Strategic equity investments
• Aerospace startup funding
• Venture capital services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Strategic Equity Investments: Lockheed Martin Ventures makes equity investments in early- and growth-stage technology companies in defense, aerospace, space, and advanced manufacturing. Returns are realized through capital appreciation and, where strategically aligned, technology access and integration benefits for Lockheed Martin Corporation. Investment tickets range from strategic minority stakes to co-led rounds.
2. Capital Returns from Portfolio Exits: As a corporate venture arm, LM Ventures generates returns through future exits (IPO, M&A) of portfolio companies. Specific financial terms and round sizes for individual investments are typically not disclosed publicly.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Core offering

Lockheed Martin Ventures (LM Ventures) is the corporate venture capital arm of Lockheed Martin Corporation, making strategic minority equity investments in early- and growth-stage technology companies developing transformative capabilities in additive manufacturing, AI/robotics, autonomous systems, space propulsion, optical interconnect, advanced materials, terahertz sensing, battery technology, underwater autonomy, and space solar power. Investments are aligned with Lockheed Martin's four business areas (Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space) and range from strategic minority stakes to co-led rounds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lockheed Martin: Primary corporate brand covering aeronautics, missiles and fire control, rotary and mission systems, and space.
• LM Ventures
• LM Evolve
• Sikorsky
• Skunk Works
• Sikorsky Innovations

Products and services

• Strategic Equity Investment Program Corporate venture capital program that makes strategic minority equity investments in early- and growth-stage technology companies developing transformative capabilities in additive manufacturing, AI/robotics, autonomous systems, space propulsion, optical interconnect, advanced materials, terahertz sensing, battery technology, underwater autonomy, and space solar power. Investments align with Lockheed Martin's four business areas: Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space, and ticket sizes range from strategic minority stakes to co-led rounds.
• Strategic Portfolio Partnership Program Strategic partnership overlay that complements equity investments by providing portfolio companies with privileged access to Lockheed Martin program offices, engineering expertise, supply-chain integration, and potential technology insertion into defense and aerospace programs.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boeing HorizonX Ventures: Corporate venture capital arm of The Boeing Company, investing in early- and growth-stage aerospace, autonomous, additive manufacturing, and space technology companies. Most directly comparable CVC to LM Ventures given similar dual-use aerospace/defense mandate.
• RTX Ventures: Corporate venture arm of RTX Corporation (Raytheon), focused on aerospace, defense, and advanced technologies including autonomous systems, sensors, and AI. Direct peer in defense-tech CVC space, often competing for the same dual-use deals.
• Northrop Grumman Ventures: Venture investing arm of Northrop Grumman Corporation, deploying capital into space, autonomy, AI, and advanced manufacturing startups. Direct competitor for defense-adjacent deep-tech investments.
• BAE Systems Ventures: Corporate venture activity of BAE Systems plc, focused on electronic systems, cyber, autonomous, and space technologies. Direct peer in the transatlantic defense CVC landscape.
• Airbus Ventures: Venture arm of Airbus, investing globally in early-stage aerospace, space, autonomy, and advanced materials. Direct peer — has co-invested alongside LM Ventures (e.g., Vatn Systems) — with similar dual-use aerospace mandate.
• General Dynamics Ventures: Strategic investing arm of General Dynamics Corporation focused on defense, IT, and mission systems technologies. Direct competitor in the U.S. defense CVC space.
• Booz Allen Ventures: Corporate venture arm of Booz Allen Hamilton investing in defense, intelligence, and national security startups. Frequent co-investor with LM Ventures (e.g., Firestorm Labs) and direct peer in defense-tech CVC.
• In-Q-Tel: Not-for-profit strategic investor for the U.S. intelligence community, focused on dual-use technologies. Frequent co-investor with LM Ventures (e.g., HavocAI) and direct peer in defense/intelligence-adjacent CVC space.
• Leidos Ventures: Corporate venture activity of Leidos Holdings, focused on defense, civil, and health IT startups. Direct competitor in defense-tech CVC space.
• Safran Ventures: Corporate venture activity of Safran SA, focused on aerospace propulsion, autonomy, and advanced materials. International peer with overlapping investment themes in propulsion and space-adjacent technologies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/lockheedmartin
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LockheedMartinVideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/lockheedmartin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lockheed-martin
• Instagraminstagram.com/lockheedmartin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments120 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Lockheed Martin Ventures