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AIN Ventures

Venture capitaloperating company · company profile

New York · Pre-Seed–Series A · 14 people tracked

Find your way into AIN Ventures

6,770 people in our graph share verified history with the AIN Ventures team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Tobi Cokerunlockedknows Sherman Williams · together at Kauffman Fellows (overlapped)
knows the team · via MIT Sloan School of Management
knows the team · via Bessemer Venture Partners
×2knows the team · via University of Southern California
×5knows the team · via University of Oxford
×2knows the team · via University of Virginia Darden School of Business
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Investment thesis

AIN Ventures invests at the intersection of national priorities and commercial innovation, focusing on deep tech where breakthrough technology meets mission-critical demand. It notes that large U.S. R&D spending underpins frontier innovation and positions itself to help founders scale across both commercial and government markets. The firm offers non-dilutive capital advisory, leveraging expertise in securing grants and government contracts, and claims to have helped secure over $100M in non-dilutive capital. It also draws on the Academy Investor Network, a proprietary community of 600+ service academy graduates serving as portfolio advisors, DoD leadership, and technical experts.

Source: firm website, verified Aug 7, 2026.

Stage
Pre-Seed–Series A
Check
$500K – $1M
HQ
New York, New York, US
Leads rounds
Follows
Instruments
Equity · Grants
Tracked investments
53

Team · 14 people

from the firm's website & curated & public directories
Evan Lerner

Venture Partner; Commercial BD Lead at Exotrail US and co-founder of Empire Space.

Todd Connor

Venture Partner; CEO of Veterans for Political Innovation and founder of Bunker Labs.

Founder mafia

2 people who came through AIN Ventures went on to found or lead other companies.

What they invest in

from 44 of 53 portfolio companies

AI & Machine Learning ×20Deep Tech ×16Enterprise Software ×11Hardware ×11SaaS ×10Space Tech ×9Biotech ×8Defense Tech ×8

HQs:United States×28Canada×1Singapore×1

Who they back

founder profiles across 25 portfolio companies
44%
solo founders
11 of 25 mapped founding teams
44%
repeat founders
of 34 founders with career history

Founding team size:solo founder×112 founders×93 founders×34+ founders×2

Where their founders studiedfrom 31 founders with education data

Stanford University ×3United States Military Academy at West Point ×3Boston University ×2National University of Singapore ×2Stanford University Graduate School of Business ×2The Johns Hopkins University ×2UCLA Anderson School of Management ×2University of California, Berkeley ×2

Where their founders worked beforefrom 34 founders with career history

US Army ×3IBM ×2Kasisto ×2Stanford University ×2

Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program

Techstars ×5Y Combinator ×3

9 founders hold a PhD · 3 hold an MBA (of 32 with degree data)

Investments · 53 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

By year:2025 · 42024 · 12021 · 12020 · 12017 · 18 dated

Adaptyxadaptyx.bioin𝕏

Adaptyx develops a minimally-invasive wearable dermal patch that continuously measures biomarkers in interstitial fluid using an array of programmable molecular switches.

BiotechDigital HealthMedical Devices

Vijit Sabnis(Co-Founder & CEO)inAlex Yoshikawa(Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer)inPawan Kapur(Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer)inH. Tom Soh(Co-Founder & Scientific Advisor)Joseph M. DeSimone(Co-Founder & Scientific Advisor)Daniel Grossman(Chief Medical & Business Officer)in

Co-investorsHumba VenturesOverwater Ventures LlcChemistryCraft VenturesPace Capital

Adaptyx Biosciences, Inc.

Aptamer-based molecular switching company with a microneedle sensor patch that detects multiple metabolic health markers simultaneously.

Agileddagiledd.aiin

AgileDD offers a human-guided AI platform that ingests unstructured technical documents (PDFs, images, MS Office files, including handwriting via OCR) and extracts, indexes, and searches them using generative AI, machine learning, and RAG.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaS

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORHouston Angel Network

AgileDDagiledd.comin

AgileDD provides AI-powered document processing and data analytics solutions for enterprises in energy, mining, and defense sectors.

AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareSaaS

Anadyr Horizonanadyr-horizon.cominJan 2025

Anadyr Horizon builds predictive simulation software powered by what it calls Agentic Systems Intelligence (ASI), designed to model human decisions and strategic outcomes before they occur.

AI & Machine LearningDeep TechDefense TechNew York, US

Dr. Arvid Bell(Co-Founder; Founder, Negotiation Task Force (NTF))Dr. Ferenc Dalnoki-Veress(Co-Founder)Dr. William C. Potter(Co-Founder & Advisor)

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORCollide CapitalCommonweal Ventures

Arcee AIarcee.aiin𝕏

Arcee AI develops open-weight foundation models optimized for efficiency and portability across edge, on-premises, and cloud deployments.

AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingDeep TechDeveloper ToolsUnited States, US

Mark McQuade(Founder)in

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORCentre Street PartnersEmergence Capital PartnersFlybridge Capital PartnersHitachi VenturesJC2 Ventures+5 more

Bellibelli.aiin

Montegrappa is a platform that helps businesses manage operational complexity through unified tools designed to deliver clarity, alignment, and control at every growth stage.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareLogistics & Supply ChainSaaS

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORPitchdrive

boodleAIboodle.aiin𝕏

BoodleBox provides a platform for collaborative intelligence where teams co-create with AI, combining human thinking and AI generation while preserving organizational knowledge.

AI & Machine LearningEdTechEnterprise SoftwareSaaS

France Hoang(CEO & Founder)in

Co-investorsContext Ventures

Bright Urobrighturo.comin𝕏

Wireless urologic sensing system for lower urinary tract symptoms such as incontinence, prostate issues, and neurogenic bladder.

BiotechIrvine, US

Derek Herrera(Executive Officer, Director)inKevin Herschberger(Executive Officer)

BoardSherman Williams(Director)inKurt Azarbarzin(Director)Michael Frazzette(Director)

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTOR

Cerbreccerbrec.comin𝕏

Cerbrec provides an orchestration platform that integrates sensor data and IoT signals across physical infrastructure operations and deploys AI agents to optimize performance in real time.

AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingData & InfrastructureDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareIoTHoboken, US

David R. Winer(Founder)inGarrett Wang(Founder)in

Co-investorsA-Level CapitalACADEMY INVESTORBDev VenturesInner Loop CapitalTechstars

ChemT Biotechnologychemtbio.comin

ChemT builds CelMo, an AI-driven virtual cell platform that models cell states and predicts responses to process, genetic, and molecular changes to optimize biomanufacturing.

AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechSingapore, SG

Ling Wu(Co-founder & President)inJie Sun(Co-founder & CEO)in

Co-investorsDraper University VenturesACADEMY INVESTORWavemaker Partners

Chicagostudentloanschicagostudentloans.com

A.M.

EdTechFintechChicago, US

Civitechcivitech.ioinApr 2025

Civitech builds technology infrastructure for political candidates, social causes, and local governments to increase voter registration and engagement.

Enterprise SoftwareGovTechSaaSSan Antonio, US

Jeremy Smith(CEO and Co-founder)inDan Graham(Director)Stephanie Fisher(Executive Officer)inErin Fahy(Chief Technology Officer of Issuer)inSarah Jackel(Executive Officer)

BoardTamer Mokhtar(Director)

Co-investorsBuilders + BackersHigher Ground LabsMercury FundScout VenturesScout VenturesGaingels

ClimateAI

Cloud-native machine learning platform for improved climate prediction to optimize enterprise supply chains.

ClimateAI Websiteclimate.ai

ClimateAi offers ClimateLens, an AI and machine-learning platform that applies patented models to weather and climate data at 1km resolution to produce short- and long-term forecasts and actionable insights.

AgTechAI & Machine LearningClimate TechSan Francisco, US

Himanshu Gupta(Founder)in

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORBlackhorn VenturesClimacticDYDX CapitalNeotribe VenturesThirdstream Partners

Defiant Spacedefiant.space

Co-investorsThe Veteran Fund

florrentflorrent.comin𝕏

Florrent develops bio-based supercapacitors with higher energy density than standard supercapacitors, aimed at short-duration power quality and reliability applications such as data center backup power, grid reliability, and renewables firming.

CleantechDeep TechEnergyAmherst, US

Joseph Hastry(Executive Officer, Promoter)Alexander Nichols(Director, Promoter)Jose LaSalle(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)

BoardChristopher Noble(Director)Priya Yadav(Director)in

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORMassVenturesNextFab VenturesRaven CapitalBoston Impact Initiative (BII)

Fluxworksfluxworks.coin𝕏Jul 2025

FluxWorks develops magnetic gearing technology for motion systems, replacing traditional mechanical gears with contactless magnetic solutions.

Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechHardwareRoboticsTexas, US

Bryton Praslicka(Chief Executive Officer)

BoardBradley Harrison(Director)in

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORAggie Angel NetworkHouston Angel NetworkScout VenturesScout VenturesMichigan Capital Network

Icarusicarus.onein

Icarus designs and manufactures solar-powered autonomous aircraft that fly for months at the edge of space.

Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechDefense TechHardwareSpace TechLos Angeles, US

Henry Kwan(Founder & CEO)inCameron HargisinZach 'Jerry' Williamsin

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTOREntrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA)HAWKTAILPredictive VCTranspose Platform ManagementY Combinator+4 more

Infinoinfino.ai

Infino is an open-source retrieval engine that embeds full-text (BM25) search, vector embeddings, and SQL directly inside standard Apache Parquet files on object storage such as S3, GCS, or Azure Blob.

AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureDeveloper Tools

Vinay Kakade(Founder)inAsif Makhani(Founder)in

Co-investorsBetter Capital

Insured ConnectJun 2017

Westlake Village, US

DAVID WHITE(Director)RICHARD HYDE(Executive Officer, Director)DUWAYNE KILBO(Director)MARC SCHWARTZ(Director)

Inversion Spaceinversionspace.comin𝕏

Inversion develops spacecraft and systems to establish Low-Earth Orbit as an on-demand logistics network for rapid global transportation and defense applications.

Advanced ManufacturingDefense TechHardwareLogistics & Supply ChainSpace TechLos Angeles, US

Justin Fiaschetti(Founder)inAustin Briggs(Founder)in

Co-investorsSpark CapitalY CombinatorACADEMY INVESTORDas & Co.Dorm RoomGrit Ventures+11 more

Kaleidoscope Biokaleidoscope.bioin

Kaleidoscope provides a software platform for scientific R&D teams to track and communicate project data, manage complex research processes, and accelerate decision-making.

BiotechEnterprise SoftwareSaaSNew York City, US

Ewan Taylor(CSO and Co-founder)Geraldine Paulus(Co-founder, VP Operations)Brian Naughton(Co-founder and CTO)inDavid Yen(Founder)inBogdan Knezevic(Founder)in

Co-investorsBurda Principal InvestmentsHAWKTAILHummingbird Ventures3x5 PartnersDimension CapitalRally Ventures Management, Llc

Kellylyonskellylyons.comin𝕏

Lyonshare is a fundraising strategy, pitch deck, and design agency serving investment funds, startups, and founders.

FintechSaaS

Kelly Lyons(Founder)in

Co-investorsCortado Ventures

Locus Locklocuslock.comin𝕏

Locus Lock designs software-defined GNSS receivers for accurate positioning in complex environments including deep urban, contested, and dynamic platforms for defense and commercial applications.

Deep TechDefense TechHardwareIoTMobility & TransportationRoboticsSpace TechDenver, US

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORAurelia FoundryRange VCTechstarsBackswing Ventures

Lux Semiconductorsluxsemiconductors.cominMar 2025

Lux Semiconductors develops metal core substrates for defense and aerospace electronics that provide enhanced thermal management and high-speed signal routing for applications including aircraft, space assets, and terrestrial vehicles.

Deep TechDefense TechIoTSemiconductorsAlbany, US

Shane McMahon(Executive Officer)inGraeme Housser(Executive Officer)in

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORTechstarsLockheed Martin Ventures

Mantle Therapeuticsmantletherapeutics.com

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTOR

Mbodi AImbodi.aiin𝕏

Mbodi develops AI-powered robots that can learn new tasks through natural language instructions and demonstration, eliminating the need for reprogramming when processes change.

Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningRoboticsNew York City, US

Xavier (Tianhao) Chi(Founder)inSebastian Peralta(Founder)in

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORBetaworksFuel Venture CapitalImagination CapitalMozilla VenturesMyAsiaVC+6 more

MLtwistmltwist.comin

MLtwist provides a unified platform for preparing unstructured data for AI, handling ingestion, transformation, labeling, validation, and versioning across multiple data types.

AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureEnterprise Software

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORInner Loop CapitalStage 2 CapitalHike Ventures

Moth + FlameMay 2021

Provides immersive virtual reality learning experiences to enterprise-scale customers across verticals.

Brooklyn, US

Kevin Cornish(Executive Officer, Director)Bryce Luken(Executive Officer)Megan Cornish(Executive Officer)in

Co-investorsBee PartnersSpacecadet Ventures

Moth+flame VR Corporate Trainingmothandflamevr.comin

Moth+Flame builds a VR training and simulation platform using spatial computing and generative AI to train employees across skills, along with reporting tools that track individual, cohort, and organizational performance and readiness.

AI & Machine LearningEdTechEnterprise SoftwareNew York, US

Co-investorsMontage CapitalService Provider CapitalSpacecadet VenturesTech Square VenturesFirst In

Nanocan Therapeuticsnanocan.life

BiotechNational Harbor, US

Dave Krasne(Executive Officer)Eric C. Broyles(Executive Officer, Director)Jacques P. Walker(Executive Officer, Director)

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTOR

Nebexnebex.com

Nebex operates an exchange platform for the global space economy, providing standardized infrastructure that connects demand, supply, and capital for multilateral space commerce.

B2B MarketplacesDeep TechFintechSpace Tech

Co-investorsArmory Square VenturesBetter Tomorrow VenturesEniac VenturesMultiball Capital2048 VenturesGV (Google Ventures)

Nionyx Bionionyxbio.comin𝕏

Nionyx develops gene therapies, focusing on the design of viral capsids, expression cassettes, and delivery systems for precision and safety.

BiotechDeep TechHealthtech

Co-investors2048 VenturesACADEMY INVESTORPathway Bioventures

North Vector Dynamicsnorthvectordynamics.comin𝕏

North Vector Dynamics is a Canadian defence technology company developing precision interception, autonomy, and advanced propulsion systems, including counter-UAS solutions and hypersonics.

Deep TechDefense TechHardwareCalgary, CA

Paul Ziadé(CEO)in

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORNorthside VenturesOne 9 InvestmentsUCeed FundsVanedge CapitalVanedge Capital Limited Partnership

NOVInovispace.ai

NOVI Space provides a platform called GENIEedge that enables organizations to develop, deploy, and operate AI/ML and analytics applications directly on satellites, processing Earth observation and sensor data at the source in orbit.

AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureDefense TechSpace Tech

Dr. Amit Mehra(CTO and Co-Founder)Scott Steffan(CRO and Co-Founder)inDr. Constantine Papageorgiou(Head of Applied AI and Co-Founder)Dr. Michael Bartholomeusz(CEO and Board Member)

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTOROPAMP CAPITAL

Orbit Faborbitfab.comin𝕏May 2020

Orbit Fab builds the in-space propellant supply chain, offering commercial spacecraft refueling services and standardized refueling interfaces to enable reusable spacecraft and a sustainable space economy.

HardwareSpace TechSanta Clara, US

Daniel Faber(Co-Founder)inJeremy Schiel(Executive Officer, Director)inPeter Shaper(CEO)inChingti Yang(Executive Officer)

Co-investors2045 VenturesACADEMY INVESTORAsymmetry VenturesAurum Venture PartnersCapital FactoryEvolution VC Partners+16 more

Phalanxphalanx.ioin𝕏

Phalanx provides a security layer for teams to share data, protecting sensitive files through encryption and secure workflows at points of creation, sharing, access, and movement.

AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityEnterprise SoftwareSaaSArlington, US

Ian Garrett(Founder)in

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORLighthouse Network Ventures LlcTechstars

Polcopolco.usin𝕏

Polco provides a platform that helps local governments engage residents and make policy decisions through resident engagement tools, benchmark surveys, AI-powered analysis, and budget simulation tools.

AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureGovTechSaaSMadison, US

Nick Mastronardi(Co-Founder & CEO)inAlex Pedersen(Co-founder & EVP of Strategy)in

Co-investorsGovtech VenturesMercury FundRoyal Street Ventures Management Company, LlcBat ventures

Proteus Spaceproteus-space.cominSep 2024

Proteus Space designs custom spacecraft buses tailored to individual payload requirements using generative design and flight-proven components, eliminating the compromises of standardized bus solutions.

Deep TechHardwareSpace TechLos Angeles, US

David Kervin(Executive Officer, Director)

BoardAndrew Shapiro-Scharlotta(Director)Craig Cummings(Director)inStephen Smoot(Director)inDouglas Dreyer(Director)

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORCrosscut VenturesIndustrious VenturesMoonshots CapitalThe Veteran FundLavrock Ventures

Protonintelprotonintel.comin

Proton Intel develops medical devices for clinical use, drawing on biosensing and minimally invasive microdevice technology, with a focus on point-of-care diagnostics and continuous monitoring (CKM).

Digital HealthHardwareMedical Devices

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORBeresford VenturesDraper AssociatesSOSV

ProtonIntelprotonintelligence.comin

Proton Intelligence develops CKM™, a continuous monitoring medical device drawing on biosensing and minimally invasive microdevice technology for clinical use.

Deep TechDigital HealthHealthtechMedical Devices

Co-investors15th RockLongeVCTenmile

Resonant Link Medicalrlmedical.comin

Resonant Link Medical develops wireless power and data transfer technology for implantable medical devices, enabling smaller, rechargeable, or battery-free implants.

HardwareHealthtechMedical DevicesSouth Burlington, US

Omari Bouknight(Executive Officer, Director)in

BoardJeffrey Chu(Director)

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORFreshTracks CapitalKaleida CapitalScout VenturesScout VenturesVermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET)

Rowndrownd.com

Raleigh, US

Matt Hamann(Founder)Robert Thelen(Founder)

Solideonsolideon.comin𝕏

Solideon is a manufacturing platform specializing in bespoke aerospace vehicle production, including custom-designed aircraft and components.

Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningCleantechHardwareRoboticsSpace TechDenver, US

Oluseun Taiwo(Founder & CEO)inJoel Ilfill(CTO)

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORCentre Street PartnersDellin InvestmentsMD One VenturesTechstarsVibe Capital+5 more

Supply Factorysupplyfactoryholdings.com

Supply Factory is a platform that combines M&A, brand strategy, creative services, and digital innovation focused on the sports, entertainment, and culture industries.

Marketing TechMedia & Entertainment

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTOR

Supplyfactorybrandssupplyfactorybrands.com

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTOR

Tradespacetradespace.ioin

Tradespace offers an AI-powered platform for intellectual property management, helping corporate and institutional IP teams organize their patent portfolios and identify commercialization and market opportunities.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareLegalTechSaaS

Alec Sorensen(Co-founder & CEO)inKapil(Co-founder)in

Co-investors500 GlobalAbstract VenturesACADEMY INVESTOREniac VenturesHike VenturesScrum Ventures

Trogenixtrogenix.comin

Trogenix develops precision genetic medicines for cancer treatment using proprietary Synthetic Super-Enhancers technology delivered via AAV vectors, targeting solid tumors with personalized in situ vaccinations.

AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechHealthtechMedical Devices

Co-investorsACADEMY INVESTORLongeVC

Trogenixtrogenixbio.comin

Trogenix develops precision gene therapies for cancer using its Odysseus platform and Synthetic Super-Enhancer (SSE) technology, engineered DNA elements activated only in diseased cell states to selectively target and kill tumour cells while activating the immune system.

BiotechDeep TechHealthtech

Co-investorsIQ Capital

Vicovico.ioin𝕏

VICO provides AI-generated forecasts and event risk ratings that track and triangulate analyst views into continuous time series data.

AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureFintech

Co-investorsMultiball Capital

Zeno Powerzenopower.comin𝕏

Zeno develops nuclear batteries that convert heat from decaying radioisotopes into electricity for extended-duration applications in space and deep-sea environments where conventional power sources are inadequate.

Deep TechDefense TechEnergyHardwareSpace Tech

Tyler Bernstein(Founder & CEO)in

Co-investors7percent VenturesBalerion Space VenturesBeyond Earth VenturesDCVC (Data Collective)Evolution VC PartnersHanaco Venture Capital+9 more

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

Frequently asked questions

How many investments has AIN Ventures made?
AIN Ventures has 48 tracked investments, including 5 dated in the last 24 months.
What stage does AIN Ventures invest at?
AIN Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
What is AIN Ventures's typical check size?
AIN Ventures typically writes checks of $500K – $1M.
What sectors does AIN Ventures focus on?
AIN Ventures focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Climate Tech, Deep Tech, Defense Tech, Healthtech, Semiconductors, Space Tech.
Where is AIN Ventures located?
AIN Ventures is headquartered in New York, US.
Does AIN Ventures lead rounds?
AIN Ventures typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
Who does AIN Ventures co-invest with?
AIN Ventures most often shares deals with ACADEMY INVESTOR, Techstars, Scout Ventures, among 122 tracked co-investors.

Media · Podcasts & interviews

featuring the team

Veteran's Day Tribute | Sherman Williams from AIN Ventures

National Association of Investment Companies · Sherman Williams

VENTURE CAPITALIST BREAKS DOWN HOW INVESTMENT SERIES STAGES WORK | SHERMAN WILLIAMS | AIN VENTURES

Sherman Williams

Images

AIN Ventures photo

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