Fundraising Fox
Backswing Ventures
Venture capitalOperating companyWindermere · Seed–Series A · 3 people tracked
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Investment thesis
Backswing Ventures focuses narrowly on early-stage companies operating in complex, high-stakes defense and national security markets. It backs founders developing dual-use technologies, critical infrastructure, and strategic systems with scalable impact. The firm emphasizes discipline, preparation, precision, and long-term alignment, investing early and supporting portfolio companies decisively. It partners with a small number of founders building mission-critical technologies while also engaging with investors seeking disciplined, long-term exposure to the defense sector.
Source: firm website, verified Sep 27, 2026.
Team · 3 people
from public directories
Kyle Asman is a defense-focused investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in investment banking and venture capital. He founded Backswing Ventures in 2020, a venture capital firm focused on national security and defense technology that has launched three funds in that sector. Previously, he co-founded BX3 Capital and held positions at Goldman Sachs and Duff & Phelps, and holds a degree from Arcadia University.
What they invest in
from 18 of 24 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×8Hardware ×8Defense Tech ×7Deep Tech ×5Robotics ×5Space Tech ×5Cybersecurity ×4Advanced Manufacturing ×3
HQs:United States×15
Who they back
founder profiles across 11 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×52 founders×23 founders×34+ founders×1
Where their founders studiedfrom 11 founders with education data
Columbia University ×2University of Connecticut School of Business ×2
Investments · 24 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 22025 · 12024 · 14 dated
Airia is an enterprise platform that discovers, secures, and governs AI models, agents, and tools across an organization's environment, enforcing policy at the execution layer before agent actions run.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityEnterprise SoftwareAtlanta, US
John Marshall(Chairman)Andrew Clearwater(Chief Trust Officer)inJohn Marshall Kevin Kiley(Founder)
Co-investorsCounterview CapitalTech Square Ventures
AIRIA provides facility scheduling and space optimization software that analyzes campus room usage to reduce underutilized spaces, cut energy and operational costs, and support financial and operational planning.
AI & Machine LearningPropTechSaaSNew York City, US
Edward Nass(Founder)
Co-investorsCounterview CapitalFulcrum VentureNeer Venture Partners
ClearForce is a people risk analytics company that combines software, data services, and workflow automation to help organizations mitigate insider threat, workplace safety, and security risks across public and private sectors.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareGovTechHR TechVienna, US
Jim Jones(Founder, Chief Executive Officer)inNorm Willox(Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer of Bluewater International)James L. Jones III(Director)Tom Miller(CEO)inLaura Clark(Treasurer and Secretary)Thomas Blair(Director)
Co-investorsPerot Jain
Firehawk Aerospace manufactures solid rocket motors, energetic materials, and propellant using additive (3D printing) manufacturing to produce propellant grains and hybrid rocket engine components.
Defense TechHardwareSpace TechWilmington, US
Will Edwards(Cofounder)inAndrew Wills Edwards(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsCathexis VenturesCubit CapitalDecisive PointDraper AssociatesGaingelsNomi Capital Defense Fund I+9 more
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Firestorm Labs builds xCell, a containerized 3D-printing factory that produces modular military drones at the point of need.
San Diego, US
Daniel Magy(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Chad McCoy(Founder)inIan Muceus(Founder)in
BoardTommy Hendrix(Director)Aaron Jacobson(Director)in
Co-investorsAlumni VenturesBeyond CapitalBlack FlagBooz Allen VenturesBVVCCapital Factory+20 more
Hex builds autonomous battery-swapping infrastructure for drones to extend flight capabilities and make aerial data collection more accessible.
AgTechDeep TechHardwareIoTRoboticsMiami, US
Curtis Lary(Founder & CEO)Nick Mulka(CTO)Shaun Sengupta(COO)
Co-investorsCrucible Capitalavra
Hextronics builds an automated drone-in-a-box system that launches, flies inspection missions, and recharges without an on-site pilot, managed remotely through its software.
HardwareIoTRobotics
Co-investorsFlorida Opportunity Fund
Isengard Industries manufactures production systems that enable allied nations to domestically produce precision-strike and counter-unmanned aircraft systems at scale and lower cost than traditional defense contractors.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningSan Francisco, US
Francisco Serra-Martins(CEO)inJames Tennant(Founder)inEugene Skokowski
Co-investorsSterling RoadSymbiotic VenturesWSSY CombinatorA3 VenturesBlast.Club+10 more
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 INVESTORAIN VenturesAurelia FoundryIn-Q-TelRange VCTechstars
Lone Star Lunar operates space-based data storage and sovereign AI inference platforms called StarVaults, which orbit Earth and the Moon.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingSpace Tech
Co-investorsGaingelsIronGate Capital AdvisorsScout VenturesScout VenturesThe Veteran Fund
Openi Analytics turns public, proprietary, and commercially available data into strategic intelligence using lawful OSINT, analytics, and AI-assisted workflows reviewed by human analysts.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityData & InfrastructureEnterprise Software
Steve Muntean(Founder)inRick Bruno(Chief Operating Officer)inMichael Carraway(Chief Data Officer)Patrick Powers(Chief Revenue Officer)in
Orion Edge Group develops modular RF (radio frequency) systems and software-defined signal generation solutions for defense and military applications in contested environments.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechDefense TechHardware
John Mueller(Chief Executive Officer)inNicholas Teteris(Chief Operating Officer)David Hart(Chief Technology Officer)in
Raven Space Systems develops Microwave Assisted Deposition (MAD) 3D printing technology to manufacture aerospace-grade thermoset and ceramic composite structures, thermal protection, and related parts.
Advanced ManufacturingDefense TechSpace Tech
Ryan Cowdrey(Cofounder)inBlake Herren(Cofounder)in
Co-investorsCapital FactoryFortySix Venture CapitalGaingelsMana VenturesWhat If Ventures
Space Kinetic develops technology to enable frequent, low-cost maneuvering and operations for spacecraft and space systems.
Deep TechHardwareSpace Tech
Scott Ziegler(Founder)in
Co-investorsBalerion Space VenturesCAL InnovationCalifornia Innovation FundIndustrious VenturesUP PartnersCerraCap Ventures
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Vatn designs and manufactures low-cost, modular autonomous underwater vehicles with proprietary autonomy, navigation, and control software for undersea ISR, logistics, sensing, and payload delivery missions.
Defense TechHardwareRoboticsProvidence, US
Frederick Mills(Founder)inNelson Mills(Founder)inGeoff Manchester(Founder)inDan Hendrix(Founder)Freddie Mills(Founder)
BoardThomas Hendrix(Director)in
Co-investorsAirbus VenturesBeyond CapitalBlue CollectiveBVVCCapital FactoryCentre Street Partners+18 more
Develops AI-powered systems for detection and identification of unmanned aerial vehicles for airspace security.
Peachtree Corners, US
KYLE MELONEY(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardMARKUS DIEHL(Director)SALMAN ULLAH(Director)in
Co-investorsDiehl VenturesMerus Capital
Wild West Systems develops autonomous, reusable defense systems for the United States and its allies.
Deep TechDefense TechRoboticsLeander, US
David Franco(Executive Officer)in
Co-investorsBVVCCrosscourt VenturesGaingelsRaptor Group
ZeroEyes provides AI-based visual weapon detection software that integrates with existing security cameras to analyze live video feeds for visible firearms in real time, with detections verified by trained analysts in its operations center before alerts are dispatched to personnel and law enforcement.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityGovTechConshohocken, US
Sam Alaimo(Chief Revenue Officer)inMichael Lahiff(President and CEO)Rob Huberty(Founder)inEdward McCullough(Director)
BoardMichael Kim(Director)
Co-investorsAlumni VenturesBroadLight CapitalDreamit VenturesIntel CapitalOctave Ventures LlcStructural Capital+1 more
Zulu Pods manufactures mission-critical components and sub-systems for the defense and aerospace industries with precision engineering and quality standards.
Advanced ManufacturingDefense TechHardwareCoral Springs, US
Robert Sladen(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)inDaniella Sladen(CTO and Co-Founder)inTodd Currier(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Troy Cunningham(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Joseph K Cunningham(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)
Co-investorsFlorida Opportunity FundTamiami Angel
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
Canvas MeIsengardOrion EdgeRaven Defense
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Firestorm · techcrunch.com · Apr 29, 2026
Orion Edge Group · backswingventures.com · Feb 2, 2026
Firehawk · finsmes.com · Nov 17, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Backswing Ventures made?
- Backswing Ventures has 24 tracked investments, including 3 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Backswing Ventures invest at?
- Backswing Ventures invests at the Seed, Series A stages.
- What sectors does Backswing Ventures focus on?
- Backswing Ventures focuses on Cybersecurity, Deep Tech, Defense Tech, Space Tech.
- Where is Backswing Ventures located?
- Backswing Ventures is headquartered in Windermere, US.
- Does Backswing Ventures lead rounds?
- Backswing Ventures typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
- Who does Backswing Ventures co-invest with?
- Backswing Ventures most often shares deals with BVVC, Gaingels, In-Q-Tel, among 72 tracked co-investors.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the team594th 1Mby1M Entrepreneurship Podcast with Kyle Asman, Backswing Ventures
1Mby1M Roundtables · Kyle Asman
MBS599 - Swinging for Success: Backswing Ventures' Proven Investment Approach with Kyle Asman
Matt Brown Show · Kyle Asman
594th 1Mby1M Roundtable with Kyle Asman, Backswing Ventures
1Mby1M Roundtables · Kyle Asman
Breakfast With An Investor: Kyle Asman, Backswing Ventures
KettleSpace · Kyle Asman
Images
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