Dauntless Ventures
Actively deployingHolladay Β· 3 people tracked
Investment thesis
Dauntless Ventures is a venture capital firm founded by military veterans focused on backing founders building the next generation of America's defense and industrial base.
Source: firm website, verified Jul 21, 2026.
Team Β· 3 people
from the firm's websiteFormer Marine Corps attack pilot and senior tactics instructor who transitioned to investing through technology banking at Goldman Sachs, followed by roles as Managing Director at In-Q-Tel in Silicon Valley and Australia, and Head of Australia for Salesforce Ventures.
Former Navy nuclear engineer with a finance career spanning investments at Goldman Sachs Growth, Passport Capital, and Bienville where he served as PM and General Partner.
Former US Navy Super Hornet pilot and TOPGUN graduate who built fast-growing startups including early work at Ginkgo Biosecurity, Chief Commercial Officer role at Solugen, and co-founding Lila Sciences.
What they invest in
from 3 of 8 portfolio companiesBiotech Γ2AI & Machine Learning Γ1Deep Tech Γ1Defense Tech Γ1Hardware Γ1Healthtech Γ1Robotics Γ1SaaS Γ1
HQs:United StatesΓ1
Investments Β· 8 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathEnzymatic DNA synthesis delivering longer, more accurate sequences faster for biosecurity, therapeutics, and synthetic biology
Ansa Biotechnologies develops an enzyme-based process to manufacture DNA, offering an alternative to the established chemical synthesis methods used in the industry. The technology targets research and industrial applications across therapeutics, diagnostics, and biological production.
BiotechHealthtechEmeryville, US
LILA Sciences builds AI systems for autonomous scientific research and discovery across medicine, materials, energy, and defense sectors. The company develops a general-purpose platform designed to accelerate the scientific method by enabling systems to learn independently rather than relying on hard-coded expert knowledge.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechSaaS
Scientific superintelligence OS accelerating R&D in advanced materials, aerospace, defense, chemicals, biotech, and more
Vatn builds autonomous underwater vehicles and systems for underwater operations including surveillance, mine countermeasures, and payload delivery in GPS-denied environments. The company serves defense and maritime organizations executing missions in contested waters.
Defense TechHardwareRobotics
Autonomous UUV swarms with GPS-denied navigation redefining undersea domain awareness for defense and commercial missions
Frequently asked questions
- What sectors does Dauntless Ventures focus on?
- Dauntless Ventures focuses on Biotech, Cybersecurity, Defense Tech, Energy, New Materials, Robotics.
- Where is Dauntless Ventures located?
- Dauntless Ventures is headquartered in Holladay, US.
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