Michael A. Brown
InvestorVenture Partner (later Partner) at Shield Capital · Board director at Code Metal
Palo Alto, California
Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M
About
Former Director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Presidential Innovation Fellow who helped shape FIRRMA/CFIUS reforms. Previously CEO of Symantec and Chairman/CEO of Quantum Corporation.
Contact· published on Michael's own website
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityDefense TechRoboticsSpace Tech
Board director at Code Metal
Intro paths
→
In turn, Michael can intro founders to Code Metal's investors below.
Code Metal's investors · 10
AccelPalo Alto · $1.6M – $70M checks · since 2026B CapitalGeneva · since 2026B Capital GroupManhattan Beach · $10M – $50M checksB4 Capital$10M – $50M checksBosch VenturesStuttgart · $27M checks · since 2025Fulcrum VentureSanta MonicaJ2 VenturesBoston · since 2026Salesforce VenturesSan Francisco · $5M – $50M checks · since 2026Shield CapitalSan Francisco · since 2025Smith Point CapitalSan Francisco
.jpeg){kind=logo}
Co-founders at Code Metal
PM
Peter MoralesCo-Founder & CEO
AS
Alex Showalter-BucherCo-Founder & SVP of Technology
Experience
- Shield CapitalPartnercurrent2022 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Special Competitive Studies Project - SCSPAdvisorcurrent2025 — present
- Institute for Security and Technology (IST)Distinguished Senior Fellowcurrent2024 — present
- Center for a New American Security (CNAS)Board of Advisorscurrent2022 — presentWashington, District of Columbia, United States
- Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET)Member of the Board of Advisorscurrent2025 — presentWashington, District of Columbia, United States
- Council on Global Competition and Innovation - CGCICouncil Membercurrent2025 — presentWashington, District of Columbia, United States
- Information Technology and Innovation FoundationBoard Membercurrent2022 — present
- Strider TechnologiesBoard Membercurrent2022 — presentSalt Lake County, Utah, United States
- ASIMILYBoard Member and Investorcurrent2017 — presentSunnyvale, California
- Revic AIInvestor and Advisorcurrent2022 — present
- The Hoover Institution, Stanford UniversityVisiting Scholar2022 — 2024Stanford, California
- Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)Director2018 — 2022Mountain View, CA
- Berklee College of MusicBoard of Trustees2013 — 2021Boston, MA
- White House Presidential Innovation FellowsPresidential Innovation Fellow2016 — 2018San Francisco Bay Area & Washington, D.C.
- SymantecCEO2014 — 2016Mountain View, California
- SymantecBoard Member2003 — 2016Mountain View, CA
- Echo Nest, now part of SpotifyBoard Member2011 — 2014Somerville, MA
- Line 6, now part of YamahaChairman of the Board2004 — 2014Calabasas, CA
- Quantum CorporationCEO & Chairman of the Board1995 — 2003San Jose, CA
- Quantum CorporationPresident, Desktop and Portable Storage Group1993 — 1995San Jose, CA
- Quantum CorporationEVP & Chief Operating Officer1992 — 1993San Jose, CA
Colleagues at Shield Capital
Akhil Iyer
Principal at Shield Capital
Ashton Carter
Senior Advisor at Shield Capital
Caroline Aertker
Investor Relations Analyst at Shield Capital
Dan Holland
COO at Shield Capital
Dan Razin Caine
Venture Partner at Shield Capital
David DeRuff
Chief Financial Officer (fractional, part-time) at Shield Capital
David Goldfein
National Security Advisory Board at Shield Capital
David Rothzeid
Principal at Shield Capital
Network2
Investors connected to Michael in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Michael A. Brown?
- Former Director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Presidential Innovation Fellow who helped shape FIRRMA/CFIUS reforms. Previously CEO of Symantec and Chairman/CEO of Quantum Corporation.
- Where does Michael A. Brown work?
- Michael A. Brown is Venture Partner (later Partner) at Shield Capital and Board director at Code Metal.
- What does Michael A. Brown invest in?
- Michael A. Brown invests in AI & Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Defense Tech, Robotics, Space Tech.
- What check size does Michael A. Brown write?
- Michael A. Brown typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
- Where did Michael A. Brown go to school?
- Michael A. Brown studied at Stanford University Graduate School of Business (MBA); Harvard University (Bachelor's Degree, Economics).
Same school
Also attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business1,384
Roelof BothaAdvisor & former Steward at Sequoia Capital; SpaceX board memberPeter FentonGeneral Partner at BenchmarkSteve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesDavid SzeAdvisory Partner at GreylockKatherine BoyleGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (American Dynamism)Hunter WalkCo-founder & Partner at Homebrew
+ 1,378 more
Also attended Harvard University1,558
Alfred LinPartner at Sequoia CapitalChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzSarah TavelVenture Partner at BenchmarkDanny RimerPartner at Index VenturesLaela SturdyManaging Partner at CapitalGBill GatesCo-founder of Microsoft; Chair of the Gates Foundation
+ 1,552 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Council on Global Competition and Innovation - CGCI3
Also worked at Revic AI2
Also worked at Berklee College of Music6
Steve HoltzmanBio Advisor at Amplify PartnersJason RhodesPartner at Atlas VentureGavin BergerBoard of Directors at Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET)Matt ManninoSenior Manager, Marketing Operations at Acme InnovationDan ServantesSenior Director, Marketing and Strategy at Acme InnovationPaul CirielloInvestor at Fairhaven Capital Partners
