Fundraising Fox

Raj Shah

Investor

Managing Partner at Shield Capital · Board director at Albedo

San Francisco Bay Area

Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M

About

Raj Shah, a combat F‑16 pilot and cybersecurity founder who led the Pentagon’s DIU, guides dual‑use startups to win commercially while meeting defense requirements via his Pentagon relationships and playbook.

Contact· self-published, not guessed

Invests in

AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityDefense TechInsurTechRoboticsSpace Tech

Board director at AlbedoYC W21

Intro paths

YC

Raj went through Y Combinator (Winter 2021) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

GP

Their group partner at YC was Brad Flora, Backing expeditions into the future — the partner who ran Albedo's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

→

In turn, Raj can intro founders to Albedo's investors below.

Albedo's investors · 17

Angel Collective Opportunity FundSan FranciscoBlack FlagSan Diego · $100K – $1M checksBooz Allen Venturessince 2025Breakthrough Energy VenturesBoston · $500K – $50M checks · since 2022Cubit CapitalDallas · $500K – $3M checks · since 2024Dnx VenturesTokyo · $1M – $5M checksGiant Step CapitalChicago · since 2022Initialized CapitalSan Francisco · $1M – $5M checks · since 2022JetstreamSan FranciscoLombardstreet VenturesWoodside · $500K checksRepublic Capital (ex Republic Labs)New YorkShield CapitalSan Francisco · since 2022Standard InvestmentsNew York · since 2024TRAC (Third Round Analytics Capital)San Francisco · $250K – $2M checksU.S. Air Forcesince 2022Wayfinder VenturesSan Francisco · $300K – $1M checksY CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2021

Co-founders at Albedo

THTopher Haddad
Topher HaddadFounder
ALAyJay Lasater
AyJay LasaterFounder
WT
Winston TriExecutive Officer, Promoter

Experience

  1. ResilienceExecutive Chairman and Co-foundercurrent2018 — present
  2. Shield CapitalManaging Partnercurrent2020 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  3. Nanubhai Education FoundationFounder, Board Membercurrent2004 — present
  4. USAFF-16 Fighter Pilot, Air National Guardcurrent2000 — present
  5. Stanford UniversityAdjunct Professor2020 — 2023
  6. Unite UsMember, Board of Directors2016 — 2021
  7. Defense Innovation Unit ExperimentalManaging Partner2016 — 2018San Francisco Bay Area
  8. Palo Alto NetworksSenior Director, Cybersecurity2014 — 2016CA
  9. Morta SecurityCEO2012 — 2014San Francisco Bay Area
  10. Department of DefenseSpecial Assistant2006 — 2007Pentagon
  11. McKinsey & Co.Business Analyst2005 — 2006New Jersey, Philadelphia

Skills & more

Private Equity16DoD37Military11Financial Modeling10Entrepreneurship49Business Strategy30Cyber Warfare5Management Consulting26Defense24Start-ups79Security42Policy9
+11 moreStrategic PartnershipsMergers & AcquisitionsBusiness DevelopmentGovernmentNetwork SecurityExecutive ManagementProgram ManagementStrategic PlanningTechnologyIntelligenceStrategy

From Raj's professional profile.

Deals · 1

Elroy AirBoard seat

via Shield Capital · filed Feb 2024 · $52.4M raise

Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.

Other disclosed investments

Board seats

Palo Alto Networks (PANW)

Investor

Morta SecurityResilience

Sources: SEC Form D filings · the firm's website.

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

Frequently asked questions

Who is Raj Shah?
Raj Shah, a combat F‑16 pilot and cybersecurity founder who led the Pentagon’s DIU, guides dual‑use startups to win commercially while meeting defense requirements via his Pentagon relationships and playbook.
Where does Raj Shah work?
Raj Shah is Managing Partner at Shield Capital and Board director at Albedo.
What does Raj Shah invest in?
Raj Shah invests in AI & Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Defense Tech, InsurTech, Robotics, Space Tech.
What check size does Raj Shah write?
Raj Shah typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
What boards does Raj Shah sit on?
Raj Shah holds tracked board seats at Elroy Air, Palo Alto Networks (PANW).
What companies has Raj Shah invested in?
Investments tracked here include Morta Security, Resilience.
Where did Raj Shah go to school?
Raj Shah studied at Princeton University (AB, Woodrow Wilson School); The Wharton School (MBA, General Management).

Founder mafias

Stanford University mafia903

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Peter ThielJ.D.Founded PayPal +1Reid HoffmanB.S.Founded LinkedIn +2Joe LonsdaleBSFounded Opto +3Mike Maples JrBSFounded Pattern BreakersSteve JurvetsonMSEEFounded Mojo VisionBalaji SrinivasanGraduate StudentFounded Counsyl +1

+ 896 more

The Wharton School mafia209

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Kunal BahlMarketing and Operations StrategyFounded SnapdealJack AbrahamBachelors of Science in Economics *Dropped outFounded Sauron +8Ankur JainBachelor of Science (BS)Founded Kairos +3Christian SchadeMaster of Business Administration - MBAFounded Halda Therapeutics +2Eric HeilMBAFounded Ladderbio +1Daniel FetnerMaster of Business Administration (MBA)Founded Instrument Capital +1

+ 202 more

Princeton University mafia160

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Ryan SheaBSEFounded StacksDario AmodeiPhDFounded AnthropicFei-Fei LiBachelor of Arts - BAFounded World LabsChristian SchadeBachelor of Arts - BAFounded Halda Therapeutics +2Emin Gun SirerB.S.E.Founded Avalanche +2Luke EvninBachelor’s DegreeFounded Mpmcapital +1

+ 153 more

Shield Capital mafia4

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Sumit AgarwalVenture PartnerFounded Shape Security +1John SerafiniVenture PartnerFounded HawkEye 360Joe WhiteVenture PartnerFounded MoonFruit

Department of Defense mafia3

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Ty WangRadio Frequency (RF) and Signals EngineerFounded Angle HealthSean HackerSoftware EngineerFounded Method Security

Same school

Also attended Princeton University731

Fabrice GrindaCo-founder & Managing Partner at FJ LabsRyan SheaCo-founder of Blockstack (Stacks)Dario AmodeiCo-founder & CEO of AnthropicFei-Fei LiCo-founder & CEO of World Labs; Sequoia Professor of Computer Science at StanfordKJ SidberryInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)AndrewAdvisor at Clear Ventures

+ 725 more

Also attended The Wharton School1,995

Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesSarah GuoFounder & General Partner of ConvictionJosh KopelmanFounder and Partner at First Round CapitalAydin SenkutFounder & Managing Partner at FelicisKunal BahlCo-founder of Snapdeal; co-founder of Titan CapitalJack AbrahamFounder, CEO & Managing Partner of Atomic

+ 1,989 more

Shared employers

Also worked at USAF107

Dave MunichielloInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Ross Perot Jr.Chairman of The Perot Group at Perot JainNathaniel HardingManaging Partner at Cortado VenturesKevin MandiaGeneral Partner at Ballistic VenturesTidal McCoyChairman at IronGate Capital AdvisorsSteve SargeantSenior Advisory Board at IronGate Capital Advisors

+ 101 more

Also worked at Stanford University783

Ann Miura-KoCo-founding Partner at FloodgateBalaji SrinivasanAngel investor and founder of The Network SchoolMartin CasadoGeneral Partner at Andreessen HorowitzMike KriegerCo-founder of Instagram; Chief Product Officer at AnthropicAndy FangCo-founder & CTO of DoorDashRyan SheaCo-founder of Blockstack (Stacks)

+ 777 more

Also worked at Unite Us10

Zimri RodriguezVenture Programs Coordinator at Keyhorse CapitalDavid WhelanCo-Founder and General Partner at Town Hall VenturesNancy BrownAdvisor at Oncology VenturesVig ChandramouliPartner at Oak HC/FTBrian NguyenInvestor at SpringbankAndrew PriceGeneral Partner at Decisive Point

+ 4 more

Also worked at Palo Alto Networks46

Sarah GuoFounder & General Partner of ConvictionJim GoetzPartner at Sequoia CapitalAsheem ChandnaPartner at Greylock focused on enterprise, cybersecurity, and infrastructure softwareGeorge ManuelianAdvisory Board Member at Rembrandt Venture PartnersEliza ChamberlainSenior Associate at Jump CapitalVicky BooksMarketing Director at Grove Ventures

+ 40 more