Fundraising Fox

Steve Messinger

Founder

Founder at Perseus Defense

Austin, Texas, United States

FoundedPerseus Defense · YC

About

Steve Messinger is co-founder and CTO of Perseus Defense, with research and applied work in swarm robotics and autonomous systems. He has previously developed autonomy systems for Boeing aircraft and collaborative control systems for unmanned maritime platforms.

Founder at Perseus DefenseYC S25

Intro paths

YC

Steve went through Y Combinator (Summer 2025) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

GP

Their group partner at YC was Tyler Bosmeny, General Partner at Y Combinator — the partner who ran Perseus Defense's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

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In turn, Steve can intro founders to Perseus Defense's investors below.

Perseus Defense's investors · 6

Alumni VenturesManchester · $100K – $10M checks · since 2025Bow CapitalMenlo Park · since 2025Lobster CapitalSan Francisco · since 2025Olive Tree CapitalBostonRebel FundSan Francisco · $100K – $5M checks · since 2025Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2025

Co-founders at Perseus Defense

JCJason Cornelius
Jason CorneliusCo-founder & CEO

Experience

  1. Perseus DefenseCo-Foundercurrent2025 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  2. EpiSci (acquired by Applied Intuition)Research Scientist - Collaborative Autonomy2024 — 2025Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  3. Aurora Flight SciencesGuidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer2022 — 2024Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
  4. The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State UniversityR&D Engineering Graduate Assistant2020 — 2022State College, Pennsylvania, United States
  5. The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State UniversityR&D Engineering Intern2019 — 2020State College-DuBois Area

Skills & more

Control Design1Flight Control1Engineering1PreparationManufacturing1MATLABSimulinkAVLXFOILFlight TestingOpenVSPC++
  • FAA Part 107 Certified UAS Pilot — Federal Aviation Administration
  • Reinforcement Learning: AI Flight with Unity ML-Agents — Udemy

From Steve's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Steve Messinger?
Steve Messinger is co-founder and CTO of Perseus Defense, with research and applied work in swarm robotics and autonomous systems. He has previously developed autonomy systems for Boeing aircraft and collaborative control systems for unmanned maritime platforms.
Where does Steve Messinger work?
Steve Messinger is Founder of Perseus Defense.
What companies did Steve Messinger found?
Steve Messinger founded Perseus Defense.
Where did Steve Messinger go to school?
Steve Messinger studied at Y Combinator; Penn State University (Master of Science - MS, Aerospace); Penn State University (Bachelor's degree, Aerospace Engineering).

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia8,773

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianYC Summer 2005Founded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded HotspotsTrae StephensYC Winter 2022Founded Pursuit +1

+ 8,766 more

Y Combinator mafia4,716

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Ryan SheaEntrepreneurshipFounded StacksTarek MansourFounded KalshiSuhail DoshiEating beans & riceFounded Playground +1Subomi OluwalanaW22Founded ConvoyDarius "Bubs" MonsefS19Founded Sightbox +3Matthew ScholzFounded Oisin Biotechnologies +3

+ 4,709 more

Penn State University mafia41

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Jim EveringhamComputer ScienceFounded LiveOps +1Ash AshutoshMastersFounded Actifio +1Queen Chinyere QuinnB.A.Founded Oathafrica +1Fahim FerdousComputer ScienceFounded AdQuick +1Joe FiotiComputer ScienceFounded Luminal +1Peter EmighBSFounded Savoy Life

+ 34 more

Aurora mafia7

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Billy ThalheimerInternship Program ManagerFounded REGENTMichael KlinkerIntelligent Systems EngineerFounded REGENTCraig BonnoitLead Computational MathematicianFounded TrellusAnubhav GuhaData & Analytics EngineerFounded SenseiJohn PiottiRobotics Software EngineerFounded SenseiAndrew KurtzStaff Mechanical EngineerFounded Nine Fives

Same school

Also attended Y Combinator2,000

Tarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of KalshiSuhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleSubomi OluwalanaCo-founder & CEO of ConvoyMaroof AhmedFounder at Octopus VenturesJustin SwartPartner at Bitkraft Esports VenturesCollin WallaceGeneral Partner at Lobby Capital

+ 1,994 more

Also attended Penn State University189

Kelly DonovanExecutive Assistant & Operations Associate, Revolution Growth at RevolutionFallon GoodeExecutive Assistant at March Capital PartnersCristina HohlmanPartner, Chief Financial Officer at Sapphire VenturesNick DolikInvestor at 8VCRobert SoffelRevOps Expert at Notion CapitalLouis BernemanFounding Partner at Osage University Partners

+ 183 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Perseus Defense1

Jason CorneliusCo-founder & CEO at Perseus Defense

Also worked at Aurora Flight Sciences7

Vinit NijhawanManaging Director at MassVenturesBilly ThalheimerFounder at REGENTMichael KlinkerFounder at REGENTCraig BonnoitFounder at TrellusAnubhav GuhaFounder at SenseiJohn PiottiFounder at Sensei

+ 1 more

Also worked at The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University1

Morton LinInvestor at NEW VISTA CAPITAL