We invest up to $1M in early-stage founders leveraging unfair advantages to build category-leading dual-use AI companies.
We are seasoned entrepreneurs and operators with deep military and commercial networks, empowering US and allied innovators to build today and scale for tomorrow.
We back visionary founders from day one, providing the capital and expertise they need to turn groundbreaking ideas into transformative ventures.
We partner with startups that have achieved product-market fit, helping them scale aggressively, streamline operations, and unlock new growth opportunities.
We recognize that opportunity knows no borders. And while we primarily invest in the US, we consider all opportunities in NATO and allied nations around the world.
At Athenian Capital, we're unafraid of risk, investing between $100K and $1M to back visionary founders shaping the future of humankind.
We fund transformative AI-native applications, hardware, and infrastructure, with a focus on dual-use technologies in sectors like cybersecurity, robotics, and autonomous systems.
Prioritizing Dual-Use Technologies
We prioritize dual-use technologies catering to both commercial and government applications. These include advancements in cybersecurity, robotics, autonomous systems, and infrastructure resilience, enhancing national security, emergency response, and economic innovation. By addressing both government demand and commercial scalability, we're building a diverse and resilient portfolio, aligned with the strategic needs of the US and her allies.
AI-Native Software and Hardware
Our investments focus on AI-native applications and the hardware that powers them. This includes advanced processors, edge computing devices, and AI-optimized platforms designed for high-demand workloads. These technologies drive innovation in areas such as autonomous vehicles, smart infrastructure, and defense systems, including real-time surveillance, drones, and robotics. By prioritizing dual-use capabilities, we ensure commercial viability while meeting critical defense objectives.
Focus on High-Impact Sectors
We invest in transformative AI solutions tailored to high-impact industries such as cybersecurity, logistics, aerospace, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. These investments capture the intersection of innovation and national defense, addressing both commercial opportunities and strategic challenges for allied nations. Dual-use AI applications, from autonomous vehicle fleets to intelligent threat detection systems, serve as key drivers of growth across these sectors.
Democratizing Opportunity
Democratizing Opportunity
We built Aureus, our proprietary Calculation Engine powered by advanced large language models (LLMs), to fundamentally change how we invest. Aureus enables us to deeply analyze founders’ behavioral data, leadership potential, and team dynamics, integrating historical insights and market sentiment to predict key success factors and uncover outlier opportunities.
This empowers us to invest with greater conviction at smaller dollar amounts—a strategic advantage that most other VCs can’t replicate. By delivering unparalleled precision and insights, Aureus ensures that every investment is not only data-driven and strategically optimized but also aligned for long-term success.
