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Status
ACTIVE
Global HQ
San Francisco, United States
Countries of investment
  • United States
  • Canada
  • United Kingdom
  • Israel
Investment stages
  • Seed
  • Series A
  • Series B
Industries
  • AI
  • Autonomy
  • Cybersecurity
  • Space
  • Defense Tech
  • National Security
  • Dual-Use
About
Shield Capital is a San Francisco-based VC focused on early-stage companies building technologies that matter for national security. Their focus spans artificial intelligence, autonomy, cybersecurity, and space across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Israel. The firm supports founders from Seed through Series B.
Min check size
$1M
Max check size
$10M
Fund size
NPS

Investment Thesis

Shield Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm deploying capital across artificial intelligence, autonomy, cybersecurity, and space sectors. They invest in entrepreneurs building technologies at the convergence of commercial technology and national security. The firm differentiates itself through its veteran team of founders, investors, and national security leaders, dedicated focus on dual-use technologies serving both commercial and defense applications, and deep relationships across US government and defense ecosystems supporting founders through critical early-stage growth milestones.
Lead investor
Co Invest
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Manager's Experience

The Shield Capital team brings combined operator-investor expertise from national security, military, and Silicon Valley ecosystems. Philip Bilden (Co-Founder & Managing Partner) brings 25+ years of national security investing experience, previously co-founding HarbourVest International and serving as Trustee at the US Naval Academy Foundation. Raj Shah (Co-Founder & Managing Partner) previously served as Managing Partner of Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), F-16 fighter pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan, and co-founder of Morta Security (acquired by Palo Alto Networks). The firm operates from San Francisco with dedicated focus on supporting entrepreneurs at the convergence of commercial technology and national security across AI, autonomy, cybersecurity, and space sectors.

Shield Capital Contacts Information

Primary contact

Secondary contact

Team

Philip Bilden - Founder & Managing Partner

Raj Shah - Founder & Managing Partner

Michael Brown - Partner

John Serafini - Partner

Pat O'Reilly - Operating Partner

Akhil Iyer - Principal

David Rothzeid - Principal

Maggie Gray - Vice President

Matt Kaplan - Associate

Dan Holland - Chief Operating Officer

Lisa Hill - Director of Investor Relations and Engagement

Jacqueline Neugue - Head of Capital Formation

Lexi Paulson - Executive Assistant

Caroline Aertker - Investor Relations Analyst

David DeRuff - Chief Financial Officer

Ray Rothrock - Venture Partner

Jillian Manus - Venture Partner

Elias Manousos - Venture Partner

John Jack - Venture Partner

Matt Scullin - Venture Partner

Portfolio

Authentic8

HawkEye 360

Airspace Intelligence

Resilience

Elroy Air

Snorkel

Albedo

Howso

Vannevar Labs

Overwatch Imaging

Unstructured

Rangeview

APEX

Nexla

Anetac

Armada

Dedrone

Vorlon

MIMIC

Knostic

Code Metal

Starfish Space

Danti

Resim

Arena

Distributed Spectrum

Mpower

Pillar Security

Seasats

Tenex

ACyber

Omni

Obviant

Reveal

Vector

Knit

UFORCE

Star Catcher

Autonomous Cyber

GoSecure

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