Participated · Seed · Apr 2026

Sonibel Instruments is developing a torch-mounted acoustic sensor that uses machine-learning models to identify welding defects by sound and alert operators via a display. The company is advancing its product toward a plug-and-play form factor and plans to use the new capital to expand development work. Sonibel is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, and is led by CEO Sophia Millar, CPO Hooman Pirouz and CTO George Hollo. The startup announced a $1.6M pre-seed raise led by Maple VC with participation from Champion Hill Ventures, Dorm Room Fund and angels. At the time of the funding it was running its first paid pilot with a Fortune 100 customer in the power transmission sector.

Participated · Seed · Dec 2025

Founded in 2022, New York-based Keeper applies psychometrics, open-ended data collection, and guidance from Stanford evolutionary scientists to create what it calls the world’s most effective AI matchmaker. The product screens thousands of potential partners and presents users with one tailored match at a time, emphasizing quality over quantity and aligning its business model with user success. During beta, more than 1.5 million people signed up and the service achieved an unprecedented 1-in-10 first-date-to-marriage rate. Recent R&D efforts have transitioned Keeper from a human-in-the-loop, AI-assisted workflow to Keeper V2, where AI handles search, ranking, and proposing matches before a human completes a quick review. The company is now scaling its matching engine, broadening distribution channels, and adding coaching and feedback features to enhance user outcomes. Management positions Keeper as a solution to global loneliness by delivering “your last first date.” No revenue figures have been disclosed, but the platform’s early engagement and success metrics underscore strong product-market fit.

Participated · Series B · Dec 2025

Castelion's flagship product is Blackbeard, described as a low-cost, mass-producible hypersonic strike missile engineered for industrial-rate output and continuous flight-test iteration. The company has progressed from early development to repeated flight testing, operational integration, and construction of a dedicated high-rate production capability, including the 1,000-acre Project Ranger manufacturing campus in New Mexico. Castelion has secured over $500 million in U.S. military contracts in the past 18 months and achieved program-of-record status for Blackbeard in under four years, with fielding targeted for 2027. Management and investors say the company is already producing hardware, mixing propellant in New Mexico, and shipping to the services. Castelion plans to use new capital to scale Blackbeard production, accelerate a longer-range precision strike weapon that leverages Blackbeard technologies, and develop lower-cost defensive systems. The company is headquartered in Torrance, California, with manufacturing operations in New Mexico, Texas, and California and offices in Washington, D.C. The Series C values the company at $13 billion following the $1 billion raise (comprised of $800 million equity and a $250 million revolving credit facility).

Participated · Series C · Apr 2025

True Anomaly develops and delivers capabilities for space missions, including autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors. The company says its products enable the U.S. and its allies to secure the space environment and counter threats. Founded in 2022 and based in Centennial, CO, True Anomaly has offices in Colorado Springs, Washington, D.C., and Long Beach, CA, and is led by CEO Even Rogers. Financially, the company has now raised a total of $1 billion in capital, including a $650M Series D that closed with $50M of debt. In the next 18 months True Anomaly plans multiple missions in LEO and GEO and will conduct the VICTUS HAZE Tactically Responsive Space demonstration while advancing its payload portfolio. The company intends to use the new funding to accelerate delivery across its product portfolio and mission capabilities.

Participated · Seed · Apr 2025

Durin is developing drilling rigs outfitted with sensors and automation to reduce the labor and cost of minerals exploration. The company started designing its first rig earlier this year; the prototype can bore about 300 meters deep and 2.5 inches wide. That rig is currently manually operated but instrumented to gather data for future automation models. Durin is also building an automatic pipe-loading contraption to remove manual tasks on site. The startup has embarked on its first drilling program and expects to have enough data by the end of the year to begin building its automation model. Founder and CEO Ted Feldmann, who grew up in a mining family, aims to cut the labor-intensive portion of exploration — drilling consumes roughly 70% of exploration capital and labor represents about 60% of drillers' costs — and anticipates rigs could run unattended in two to three years.