Participated · Series A · Apr 2022

Venus Aerospace develops rotating detonation rocket engines (RDRE) and has shifted focus toward hypersonic weapons and high-speed space vehicles after a successful flight demonstration in 2025. The company was founded in 2020 by CEO Sassie Duggleby and CTO Andrew Duggleby. Its propulsion architecture emphasizes efficiency, throttling, reusability, and manufacturability aimed at defense and space customers. Venus has conducted about 600 engine tests with a longest-duration burn of 32 seconds to date, while customers require burns of roughly 6 to 15 minutes for operational missions. This year it received a grant from the Texas Space Commission to build a larger test stand to enable longer-duration testing. The company is using new equity from its $90M Series B to fund vehicle-specific testing and development with potential customers.

Participated · Seed · Feb 2021

Rx Redefined is an Oakland, CA-based health tech company whose platform allows physicians to directly order and fulfill supplies in patients’ best interest, reducing handoffs and improving the patient experience. The company’s platform has enabled physicians to distribute millions of medical products to their patients. In the last year Rx Redefined grew 10x in booked sales and increased its physician population by 450%. Led by CEO Brandon Boots, CTO Erik Smith, and CCO Jayme Hanson, the company focuses on serving group practices with integrated supply services. Rx Redefined plans to use the new funding to invest in sales acceleration, increase operational efficiencies, and expand product features. The description and metrics above are reported by FinSMEs. Rx Redefined is a health‑tech company transforming how physicians prescribe and patients obtain essential medical supplies. The company offers a platform that allows physicians to directly manage the distribution of DMEPOS to their patients. Its stated focus is enabling patients to independently manage their care by simplifying access to needed medical supplies. Rx Redefined was founded in 2018 and is based in Oakland, CA. The company announced the completion of a $2 million seed funding round led by Silverton Partners with participation from Saturn Five.

Participated · Seed · Oct 2018

ICON develops large-scale 3D printers and materials to construct homes and other structures, and launched its first permitted 3D‑printed house after debuting at SXSW in 2018. The company is focused on deploying Phoenix, a new line of multi‑story robotic 3D printers that use a low‑carbon building material and aim to put the technology into the hands of builders. ICON still designs and builds a selection of projects itself across residential, hospitality, social/affordable housing and Department of Defense work. Over the years the company says it has 3D‑printed nearly 200 homes and structures in the U.S. and Mexico. The startup has raised more than $500 million to date, recently underwent a workforce realignment that included letting go of 114 employees, and presently has about 200 employees. Former presidential candidate and Congressman Will Hurd, a prior investor, has joined ICON’s board. ICON develops and constructs homes using 3D printing technology. Its core product is 3D-printed houses. The article reports that ICON raised $185 million. The piece does not provide details on investors, the financing instrument, valuation, or terms. No operating metrics (revenue, user numbers, or number of homes built) are given in the article. Reader comments on the article noted that the cost of the homes was not stated. ICON is an Austin, Texas‑based construction technology company that builds 3D‑printed single‑family homes and larger structures using proprietary Vulcan printing systems, robotics and advanced materials. Its Vulcan technology is positioned to produce resilient, energy‑efficient homes faster and with less waste; the new Vulcan can print up to 3,000 sq ft and is reported to be 1.5x larger and 2x faster than the prior system. The company has delivered more than two dozen 3D‑printed homes and structures across the U.S. and Mexico, including projects for homeless and low‑income populations with partners such as New Story and Mobile Loaves & Fishes. ICON has expanded into mainstream housing (including homes for sale) and launched an Exploration Series (House Zero) optimized for 3D printing, and it is working with NASA on habitat projects including Mars Dune Alpha. The company reports roughly 400% year‑over‑year revenue growth nearly every year, has tripled its team to over 100 employees and expects to double headcount within the next year. ICON says it will use new funding to scale construction of 3D‑printed homes, accelerate R&D and advance its space‑based construction efforts. Icon develops advanced construction technologies centered on proprietary 3D-printing robotics, software and advanced materials. The company intends to use the new funds to expand its team across robotics, off-planet construction, materials science, software engineering, architecture, building science and operations. It will also accelerate development of its printers, create a variety of home types and designs, and enhance its core technology stack. The $35M Series A brings Icon’s total funding since launch to $44M. Icon previously announced $9M in seed funding in October 2018 led by Oakhouse Partners with participation from Cielo Property Group, D.R. Horton and Emaar, among others. Led by co-founder and CEO Jason Ballard and based in Austin, Texas, Icon has launched printers and printed a home (March 2018), introduced its Vulcan technology stack in 2019, and delivered projects in the U.S. and Mexico. In 2020 it delivered 3D-printed homes in Mexico with nonprofit New Story, completed homes for the chronically homeless in Austin with Mobile Loaves & Fishes, and partnered with the Defense Innovation Unit and U.S. Marine Corps on a field demonstration at Camp Pendleton; additional projects will be announced. ICON develops 3D‑printing robotics (the Vulcan printer), software and advanced materials to transform homebuilding. The company is focused on making affordable, dignified and sustainable housing available worldwide. In March 2018 ICON unveiled its first 3D‑printed home in Austin and secured a building permit. ICON plans to deliver strategic signature projects in the U.S. and abroad and to continue work with the nonprofit partner New Story. A second‑generation Vulcan printer is under development and slated for unveiling in 2019. The company is expanding its team with technical hires in robotics, advanced materials and software engineering.