In-Q-Tel

We invest in early-stage R&D-focused individuals and teams solving complex technical challenges with large potential for commercial application. INVESTMENT AREAS We like to invest in teams building solutions in these technical domains: Software++AI & ML Big Data AR, VR & XR Cybersecurity Cloud/DevSecOps Distributed systems Performance computing Life SciencePersonalized medicine Drug discovery software Precision medicine Biofabrication Digital twins Organoids other BioTech, MedTech HardwareRobotics Automation IoT Industry 4.0 Nanotechnology Material Science Space

At Snowpoint, we back dual-tech companies looking to navigate the complexities of government and commercial use. We lean on our deep industry knowledge and operational experience to help these businesses overcome the nuanced challenges and risks associated with creating innovations and cutting-edge technology that will protect our national security and deliver value to societies at large. We see a major technological shift on the global stage that is transforming all aspects of modern life and aim to be at the forefront of driving this necessary transformation across both defense and commercial markets all from the lens of rediscovering the roots of U.S. venture capital. With new technologies coming online faster than ever before and governments greatly increasing R&D spend globally we find ourselves at a precipice not seen before. In addition to continued consolidation in the defense industrial base a misalignment on incentives between the government and the commercial sector has been allowed to continue which has resulted in an inefficient process to rapidly develop and deploy innovative technologies leaving us exposed. An Innovation Mindset Cell phone, radar, GPS, the internet, and many other everyday use items owe their existence to research by governments pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. The internet’s origins date back to the late 1960s, when a DARPA-fueled research project created what was then called “Arpanet”. In the decades that followed, the world wide web emerged from Arpanet, satellites proliferated in support of global positioning systems, and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags were invented and placed on items for inventory tracking. Taken together, this set the foundation for what we now call the “internet of things” (IoT). As the IoT, the remote work movement, and geostationary orbit satellites deepen their footholds within the commercial sector, and as the battlefield grows increasingly distributed with each successive global conflict, edge communications are approaching another breakthrough age. In tandem, speed and distance with which business and militaries operate is continuously increasing, and their communications capabilities must keep pace. The world’s new level of interconnectedness has pushed many to value privacy over convenience - something that the defense sector has been doing for years. Thanks to the precipitous rise and continued exponential increase and adaptation in these technologically infused spaces, the potential on both sides of the dual-tech coin is far from being realized. We believe by backing this decade’s visionary entrepreneurs - those who create products or services which completely transform their customers’ businesses or livelihoods - will leave a tremendous impact on both the commercial and defense sectors. Inflection Point Commercial and government demand over the next decade will be vastly different than the past decades, and valuable developmental lessons learned in the late 2010s will illuminate the path forward for the next decade. Today’s robots appear to be reaching an inflection point - exponential growth in intelligence, computational power, and capabilities are accelerating. The rise in big data is creating a demand for a more efficient means of organization and analysis, setting the table for AI in dozens of verticals including healthcare, military, and industrials. The ever-tenuous geopolitical landscape is pushing billions of government dollars into developing new advances in technologies which have endless use-cases across all sectors. Against this backdrop, the major defense industrial complex in its current form lacks the processes and structure to blaze this new trail for the next generation of companies and technologies. Within this startup ecosystem, we see many compelling opportunities in the future - soon, technology will no longer limit this field’s ability to change the world. Instead, market conditions will be the greatest indicator for transformative potential, and we believe dual-tech business models will be among the most successful of all robotics, artificial intelligence, and data companies. New Frontiers As the world continues to watch tensions percolate and conflicts arise, we at Snowpoint believe that the startup ecosystem will be the answer to mitigating, protecting, and deterring. We are focused on backing and helping build exceptional companies that are intersection of both commercial and defense to further national security and societal resilience. Since 2021, there has been almost $100B invested into the Defense Tech space, which is nearly 40% higher than the prior 7 years combined. History has proven that entrepreneurs can succeed in breaking into the dual-tech space, they just need the capital to do so. The dual-tech overlap is larger than most investors realize and the ones that stand ready to back companies at the center of it will be heavily rewarded.

Us We are the radically human venture capital firm. We are here to make sure you’re always in good company on the rather bumpy ride of fast-paced growth. We’re a team that knows scaling. Its many paths and painful pitfalls. Of course, more money can make a difference. However, being in good company makes all the difference. You You’re a fast growing tech scale-up in Europe. You're thinking about a Series A or B round of investment. You’re looking to work with like-minded people to build a meaningful company. Let’s get to know each other. The sooner the better, because let’s be honest, you also value having a relationship well before you need any funding. We are keen to work with ready-to-scale European tech companies in the following categories: Data and Intelligence; Software Services, Digital Models. We do not invest in Life Sciences, Clean Tech, Gaming Studios, Digital Media, Ad-Tech. We do not invest in companies based outside of Europe or at the pre-seed stage. The very earliest stages are critical, challenging, and essential, but we focus on early growth. Tech we like We have a vision of the future. We are looking for like minds who will shape this future. Our investment ideas are based on fundamental trends in specific areas of technology. Areas where we can make a real contribution with our experience and network. Smart Building Blocks We see a world where intelligence is no longer centrally accessed through ONE single point. Instead, it is distributed in an omnipresent fashion around the end user. Connectivity, cloud architecture and continued miniaturization of hardware are laying the foundations for new, exciting categories. We look for teams that are building category leading companies in Next Generation Networks | Virtualization | IoT Platforms | Big Data | Machine Learning | Smart Hardware and Robotics. Accessible Software In our opinion it’s clear that enterprise users want consumer level simplicity. While consumers want the power of sophisticated technology. These user groups are converging towards software applications that offer the best of both worlds. We’re looking for web and mobile services companies where smart software tools can be applicable to users in both a personal and professional context. Categories include: Productivity and Collaboration Tools | File Management | Analytics. Digital Transacting Technology has widened circles of trust and diminished transaction costs. As a result, consumption habits are changing fast. We see great opportunities for companies to unbundle the traditional service economy through digital models. As well as companies that can support the foundations of these new models through improved security, authentication and easier payment and fulfilment. Categories we’re interested in include: Marketplaces | Payment Services | Fin-Tech Platforms | Digital Security | Identity Solutions. How we like to work Every venture firm promotes their added value activities. We know that. Heck, some even have a talent pool ready to help with the design of your next logo. These are mostly used as a means to propel an investment once the ink has dried on the contracts. But there is life before the deal. We invest time first, money later. Our approach is to start by sharing our network, experience and capabilities. Well before any investment possibility arises. We believe getting to know each other, gaining trust and proving demonstrable value, are the foundations for a long-term relationship. We hope you agree. Ultimately, this approach helps both sides gain a higher degree of conviction when the actual opportunity to invest arises. We always stick to our promises, providing a fast and fair investment process. Sometimes our conversations are not followed by a capital investment. Time spent with the right people is never a waste. We also learn every day. When we do invest, we'll make sure that you’re in great company. Because money can sometimes make a difference but being in good company makes all the difference. That's why we're radically human in everything we do.

After managing two successful funds, we now present YourNest Innovative Products VC Fund III. Focused on disruptive technologies to enhance the way mankind leverages the value of time, this US$ 75 mn fund will invest in startup founders across a spectrum of DeepTech domains: AI, IoT, Robotics, AR/VR/MR, Dev. Tools, Edge Cloud and other Digital products. As always, our intent is to create an opportunity for Indian entrepreneurs to scale into global markets with IP-led innovations: many of our portfolio companies in YourNest VC Fund II have secured patents and attracted customers in international markets. As a pioneering, pre-Series A, early-stage venture capital fund established in 2011 to support audacious startups building life-changing businesses, YourNest strongly believes in the human capability and works with the dictum of ‘what is impossible today is routine tomorrow’. We believe, too, that we are Challengineers: a team that actively pushes boundaries and engineers outcomes, standing shoulder to shoulder with our founders and supporting them with ‘Nurture Capital’. With an established network of professionals, innovators, business leaders, advisors and mentors, we offer the most enabling eco-system for any startup whose business is validated by customers. Our team prides itself on identifying committed entrepreneurs with the highest level of integrity, enabling their business ambitions and helping them to scale for international markets. In 2020, we launched our fast-track funding program SOAR which invested in five startups. The year also saw us exiting Uniphore and SmartQ from our first fund – YourNest Angel Fund – with a 0.7x DPI. Between the two funds, we are confident of multiple exits to deliver significant returns to our investors in the foreseeable future. Investment Thesis With the rise of entrepreneurs and the growth of startups in the past few years, we believe there are critical sectors, rooted in technology, that will fuel the next level of disruption in the coming decade. YourNest Innovative Products Fund-III will primarily seek to invest in enterprise-oriented, innovative, IP-led, tech-product startups. Its mission is to select products that are built around emerging technologies and have applications at scale. These product companies could be in sectors including Mobile Internet, Cloud Technology, Automation of Knowledge Work, Low-code or No-code Platforms, AI-based Cybersecurity, IOT, Edge Computing, Digital Twinning, Autonomous Technologies, Robotics, Electronic System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM). The focus of the Fund will be to invest in unlisted companies. The investment may start at an early seed stage and continue investing in promising companies at various stages of their growth. One or more rounds are likely to be made with co-investment from other investor(s) who may be an individual or an institution or an AIF or international investor such that the risk and reward of the portfolio company’s success is shared. ESG Policy Statement The YourNest Capital Advisors Pvt Ltd. i.e. Investment Manager (“IM”) of the Fund, commits to being a responsible investor, considering environmental, social and governance issues across all its investments. The IM is committed to comply with its ESG policy, applicable laws of the land and to be responsive to existing and emerging ESG concerns. We adhere to our responsibility to people and the planet while setting the stage for long-term success. Through ESG integration in our investment approach, we will endeavour to maximise business and investment opportunities. ESG integration will enable us to grow and improve the companies in which we invest, for long-term value generation opportunities for the benefit of all stakeholders. At the same time, we believe that ESG integration will help mitigate any liability, credit, market or reputation risks emanating from such issues. Nurture Capital Philosophy YourNest is a sharply focused early-stage DeepTech VC fund from India. The first fund established in 2012, raised US$ 14 mn and has several companies in the portfolio that have had multiple up-rounds and are on their way to a 4X+ return. Having completely invested its first two funds, YourNest is currently raising its third fund of US$ 75 mn to invest in Indian start-ups with a focus on DeepTech domains like AI, IoT, Robotics, AR/VR/MR, Dev. Tools, Edge Cloud and other Digital products. The YourNest team combines what may well be India’s widest access to prospective investees along with a rigorously prudent selection process that enables us to stay true to our investment thesis of nurturing high-potential entrepreneurs. In addition, we give our investors transparent access and exposure to high-growth, under-the-radar tech start-ups in India. In a country where entrepreneurship is encouraged but comes with its own challenges, the Indian DeepTech eco-system is rapidly evolving. As local Fund Managers, the YourNest team of experienced partners operates as unified enablers who have become adept at spotting emerging enterprises, nurturing and guiding them up the ladder of success. With a leadership coach as a founding partner, other partners bring complementary skillsets that including M&A, Financial Governance & Restructuring, Executive Development, Deal Flow Management, Building Intellectual Property and Global Scale. Brand building, Marketing and HR Practices are other competencies which have been added via the Venture Partners and Entrepreneur-in-Residence and are available to the portfolio companies. Our portfolio companies benefit from:‘Nurture Capital’ rather than plain ‘Venture Capital’. Our ability to mentor and coach entrepreneurs of investee companies. Our advisory expertise in key entrepreneurial matters: strategy, compliance, legal, HR, secretarial, talent sourcing, etc. Our network of corporates and individuals who can collectively multiply advantage for our investees.

Founded in 2020, Citta Capital is a venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California. We prefer to invest in early stage and early growth stage companies in AI/ML, big data, cloud, healthcare technology, IoT, marketplaces, SaaS and enterprise, blockchain, and robotics. Our seasoned investment team has a good mix of extensive startup experiences as entrepreneur and strong operating background as senior executive of global companies. We are committed to be your long-term partners to take on challenges and pursue game-changing ideas.

Friends & Family Capital is a venture capital firm that backs entrepreneurs that transform big markets. The firm’s founding partners helped scale Palantir to $20 Billion (CFO from 2011 to 2017) and jointly backed over 20 Unicorn startups. Friends & Family Capital invests in business models that produce long-term and defensible compounding growth and cash flow. Core investments include Airtable, Anduril, Facebook, Figure, Flexport, Gusto, Mosaic, Palantir, Robinhood, SpaceX, and Verkada.