About us

We are seasoned entrepreneurs and operators with deep military and commercial networks, helping U.S. and allied innovators succeed today and scale for the challenges of tomorrow.

our mission
01

Our mission is to back intrepid entrepreneurs shaping a future where technology democratizes opportunity, drives innovation, and fosters a more sustainable and secure world.

Inspired by Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and War, our mission is to back intrepid entrepreneurs shaping a future where technology democratizes opportunity, drives innovation, and fosters a more sustainable and secure world. We invest up to $1 million in early-stage startups leveraging unfair advantages to build category leading dual-use technologies in areas like cybersecurity, robotics, and autonomous systems.

Headquartered in Boston, with offices in Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C., Athenian operates at the nexus of, academic excellence, technological innovative, and national defense. This positioning enables us to identify and support the most promising startups across the U.S., leveraging our extensive commercial and defense networks. Guided by our proprietary LLM, we employ a data-first approach to investing, minimizing risks by reducing biases and quantifying previously intangible metrics. This disciplined strategy empowers us to confidently back exceptional founders, at the earliest stages of their development.

principles
02
Clear Purpose

We align every decision and action with a mission to drive innovation and democratize opportunities, ensuring a sustainable and impactful future.

Frontline Engagement

We stay actively involved with founders, industry experts, and markets to understand challenges, anticipate needs, and deliver meaningful support.

Owners Mentality

We approach every investment with responsibility, accountability, and the long-term vision of building impactful, lasting companies.

Strategic Partnerships

We leverage corporate and government networks to unlock opportunities, amplify growth, and drive lasting impact.

Partners
03

Jason Mackey

General Partner

Yuri Cataldo

General Partner

Bryan Smith

Partner & Data Scientist