Academy Investor Network

Academy Investor Network, which presents itself as AIN Ventures, is a seed-stage venture fund. It backs dual-use technology and startups led by military veterans. Only graduates of US service academies can join as investors.

Services

• Seed investment: funding for early-stage founders, with close attention to the founder.
• Dual-use technology focus: space, civic, healthcare, sustainability, disaster and defence technology.
• Veteran-led startups: companies where a veteran owns a meaningful share, in any sector but mostly software.
• Thought leadership: reports and articles for members and startups, such as a dual-use report.

Who it works with

Veteran founders and civilian founders in government and defence technology. Investors join through referrals from fellow service academy graduates, and the firm says it also invests in underestimated minorities.

Key facts

• Stage: seed
• Investor access: referral from two existing members
• Founders' backgrounds: military service