We Invest in Extraordinary Leadership
Great leaders are hard to come by. We built our success on backing the best.
What is Extraordinary Leadership?
Our definition of extraordinary leadership consists of seven criteria, which we assess using a proprietary evaluation framework refined by our West Point training and more than two decades of entrepreneurial and investment experience. We select founders who are both exceptionally capable of building and exiting a business and have a leadership style we are uniquely qualified to mentor, support, and supercharge.
1.
Drive
Passion and personal story that motivate employees and backers to follow an inspiring vision
2.
Mission
Building technology with a meaningful mission pursued with a service-oriented mindset
3.
Teamwork
A collaborative mindset and strong long-term relationships that attract and retain top talent and build strong company culture
4.
Perseverance
A track record of resilience, overcoming hardship, and complex problem-solving under pressure. A track record of leading and exiting startups in the past is a major plus
5.
Strategic Excellence
Planning heuristically, prioritizing impeccably, and leading with confidence in proven domain expertise
6.
Growth Mindset
Bottomless curiosity, productive introspection, commitment to self-improvement, and emotional self-regulation to maintain focus and creativity in a crisis
7.
Integrity
Reputation for strong integrity of character, transparency in communication, impeccable execution, and a commitment to both practicing and inspiring accountability
We often find these qualities in fellow military veteran founders, who command more than 30% of our AUM and outperform the average returns. We believe that other non-traditional founder backgrounds are likewise a good indicator of high performance against the odds.
Fund Investment Strategy
We are currently investing out of Moonshots Capital Fund 3. In addition to extraordinary leadership, we look for the following criteria in deals we back:
1.
Seed stage with a line of sight to the next round of financing
2.
Product or MVP is live with client/customer traction
3.
Monthly recurring revenue of $100k+
4.
At least $500k in previously raised capital
5.
Follow-on investment rights
6.
Defense and dual-use technology, AI, cybersecurity, and other sectors where our military backgrounds, government relationships, and operational experience create unfair advantages
7.
Lead investor rights and board membership to ensure we can roll up our sleeves and maximize our contribution
Special Purpose Vehicles (Syndicates)
Since its foundation in 2014, Moonshots Capital has deployed more than $72 million through syndicate investment vehicles into more than 50 companies.
Even with four committed venture funds, syndicate deals remain a substantial pillar of our investment strategy as we strive to provide our investors with flexible access and maximized returns.
Syndicates allow us to capture opportunities that fall outside the scope, timeline, or concentration limits of our funds.
$72
Million
50
Companies
Follow-On for Fund Winners
We use syndicates to continue backing our breakout early-stage companies when their rounds grow beyond the capacity or concentration limits of a Moonshots Capital venture fund. We secure the allocation, share the updated thesis and data room, and give LPs the option to lean in where conviction is strongest.
Late-Stage, Hard-to-Enter Rounds
Our reputation and relationships often grant us access to later-stage, high-demand companies closer to liquidity, allowing our investors to balance their portfolios and participate in globally coveted rounds. Examples of our late-stage syndicates include Slack, Robinhood, Carta, GrubMarket, and xAI.
Join the Moonshots Capital Syndicate List
Accredited investors can access our syndicate opportunities on a deal-by-deal basis with minimums as low as $5,000 by signing up to our syndicate list.
What you’ll receive:
- Deal summaries and allocation opportunities for both follow-on investments in breakout fund companies and select late-stage rounds
- Access to our thesis, diligence materials, and terms so you can evaluate and size your commitment per deal
- The same rigorous leadership assessment and extraordinary founder access that power our fund investments
- Fund LPs get the first look at all incoming syndicate opportunities, as well as priority allocations.
To request access, indicate your accreditation status and preferred check size range. Our team will follow up with next steps and compliance verification.
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