INVESTING IN OUR OWN
We believe service academy graduates can identify the people and companies that will change the world
OUR PURPOSE
We enable every Service Academy graduate to connect, learn, and invest in the venture asset class.
AIN is a pre-Seed through Series A stage investment syndicate that backs the following:
- Top-notch veteran-led startups (officers & enlisted)
- Non-veteran-led startups in dual-use technology (technologies that have both commercial and government purposes)
We back and champion the best-in-class veteran and civilian-led startups driving paradigm-shifting products to market.
AIN OVERVIEW

Who We Are
We are a diverse group of Service Academy graduates who are investment professionals, experienced venture investors, entrepreneurs, advisers, and analysts.

Who We Invest In
We invest in top-tier veteran-led startups and civilian-led startups focused on dual-use technology (technologies that have commercial and government purposes).

Why We Do This Work
Tested in conflicts and bonded through adversity, Service Academy graduates support and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
EDUCATION

We realize that some Service Academy Graduates are new to investing, particularly venture investing. AIN provides educational materials to ensure our members are as informed as possible.
AIN Investor Training Program in Conjunction with RBL1
AIN requires all non-accredited investors (see our FAQs to understand accredited vs. non-accredited) to go through this training. This training is free. Please note that accredited investors can go through this training and it is also free for these investors.
This free training program is 6 hours and comes with a certificate at the end of the course.
FAQs
Only Service Academy graduates can invest. We will accept accredited and, when feasible, non-accredited investors. To determine feasibility for non-accredited invested, we will look at such factors as, without limitation, the number of total investors, the amount being invested, the marginal costs of additional legal compliance, the willingness of the target company to accommodate non-accredited investors, the willingness of a non-accredited investor our educational programming.
You need a referral from two fellow Service Academy graduates.
Veteran-led startups where a veteran owns greater than 10% equity. Any civilian-led startups in the GovTech/Defense Tech space.
Please note that veteran-led startups can be in any space, they do not have to be in the GovTech/DefenseTech space.
A company that is scalable and is more than a feature or product. The company needs to be a standalone entity that can build, support, and defend its customer base on an on-going basis.
The company must demonstrate the ability to build a sustainable company with a product line sufficient enough to grow to $100M in revenue or return 10x our money in a 7-year timeline.
We set up Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for each investment.
No, participation in the syndicate is free. The only requirement is that you are a Service Academy graduate. You must be referred by two syndicate members to be accepted into the syndicate.
No, you can invest in deals on a case-by-case basis.
Yes, you can see every deal. You must request access within a specific time frame to see a deal.
If you are granted access to the deal room, we ask that you are professional in the diligence process.
When an AIN SPV makes an investment, we will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain Pro Rata Rights to invest in future rounds for the SPV.
However, all SPV participants must waive their right to participate in such future rounds and allow AIN management to determine how best to utilize those rights. This is not to say that, where feasible, we would not allow SPV participants to participate in such future rounds, but rather, than we need maximum flexibility as we launch our platform.
Yes, we expect to share syndicate fees amongst our participating syndicate members. Filing fees range from $5K - $10K per investment. We will share these among all syndicate members. Our mission is to keep these fees as low as possible.
We will endeavor to ensure that all AIN members receive the same information regarding a potential investment. Nobody should get preferential treatment or information on an investment.
For each deal, there will be a data room for each company. This data room contains the following:
- Company presentation
- A video of the company presenting itself a Q&A session with AIN staff and the deal terms.
At times, AIN will conduct analysis on certain topics about the company. We will post this information to the company's deal room.
Potential investors should be aware that an investment in AIN Management involves a high degree of risk. There can be no assurance that AIN Management’s investment objectives will be achieved, or that an investor will receive a return of its capital. Potential investors should consider, among other things, the factors set forth below in determining whether an investment in AIN Management is a suitable investment.
Risk Inherent in Venture Capital Investments. The types of investments that the AIN Management anticipates making involve a high degree of risk.
Management may not have opportunities to make suitable investments. The AIN Management may be unable to identify Securities complement its strategy even if it identifies appropriate opportunities,
Management may be unable to obtain maximum value for its investment interests. The AIN Management intends to hold positions in non-public companies which are generally illiquid investments. The realizable value of the AIN Management’s interests may ultimately prove to be lower than the carrying value reflected on its financial statements.
Competition. The AIN Management expects to encounter competition from other entities having similar investment objectives.
Success could be impaired by valuations placed on companies in the target industries by the financial marketplace. Securities markets, in general, and technology-based stocks, in particular, have experienced periods of significant volatility
General economic conditions. General economic conditions may affect the activities of the AIN Management. Interest rates, the price of marketable securities and participation by other investors in the financial markets may also affect the value of securities purchased by the AIN Management or considered for purchase. Potential investors should realize that distributions may not be made by the AIN Management due to general economic conditions, illiquidity of portfolio investments, contractual prohibitions or other reasons mentioned above.
Nature of private investments. Investment in the AIN Management requires a long-term commitment, with no certainty of return.
Illiquidity of investment. Investment in private companies involves extreme business and financial risks and can result in substantial or total loss. Investment in the AIN Management requires the financial ability and willingness to accept significant risks of illiquidity.
Importance of key management. The success of the AIN Management will depend on the ability of management.
Lack of operating history. Although the managers of the General Partner and the Management Company have prior experience relating to the financing of companies and in investments similar to those to be made by the AIN Management, the AIN Management itself has no operating history.
VALUES

Service Academy Graduates are imbued with the values of the military the moment they put on a uniform. Within this tradition, AIN is a value-driven organization. Please see our values below.
We are a mission-driven organization, and our mission is to serve:
- Service Academy Graduates (SAG)
- Entrepreneurs
We aim to reduce the friction points for 1) SAGs to invest in startups, and 2) friction points that enable entrepreneurs (veteran-led, industry-agnostic, and civilians focused on building GovTech startups) to receive investments
Our number one objective is to get entrepreneurs funding and help their companies grow.
To do this, we seek to:
- Be honest, speak and operate with integrity, and be hyper-transparent in everything that we do
- Be humble. The entrepreneurs are the stars, not us.
- Be bold, innovative and entrepreneurial. We strive to always learn and improve AIN, how we do things, and ourselves
- Promote honest, open dialogue amongst AIN staff and our members
- Always remember diversity of thought when investing
- Build a diverse team where people are unique and brought together by our mission
- Encourage curiosity and have the courage to ask questions. Anyone can ask a question, but one should ask, "is this question and the subsequent answer going to be helpful with regard to getting the job done?"
- Not make assumptions
- Be professional and respectful to all; most importantly SAGs and entrepreneurs
- Assume positive intent and communicate clearly with others to avoid misunderstandings. We don’t blame others.
- Have “small military unit-like” accountability by taking ownership of tasks, executing, and openly admitting mistakes. We count wins and losses by our ability to help entrepreneurs fund their startup.
- Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Be thoughtful and thorough, come up with an idea, present it to the group with a plan to implement, have the energy to implement it, and the humility to test, learn and pivot if necessary
- Exemplify the values of the Service Academies and the leaders who formed us
- Inspire our syndicate members and entrepreneurs to embody these values
- Meet entrepreneurs where they are