Top Secret Investments
The failures of the Intelligence community have soiled the reputation of the CIA since the invasion of Iraq. No secret there, but who knew the spooks read TechCrunch? Bloomberg’s Kambiz Foroohar has written the most entertaining article of the day, and we can even tell you about the CIA’s venture capital unit without killing you:
Since In-Q-Tel was founded in 1999, the firm has reviewed more than 6,300 business plans for everything from identity recognition software to nano-sized electronic circuits. Many proposals come in via its Web site. In-Q-Tel has put about $200 million into more than 100 companies, beating traditional VC investors to technologies such as the mapping software that’s become Google Earth.
``One of the most important things about In-Q-Tel is that they’re out there proactively looking for companies,’’ Varah says. ``They have a customer with a high technical standard.’’
Be forewarned. There are no stock options at the CIA. But you can send them a pitchbook
Below is a partial list of their investments:
* A4Vision
* Agent Logic
* ArcSight
* Attensity
* Basis Technology
* Bay Microsystems
* CallMiner
* Cambrios Technology
* Convera
* Decru
* Dust Networks
* Electro Energy, Inc.
* Endeca
* Fluidigm
* IatroQuest
* Intelliseek Inc.
* Inxight
* Keyhole, Inc
* Kofax
* Language Weaver
* MetaCarta
* MetricStream
* Nanosys
* Network Chemistry
* NovoDynamics
* Paratek
* piXlogic
* Qynergy
* Rosum
* Seahawk Biosystems
* Soflinx
* Spotfire
* Stratify, Inc.
* SRD, Inc.
* Tacit Software
* Traction Software
* Visual Sciences
* Wispry
CIA Stealth Venture Fund Focuses on Spy Gadgets Even `Q’ Adores
Bloomberg
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The content contained represent the opinions of 1440 Wall Street. This commentary in no way constitutes a solicitation of business or investment advice. It is intended solely for the entertainment of the reader, and the author. No Position
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