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John Serafini is a Venture Partner at Shield Capital, a venture capital firm specializing in defense, government, and commercial technologies. He is a distinguished former U.S. Army Ranger, a combat veteran, and the co-founder and former CEO of HawkEye 360, a leading geospatial intelligence company.
John Serafini primarily invests in dual-use technologies that serve both national security and commercial markets. His focus areas include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, aerospace, space technology, advanced data analytics, and other innovations critical to defense and government sectors.
John Serafini works as a Venture Partner at Shield Capital, a venture capital firm based in the United States, which invests in technologies for defense, government, and commercial applications.
John Serafini is the Chief Executive Officer of HawkEye 360 and a Venture Partner at Shield Capital based in the Washington DC Metro Area. He previously served as a Senior Vice President at the early-stage investment firm Allied Minds, where he led the formation of six startups including Federated Wireless and BridgeSat. At HawkEye 360, Serafini has raised over $300 million in capital, including a $58 million Series D-1 round in July 2023, and successfully deployed satellite clusters aboard a SpaceX mission in April 2024. A former US Army Airborne Ranger-qualified infantry officer, he earned a BS from the US Military Academy at West Point alongside dual master degrees from Harvard University. His operational and investment work remains focused on incubating dual-use commercial technologies across the space sensing, cybersecurity, and national security sectors.
John Serafini is a distinguished Venture Partner at Shield Capital, a leading venture capital firm dedicated to investing in technologies that serve both national security and commercial markets. With a career marked by exceptional military service, entrepreneurial success, and deep industry expertise, Serafini brings a unique and invaluable perspective to the firm's investment strategy and portfolio companies.
At Shield Capital, John Serafini leverages his extensive background to identify and nurture innovative startups poised to make a significant impact. His role involves strategic deal sourcing, comprehensive due diligence, and providing mentorship to founders, helping them navigate the complex landscapes of defense, government, and commercial sectors. He is particularly focused on companies developing dual-use technologies, which possess applications for both public and private sectors, aligning perfectly with Shield Capital's core mission.
Serafini's investment focus areas are deeply rooted in his professional experience and the evolving needs of national security. These include advanced cybersecurity solutions, artificial intelligence and machine learning applications, aerospace and space technology, sophisticated data analytics, and other critical innovations that enhance defense capabilities and drive commercial growth. His insights are particularly valuable for companies operating in the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) domains, as well as those developing cutting-edge sensor technologies.
Before joining Shield Capital, John Serafini built an impressive career that began with distinguished service in the U.S. Army. As a former U.S. Army Ranger and combat veteran, he developed a profound understanding of operational challenges and strategic imperatives, which he now applies to the technology investment landscape. Following his military service, Serafini transitioned into the private sector, where he quickly established himself as a visionary leader.
A cornerstone of his entrepreneurial journey was co-founding and serving as the CEO of HawkEye 360. Under his leadership, HawkEye 360 grew into a pioneering company in the field of radio frequency (RF) data analytics, providing critical geospatial intelligence from space. This venture demonstrated his ability to transform complex technological concepts into successful, scalable businesses that deliver tangible value to both government and commercial clients globally. His experience at HawkEye 360 provided him with firsthand knowledge of building and scaling a deep-tech company from inception to market leadership.
John Serafini's academic background further complements his practical experience, holding a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from Harvard Business School. This blend of military discipline, business acumen, and technological foresight positions him as a highly effective investor and advisor. He is committed to supporting entrepreneurs who are developing groundbreaking solutions that address critical national challenges and create significant economic opportunities. His dedication to fostering innovation ensures that Shield Capital remains at the forefront of investing in the next generation of defense and commercial technology leaders.
