PATHFINDER
Venture Building & Strategic Advisory
Neptune Shield's dedicated venture building and advisory arm — connecting portfolio companies with strategic capital, operational expertise, and defense market access pathways.
Venture Command
Pathfinder Ventures is led by seasoned operators with deep defense industry, venture capital, and special operations expertise.
Jim Gill
Co-founder and Managing Partner of Pathfinder Ventures. Bringing extensive venture capital and defense industry experience to Neptune Shield's portfolio companies, driving strategic capital allocation and growth acceleration.
Jason "Diesel" Kirby
Co-founder and Managing Partner of Pathfinder Ventures. A proven operational leader with deep special operations background, connecting portfolio companies directly with warfighter requirements and defense acquisition pathways.
How We Operate
Pathfinder Ventures provides end-to-end venture building services for defense and maritime technology startups — from initial concept validation to growth-stage capital.
Capital Formation
Structuring and raising venture capital through Neptune Shield's Cyber Technology Funds and co-investment vehicles for dual-use technology companies.
Strategic Advisory
Board-level strategic guidance, go-to-market strategy for defense and government sectors, and executive team building for portfolio companies.
Deal Origination
Sourcing, evaluating, and structuring investments in early-stage dual-use technology companies aligned with Neptune Shield's defense and maritime focus areas.
Gov Market Access
Navigating SBIR/STTR programs, defense acquisition pathways, SOCOM innovation pipeline, and direct introductions to program managers and contracting officers.
Venture Building
Hands-on company building support — product development, team assembly, customer discovery, and operational infrastructure for portfolio companies.
Exit Strategy
Strategic exit planning including defense prime acquisitions, government-backed growth programs, secondary sales, and IPO preparation for qualified companies.
Target Sectors
Maritime Autonomous Systems
Unmanned surface vessels, underwater drones, autonomous navigation, and AI-driven maritime surveillance platforms for naval and commercial applications.
Cybersecurity & Critical Infrastructure
Zero-trust architectures, OT security for maritime and port systems, threat intelligence platforms, and secure communications for classified environments.
Dual-Use Defense Technology
Technologies with both military and commercial applications — sensors, advanced materials, edge computing, and resilient communications for contested environments.
Port & Supply Chain Innovation
Digital twins for port operations, blockchain-based supply chain verification, predictive maintenance, and autonomous logistics for North American ports.
Explore Partnership
Whether you're a startup seeking capital and mentorship, or an investor looking for deal flow in the defense and maritime technology space — Pathfinder Ventures is your gateway.