Helios Capital

Helios Capital Research Investment Thesis Helios Capital is a permanent, flexible single-family office dedicated to advancing frontier technology and deep tech sectors. Founded by Ryan Kriser, the firm operates as a lean, hands-on co-investor alongside top-tier space and deeptech investors. The fund's overarching thesis centers on backing entrepreneurs and technologies that will shape humanity's future in space and advanced technologies. As stated by founder Ryan Kriser: "As we gaze up to the stars and ponder our place among them, we will look back on this time as the turning point for humanity." This statement encapsulates the firm's belief that early-stage investments in commercial space, aerospace, and adjacent deeptech sectors represent transformational opportunities. Investment Focus Areas Primary Sectors: Commercial space and satellite technology Aerospace and defense (civilian) Deeptech and frontier technology Related infrastructure and enabling technologies Stage Focus: Helios operates across the entire venture capital spectrum, from pre-seed through Series A and beyond. The firm is most active in pre-seed, seed, and early-stage rounds, providing early capital to founding teams building transformative space and deeptech companies. Check Size: Based on portfolio analysis, Helios writes checks ranging from $25,000 to $1,000,000, with typical investments between $250,000 and $500,000 for seed-stage companies. The wide range reflects their approach as a flexible single-family office that can accommodate diverse opportunity sizes and follow-on investments. Investment Approach Helios operates with a distinctive investment philosophy characterized by: Lean and agile execution - As a family office, Helios moves quickly without the bureaucratic constraints of larger institutions Hands-on partnership - The firm actively supports portfolio companies strategically and operationally Investor syndication access - Leverages founder Ryan Kriser's extensive network to provide portfolio companies access to top-tier co-investors and resources Ecosystem connectivity - Offers unique positioning at the intersection of commercial space and philanthropic/educational initiatives through Space for Humanity Portfolio Concentration and Key Investments Helios' portfolio is concentrated in the commercial space and deeptech sectors. Portfolio companies include SpaceX, Relativity Space, Astra, Orbit Fab, Axiom Space, Cognitive Space, Scout Space, Volumetric Bio, OncoSenX, Allocations, Gravitics, Kele Kona, Rad Aerospace, Cosmic Shielding, Space Forge, Transastra Corp, Venus Aeronautics, Energy X, Xplore, and Mojo Vision. The portfolio demonstrates a strategic focus on the commercial space ecosystem, with particular emphasis on companies addressing critical infrastructure needs (launch, refueling, power) and adjacent deeptech applications. Team and Leadership Ryan Kriser - Founder and CEO Ryan brings over a decade of experience as an investor and advisor deeply embedded in the commercial space ecosystem. He currently serves as CIO of The Robert Andrew Kriser Family Foundation, advisor to Evercore Wealth Management, and partner at Type One Ventures. His previous roles include advisor positions at Stifel Financial Corp. and Oppenheimer & Co., where he demonstrated a successful track record in technology investing, including leading an investment in a satellite communications company with 600%+ unrealized gains. Ryan also serves on the boards of Radian Aerospace and Space for Humanity as chairman. Geographic Focus Helios maintains a unique geographic positioning with headquarters in South Florida in the family office tradition, while maintaining an operational NYC-based team for deal execution. The firm invests primarily in US-based space and deeptech companies with selective international opportunities. Recent Activity and Fund Status Helios has been actively deploying capital across the commercial space and deeptech sectors throughout 2024-2025. Operating in permanent capital mode as a single-family office, the firm continues active participation in the deeptech ecosystem through syndication activities with Type One Ventures and other deeptech-focused investment groups. The firm remains actively deployed and looking for new opportunities. Decision-Making Process As a single-family office, Helios benefits from a centralized decision structure around founder/CEO Ryan Kriser, enabling rapid capital deployment without the bureaucratic constraints of larger firms. The firm is capable of making investment decisions within 2-3 weeks for qualified opportunities and has the flexibility to move quickly on promising deals. Investment Stage Preferences The firm shows active deployment across Pre-Seed ($250K-$500K for technology proof-of-concept), Seed ($500K-$1M+ for early revenue validation), and selective Series A participation through follow-on mechanisms. Helios demonstrates a clear bias toward early-stage investments where they can establish foundational relationships and provide strategic value-add. Founder Profile and Investment Criteria Helios backs technical founders with deep domain expertise in space and deeptech sectors. The ideal founder demonstrates deep understanding of physics, engineering, or space sector dynamics, possesses previous experience in aerospace/defense or relevant technical fields, and has a clear vision for frontier applications with real market impact. The firm maintains specialized knowledge of launch vehicle economics, satellite constellation architectures, space debris mitigation, suborbital tourism, in-space manufacturing, and the regulatory environment for commercial space. Supporting Ecosystem Helios is embedded in a broader ecosystem through partnerships with Type One Ventures (where Kriser serves as partner), Space for Humanity (where Kriser is chairman), The Planetary Society (advising on space exploration and STEM), and Evercore Wealth Management. This positioning provides portfolio companies access to scientific advisory boards, educational partnerships, and policy-level connections. Investment Execution and Value-Add Typical investment flow involves deal identification through network channels, technical due diligence leveraging deeptech expertise, rapid decision-making (2-3 weeks), deployment at seed or follow-on stages, and active board involvement. Beyond capital, Helios provides access to top-tier co-investors for later rounds, strategic and operational support during critical inflection points, expertise in space sector regulatory requirements, and educational and policy connections through the nonprofit ecosystem.