Radius Capital

Radius Capital Research Investment Thesis Radius Capital is a specialized aerospace-first venture capital firm founded in 2019 by Peter Shannon. The firm invests exclusively in early-stage deep tech, software, and AI systems that redefine what is possible in aerospace, robotics, and advanced mobility. Rather than investing in aircraft themselves, Radius Capital focuses on the enabling technologies that power next-generation aerospace capabilities: software, AI systems, robotics, advanced manufacturing, design and development tools, and novel concepts that unlock new possibilities in aerospace. The firm's aerospace-first approach is fundamentally about building complex cyber-physical systems capable of operating autonomously and reliably in challenging real-world conditions. This expertise extends beyond aviation to influence broader industries including defense, autonomous systems, and industrial robotics. The partners bring rare combinations of deep aerospace domain expertise, operational experience, and direct involvement in U.S. national aerospace policy through advisory roles at NASA and the National Academies of Science. Investment Stage and Check Size Radius Capital is explicitly a seed-stage investor: Primary Stage : Seed ($100K-$1M) Secondary Stage : Pre-Seed (occasional) Check Size : $100K-$1M per investment Lead Tendency : Leads rounds The firm pursues a concentrated investment strategy, leading early-stage rounds across the U.S., Europe, Israel, and Canada. They focus on companies with exceptional technical depth and aerospace domain expertise. Portfolio and Recent Activity Radius Capital maintains a focused aerospace-first portfolio of 12+ portfolio companies across enabling technologies: Current Portfolio Companies: Assaia - Computer vision systems for airport gate turnaround operations, bringing transparency and automation to airport operations Danti - AI systems trained on geospatial data to answer complex questions about Earth observation, leveraging search and knowledge graphs C-Infinity - AI-based mechanical intelligence transforming product design, assembly, and manufacturing processes T-Robotics - Edge system cybersecurity for robotics and autonomous systems Manna Drone Delivery - Last-mile drone delivery serving meals, coffee, and everyday items to consumers Machina Labs - Machine learning applied to robotic sheet metal forming for aerospace and defense applications Swarmer - Collaborative autonomy software for multi-robot systems Drone-Hand - Drone autonomy in agriculture applications (stealth) Istari - Digital engineering collaboration platform delivering software development agility to complex cyber-physical systems PhysicsX - AI trained on physics fundamentals for rapid optimization of complex engineering designs in aerospace, energy, and medical industries Orqa - Drones and subsystems for enterprise and defense applications Worldscape - Data fabric for the AI era, building comprehensive data infrastructure Investment Activity : The firm is actively deploying capital and maintaining a concentrated, high-touch approach to portfolio support through operational advisory roles. Team and Expertise Peter Shannon, Founder & Managing Director Investor focused on the aerospace domain and advanced aerial mobility Co-authored national strategy for Advanced Air Mobility as member of the Committee on Urban Air Mobility Research and Technology Standing member of the Transportation Research Board's New Users of Shared Airspace Committee Former investor at Firelake Capital and Atlas Venture in transportation and sustainability technologies MBA from University of Chicago Booth School of Business Distinguished pilot with Private Pilot Certificate and Instrument Rating Deeply embedded in the aerospace and aviation innovation community Luka Tomljenovic, Partner Former fighter pilot flying MiGs for the Croatian Air Force with nearly a decade of operational experience Held positions as Weapons and Tactics Officer, spearheading air-to-air tactics innovation Four-year background in finance, corporate development, and venture capital Experience at automotive Tier-1 supplier in product line and operations roles Former Partner at Airbus Ventures (early-stage VC fund backed by Airbus), where he led aerospace technology investments Active speaker and thought leader; mentors startups and accelerators Aeronautical engineering graduate from United States Air Force Academy (distinguished graduate, squadron commander, glider aerobatic team captain) MBA from University of Notre Dame Sector and Technology Focus Primary Sectors: Aerospace & Defense Robotics & Automation Advanced Mobility Autonomous Systems Technology Focus: Software and AI systems for aerospace Robotics and autonomous control Advanced manufacturing and design tools Computer vision and sensing systems Edge computing and cybersecurity Geospatial AI and data infrastructure Physics-informed machine learning Geographic Reach : United States (primary), Europe, Israel, Canada Founder and Company Preferences Radius Capital seeks founders building complex technical solutions for aerospace-adjacent problems. The ideal founder profile includes: Deep aerospace domain expertise or relevant adjacent domain experience Technical founding teams (engineers, scientists, operators) Experience building or understanding complex cyber-physical systems Ambition to tackle problems with real-world operational constraints and safety considerations Understanding of aerospace regulatory and certification landscapes The firm explicitly targets "dual-use defense and autonomy companies" - solutions that can serve both commercial aerospace and defense applications, reflecting the realistic market dynamics of aerospace technology. Competitive Positioning and Thesis Radius Capital is uniquely positioned within aerospace venture capital. While most aerospace VCs focus on aircraft, vehicles, or hardware platforms, Radius Capital's thesis is that the next generation of aerospace innovation will be driven by enabling technologies - software, AI, robotics, and manufacturing capabilities. The firm's competitive advantages include: Domain Expertise : Both partners have deep, hands-on aerospace experience (Peter's policy involvement, Luka's fighter pilot background) Operational Support : Ability to provide strategic advisory services leveraging aerospace knowledge Network Access : Direct connections to NASA, National Academies, and aerospace industry leaders Thought Leadership : Host of The Vertical Space, the aerospace industry's leading innovation podcast Publishing : Publishes market research and strategic perspectives on aerospace technology trends Concentrated Approach : Deep engagement with a focused portfolio rather than broad-based investing Fund Details Founded : 2019 Fund Structure : Early-stage venture fund with concentrated portfolio strategy Check Size : $100K-$1M (leading rounds) Stage : Primarily Seed, occasional Pre-Seed Geographic Focus : US (primary), Europe, Israel, Canada Portfolio Size : 12+ active companies Advisor Roles : NASA, National Academies of Science Publications : Market assessment reports, Medium articles, Strategic research Podcast : The Vertical Space (co-hosted with Celerity05) Notable Differentiators Aerospace-First Philosophy : Explicit focus on aerospace as the primary market, not a secondary application area Dual-Use Defense Expertise : Comfortable with companies serving both commercial and defense markets Cyber-Physical Systems Focus : Emphasis on autonomous and reliable systems in real-world conditions Policy Influence : Direct involvement in national aerospace strategy and technology roadmapping Technical Credibility : Both partners bring operational and technical credibility from aerospace backgrounds Concentrated Portfolio : Deep engagement with each portfolio company rather than broad investment strategy Thought Leadership : Host of industry podcast and publisher of market research Investment Strategy Summary Radius Capital executes a concentrated, high-touch seed-stage investment strategy focused exclusively on aerospace-enabling technologies. The firm's competitive advantage derives from rare combinations of operational aerospace experience, policy influence, and technical expertise. They target founders building complex technical solutions for aerospace problems, with check sizes of $100K-$1M. The firm's network, published research, and podcast position Radius Capital as a thought leader in aerospace innovation, enabling them to attract high-quality deal flow and provide strategic guidance beyond capital. The explicitly aerospace-first approach means the firm is selective but deeply committed to companies solving real problems in a critical industry.