Stratos Ventures raises $50 million for defensetech push as global demand for Israeli startups surges
The fund targets $80 million and has already backed five early-stage companies.
Despite Israel’s complex geopolitical environment, its recent military developments have intensified global interest in the country’s defense technology sector. Riding this momentum is a new venture capital fund focused on defense and resilience startups.
The fund, Stratos Ventures, has raised $50 million of its planned $80 million target and has already completed five investments at the pre-Seed and Seed stages. Among its portfolio companies are Particle, Tenna, and Skapion. Of the five companies backed so far, four have already secured follow-on funding rounds led by major U.S. venture capital firms at significantly higher valuations.
Stratos reached its initial fundraising target within six months, anchored by a major institutional investor from the United Kingdom. Additional backers include family offices from the United States, Europe, India, South America, Australia, and Israel. The fund plans to invest in 15-20 startups founded by Israeli entrepreneurs or companies with strong ties to Israel, with initial investments ranging between $2 million and $4 million.
The fund was established in 2026 by Rotem Yehuda Kakon, Aviad Grinfeld and Daniel Fouzailov, who operate between Tel Aviv and Florida.
Kakon previously led technology investment activity for a UK-based family office, investing in dozens of Israeli and American venture capital funds and technology companies. He was an early investor in Carbyne, Infinidome, and RepAir, and previously served as Chief of Staff to Israel’s Minister of Industry and Trade.
Grinfeld has worked in defense and homeland security for more than 15 years. He previously helped scale one of Israel’s leading defense groups from roughly $10 million in revenue to several hundred million dollars, while expanding its international footprint to more than 80 countries. His investment track record includes involvement in companies such as IRD, Skylock, MyDefence, and BeeSense.
Fouzailov has invested in deep-tech companies in Israel through the family office Paz Capital, linked to the Fouzailov diamond family.
Stratos also operates in the United States in partnership with The LAB Miami, providing portfolio companies with access to major defense and industrial entities, including DOW, CENTCOM, and the Port of Miami, along with additional U.S. government and defense sector customers.
