A new Israeli defense-tech fund called Stratos Ventures says it has raised about $50 million and aims to close at roughly $80 million in the coming months. The fund plans to invest in 15 to 20 Israeli startups at the pre-seed and seed stages, with initial checks of $2 million to $4 million per company, and says it has already made five investments.
The fund was founded only a few months ago, in 2026, and focuses on defense tech, resilience, homeland security, critical infrastructure protection, data center solutions, supply chains and cyber tools for governments. Its anchor investor is said to be a British institutional investor, alongside family offices from the United States, Europe, India, South America, Australia and Israel, as well as Israeli and American entrepreneurs and fund of funds backers.
Stratos Ventures was founded by Rohtem Yehuda Kakun, Aviad Greenfeld and Daniel Pozailov. Kakun previously advised ministers Moshe Kahlon and Eli Cohen at the Economy Ministry, and Avi Gabbay at the Environmental Protection Ministry, and since December 2021 led investments for the British family office Consensus Business Group, which reportedly manages $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion. Greenfeld has worked in defense and homeland security for about 15 years and, the fund says, has been involved in investments and exits including IRD, Skylock, MyDefence and BeeSense. Pozailov is the grandson of Pinchas Pozailov, one of the founders of the Diamond Exchange.
The fund also lists several strategic partners, including retired Lt. Gen. Michael D. Barbero, a former four-star U.S. Army general who has advised companies and governments in the Middle East, and a former CIA chief whose name is not disclosed because he holds a senior current role. Another partner is Theo Williams, formerly head of strategic investments at Salesforce. Stratos says these advisers help shape strategy, expand its international network and accelerate growth. In the United States, it is working with The Lab Miami, which connects Israeli companies to organizations including the Port of Miami and U.S. Central Command, as well as governments, decision-makers and strategic investors worldwide.
