LEONID CAPITAL
PARTNERS
Beachhead
Ventures.
[ ˈbēch-ˌhed ]
:a base for future progress.
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We
support veterans.
provide capital.
mentor startups.
shape tomorrow.
Capital and guidance for founders building the future of INDOPACOM defense technology.
Beachhead Ventures partners with early-stage founders addressing critical defense challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. We invest early and provide the strategic guidance needed to build, scale, and win in complex markets.
We don’t take a board seat or demand 20% of your company. We don’t charge fees or require polished decks, business plans, or MBA credentials. We don’t take weeks or months to make investment decisions, and we don’t tell you what to do. We simply offer advice when you want it.
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Without reform, the United States will lack the means to deter a major conflict.
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Startups move faster than the Pentagon. We intend to exploit that advantage — aggressively.
Adm. Samuel J. Paparo
Command
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Our decision makers can’t be a little faster than who they’re fighting. We got to be 10, 20, 100 times faster so that we preserve the right to practice ethical decision–making.
GEN. James Rainey
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About Beachhead
Beachhead Ventures is the venture capital arm of Leonid Capital Partners, focused on early-stage founders building defense technology for the Indo-Pacific region. We invest at company formation, providing patient capital and hands-on guidance to help teams navigate complex markets and build durable, high-impact businesses.
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PRINCIPAL
Mike Halas
Mike Halas is a U.S. Army Special Forces officer (Green Beret) and former SOF intelligence officer with the 75th Ranger Regiment. A founder and tech executive with extensive startup and growth experience, he holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Kennedy School.
With deep operational experience across the 25th Infantry Division, Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC), and the 19th Special Forces Group, Mike has spent two decades bridging elite defense capabilities with frontier technology. He has held public and private defense tech roles with the 75th Innovation Command and Ranger Ranch Partners, led SOF business development at QinetiQ North America, led revenue operations and directed business development teams in AI/ML, data science, and robotic construction at Alquist 3D (where he serves as Chief Strategy Officer), and drove public sector AI/ML and digital identity initiatives for Task Force Central at Socure.
Earlier, he gained finance and capital markets experience at Goldman Sachs.
A hands-on startup investor and operator, Mike partners with founders to accelerate growth at the intersection of national security, advanced AI, autonomous systems, and frontier hardware. He brings battle-tested strategic insight, government navigation expertise, and a founder-first mindset forged in special operations and high-growth technology environments.
PRINCIPAL
Chris Robinette
In addition to being a Principal at Beachhead Ventures, Chris is an executive on the Strategic Development team at Northrop Grumman, where he leads strategic R&D investment management for the $10B Space Sector. A U.S. Army Special Forces officer and Lieutenant Colonel, he brings over two decades of leadership across special operations and defense.
Chris has held roles at Strategy&, Goldman Sachs, and as a PE-backed COO. He partners with founders to scale dual-use technologies, combining capital, operational expertise, and deep knowledge of government acquisition pathways.
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CO-FOUNDER
Chris Lay
Chris is Co-Founder at Leonid Capital Partners. With a Ph.D. in Neurobiology, an MBA from USC, and over 15 years of research experience, he brings a distinct perspective to finance and innovation.
His career spans healthcare, financial services, and technology, including private equity leadership roles. Chris is focused on advancing mission-driven initiatives and partnering with clients aligned with Leonid’s commitment to veterans and military families.
CO-FOUNDER
James Parker
James is Co-Founder of Leonid Capital Partners. With over 25 years of experience, he has led initiatives in fundraising, M&A, portfolio management, and direct lending.
Under his and Chris Lay’s leadership, the firm has deployed hundreds of millions across multiple funds and SPVs. James began his career as an engineer in aerospace and defense, supporting programs for the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. He holds an MBA from USC and a degree in Astrophysics from Rice University.
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