Cantos
San Francisco, California · Invests in US; Europe; MENA · Website
Check size
🔒 $•• – $••Thesis
We invest in people who will transform the physical world. Near frontier technology solving climate change, disease, armed conflict, poverty, and existential risks. Technical founders building capital-intensive, long-horizon companies.
Likely not a fit for
No consumer-only applications, non-technical founders in hardware/biotech, software-only solutions to physical-world problems, teams without domain expertise
How they invest
- Lead or follow
- Usually leads
- Typical decision
- ~1 month
- Warm intro
- Preferred
- Involvement
- Takes a board seat
- Fund status
- Actively deploying
- Assets under mgmt
- $120M
- Decision process
- Partnership vote
Partners & team
8 contacts on file
LinkedIn profile
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Radiant is a clean energy startup building a portable nuclear microreactor, Kaleidos, which serves as a climate-friendly alternative to diesel generators. The microreactor is designed to provide reliable, zero-emissions power for remote areas and critical infrastructure.
Neros is a defense technology company focused on manufacturing advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ground control systems, primarily for military applications. Their products include the Archer FPV drone and Crossbow ground control station, designed for electronic warfare and tactical operations.
Solugen is redefining chemical manufacturing by harnessing the power of biology and chemistry to create sustainable chemical solutions for various industries, including oil and gas, renewable fuels, and agriculture.
EarthAI is a domain for sale, offering a simple and safe way to buy domains. The website provides contact numbers for inquiries.
Skyryse is an aviation hardware and software company ushering in a new era in flight safety. Its proprietary technology, SkyOS™, is a universal operating system for flight that simplifies aircraft management during standard operations, inclement weather, and emergencies.
Astranis builds the world's most advanced satellites for high orbits, focusing on dedicated satellite broadband and supporting government science, PNT, and communications missions.
Shinkei Systems uses robotics to enhance fishing and food supply chains, focusing on transparency and quality.
Vital Lyfe is a tech company redefining water access through innovation — creating a new category of personal water purification technology built to scale where infrastructure can’t.
Remedy Scientific specializes in decontaminating land using scalable, automated systems powered by advanced chemistry and AI. Their technology includes intelligent systems that detect and break down pollutants to restore land to its productive potential.
Limelight Steel is revolutionizing the steel industry with its patented laser furnace technology that electrifies the ironmaking process, achieving significant energy savings and enabling the use of low-grade iron ore.
Venus Aerospace is revolutionizing rocket engine propulsion with its innovative technologies, including the Venus Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) and the Venus Detonation Ramjet (VDR), designed for high efficiency and scalability in space and defense applications.
Fleetzero is focused on developing advanced marine battery systems and modular propulsion solutions for the shipping industry, aiming to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in maritime operations.
Recent activity
- Dec 2025
Castelion
Series B · Participated
- Nov 2025
Radiant Nuclear
Seed · Lead
- Oct 2025
Neros
Seed · Lead
- Sep 2025
MoldCo
Seed · Co-Lead
- Sep 2025
Solugen
Seed · Lead
- Aug 2025
Pilgrim
Seed · Lead
- Aug 2025
Earth AI
Seed · Lead
- Jul 2025
Skyryse
Seed · Lead
Cantos in the news
Dealroom
First-check GP: Ian Rountree on Cantos' operator-to-investor playbook and the gravity-well vision test
5 hours ago
CryptoRank
India VC firm Sparrow Capital closes $56.5M early-stage fund to lead larger rounds
25 days ago
CryptoRank
B Capital closes $500M Ascent Fund III to back early-stage AI, healthcare and enterprise startups
25 days ago
CryptoRank
Deep tech seed investor Cantos Ventures closes $70M Fund IV
25 days ago
GetLatka
Orbit Interactive Revenue 2022: $5.5M Est. ARR
28 days ago
intrafish.com
Shinkei rolls out robot‑harvested Alaska salmon
1 month ago
Tracxn
Radiant Nuclear - 2026 Funding Rounds & List of Investors
1 month ago
Tectonic Defense
First Look: Cantos Raises $70M Fund IV
2 months ago
Latitude Media
The VC case for ‘full stack deeptech’
8 months ago
AlleyWatch
The Weekly Notable Startup Funding Report: 12/8/25
9 months ago
Inquirer.net
David on Philhealth case: No to another robbery
9 months ago
SpaceNews
Castelion raises $350 million to scale hypersonic missile production
9 months ago
Failory
Top 99 Personal Health Startups to Watch in 2026
9 months ago
BioSpace
CORRECTING and REPLACING Faeth Therapeutics' $92 Million Total Funding Powers PIKTOR Phase 2 Following 80% Response Rate in Endometrial Cancer
10 months ago
BioSpace
Faeth Therapeutics' $92 Million Total Funding Powers PIKTOR Phase 2 Following 80% Response Rate in Endometrial Cancer
10 months ago
Crunchbase News
Here Are Some Of The Newer Investors Entering The AI And Megaround Race
11 months ago
Fierce Healthcare
Startup MoldCo lands $8M seed funding to scale virtual clinic for mold-related illnesses
11 months ago
Athletech News
MoldCo Raises $8M To Make Mold Detox Part of Preventive Care
11 months ago
PR Newswire
MoldCo Raises $8M to Address Mold & Environmental Toxins Health Crisis, Standardize Mold Detox as Routine Preventative Care
11 months ago
Business Insider
Pilgrim's Jake Adler Secures $4.3 Million by Demoing Biotech Product With a Bold Video
Aug 2025
Food and Agriculture Organization
World Food Safety Day / Ciencia en acción en Tres Cantos en el Día Mundial de la Inocuidad de los Alimentos
Jun 2025
TechCrunch
TechCrunch Space: SpaceX alums raising a massive new fund for deep tech and more
Oct 2024
citybiz
Salient Motion Raises $12 Million Led by Cantos Ventures
Oct 2024
Thales Alenia Space
The Communications Module of the SpainSat NG-I satellite shipped from Madrid to Toulouse
Jun 2023
TechCrunch
Cantos launches its third fund, ploughing $50M into near-frontier startups
Sep 2022
The Art Institute of Chicago
Desert Fire #81, from the series "Desert Cantos IV: The Fires" (1983-85)
Aug 2022
orrick.com
Orrick Advises Dusty Robotics on $45 Million Series B
May 2022
Business Insider
How Ian Rountree bet $120,000 of his life savings on startups and became one of the nation's top seed investors
May 2022
SpaceNews
Atomos Space secures funding to develop space tug business
Jan 2022
01net
Nabla Bio Closes $11M Seed Financing led by Khosla Ventures and Zetta Venture Partners
Dec 2021
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News
Debut Biotech Raises $22.6M Series A Financing
Aug 2021
AlleyWatch
The Weekly Notable Startup Funding Report: 6/21/21
Jun 2021
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Research briefRead more
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