The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) does more than operate the most powerful spy network in history. It also runs a venture capital fund. And unlike most of its other dealings, this one’s not a secret. It’s called In-Q-Tel Inc., and so far, it has invested in over 700 companies, some of which make products you use daily, like Keyhole, today known as Google Earth. 

In-Q-Tel is sitting on $1 billion of total assets, but you should think twice before you invest shoulder-to-shoulder with it. More often than not, you’ll come out with less than you put in. 

In the last decade, the fund has only experienced one profitable year, yet everyone on board was fine with that. That’s because In-Q-Tel’s mission isn’t to make money; it’s “to enhance and advance national security for the U.S. and its allies.” It doesn’t care about making a profit, as long as it’s shining a light on projects that maintain the U.S. military’s dominion over the world. The fund boasts that every dollar it invests generates $28 in additional investment from the private sector. 

What Companies Does The Fund Support? 

In-Q-Tel mainly invests in three areas. The first is biotech, where the fund has poured funds into genetic engineering startups. One of them is Ginko Bioworks, now a public company that’s programming cells using DNA instructions. Another genetics company in In-Q-Tel’s portfolio, ​Colossal Biosciences, aims to “de-extinct” animals such as the dodo bird, the wooly mammoth and the Tasmanian tiger. 

In-Q-Tel also funds projects related to energy and power. For example, Reach is developing efficient wireless energy transfer with "power-beaming" technology, and ​Tokamak Energy focuses on nuclear fusion. 

The CIA’s venture capital wing couldn’t resist investing in artificial intelligence (AI). Here, In-Q-Tel has invested in Black.ai, a company that integrates AI with real-time video to detect behavioral patterns, and ​Behavioral Signals, which is building AI that can pick up on emotions and stress based on speech to identify and measure threat levels.

While some of these may sound promising, the doors are most likely closed for regular investors. However, some startups will happily let you own their shares despite still being private. This gives you an amazing opportunity to own a stake before the bulk of the growth has happened. As little as $100 is enough to add scores of shares in potential unicorn startups. With $1,000 you can build an entire portfolio and spread out the risk. 

Click here to become an angel investor. 

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