Key Takeaways
- • Shield Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on AI, autonomy, cybersecurity and space, has added Michael A. Brown and John "JJ" Jack as Venture Partners, according to a Business Wire release dated October 18, 2022.
- • Brown most recently led the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) from 2018 as its 3rd Director and previously served as CEO of Symantec and Chairman and CEO of Quantum Corporation.
- • Jack previously served as CEO of Fortify Software (acquired by Hewlett Packard) and Covalent (acquired by VMware), and as COO of The Vantive (acquired by PeopleSoft).
- • The partners are expected to contribute proprietary deal flow, go-to-market leadership and board governance experience to Shield's portfolio companies.
Summary
San Francisco-based Shield Capital announced that Michael A. Brown and John "JJ" Jack have joined the firm as Venture Partners, according to a Business Wire release. The firm said the two will bring proprietary deal flow, senior management and industry expertise, and go-to-market leadership to SHIELD's portfolio companies. Managing Partner Philip Bilden said the pair bring decades of senior management, technology leadership and board governance experience to support founders building technology for commercial and government customers.
Brown most recently led the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) since 2018 as its third Director, where he was responsible for sourcing strategic technology from the U.S. innovation ecosystem. Earlier, as a Presidential Innovation Fellow, he helped catalyze the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act, which expanded the jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). In the private sector, Brown served as CEO of Symantec Corporation and as Chairman and CEO of Quantum Corporation, where he joined in 1984 and served on the board from 1995 until 2014. In his statement, Brown cited the Ukraine conflict as evidence that commercial technology is becoming more important to national security.
Jack has spent his career in software sales, marketing and executive leadership. He served as CEO of Fortify Software, which was acquired by Hewlett Packard, and CEO of Covalent, which was acquired by VMware. He was also COO of The Vantive, acquired by PeopleSoft, and began his career at Sybase, where he became SVP of Sales. Jack said he plans to work with early-stage founders building frontier technology for broader customer bases.
Raj Shah, Managing Partner at Shield Capital, said the two leaders are proven mentors whose guidance will affect the success of the firm's founders. The release did not disclose fund size, capital commitments or compensation terms.
Brown most recently led the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) since 2018 as its third Director, where he was responsible for sourcing strategic technology from the U.S. innovation ecosystem. Earlier, as a Presidential Innovation Fellow, he helped catalyze the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act, which expanded the jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). In the private sector, Brown served as CEO of Symantec Corporation and as Chairman and CEO of Quantum Corporation, where he joined in 1984 and served on the board from 1995 until 2014. In his statement, Brown cited the Ukraine conflict as evidence that commercial technology is becoming more important to national security.
Jack has spent his career in software sales, marketing and executive leadership. He served as CEO of Fortify Software, which was acquired by Hewlett Packard, and CEO of Covalent, which was acquired by VMware. He was also COO of The Vantive, acquired by PeopleSoft, and began his career at Sybase, where he became SVP of Sales. Jack said he plans to work with early-stage founders building frontier technology for broader customer bases.
Raj Shah, Managing Partner at Shield Capital, said the two leaders are proven mentors whose guidance will affect the success of the firm's founders. The release did not disclose fund size, capital commitments or compensation terms.
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