Boston-based venture capital firm J2 Ventures successfully closed its oversubscribed $250 million Brookhaven Fund, positioning it to drive rapid development in dual-use technology. This significant early-stage investment vehicle specifically targets innovations that prove critical to both U.S. national security objectives and broad commercial markets.
The firm’s mission is clear: accelerate the innovation cycle, ensuring world-changing technologies transition from the lab bench to global impact and achieve commercial viability. The successful fundraising reflects continued confidence in J2’s strategic approach to connecting private sector innovation with government needs.
Accelerating National Resilience and Commercial Viability
The Brookhaven Fund dedicates its capital to companies developing solutions in high-priority technological fields. The target areas are vital to maintaining national resilience and economic strength. Key sectors of focus include artificial intelligence, advanced computing, cybersecurity, and communications. The fund also targets specialized healthcare tools, particularly those involving remote physiological monitoring, recognizing their critical applications for both defense and public health preparedness.
Co-founder and Managing Partner Alex Harstrick stated that Brookhaven exists to support founders who are building innovations that simultaneously strengthen national security and enhance the everyday systems society relies upon. This deliberate strategy ensures that the firm’s investments provide both a commercial return and a strategic benefit to the nation.
A Foundation Built by Experts
J2 Ventures employs a unique investment thesis, led by a team of veterans, scientists, and entrepreneurs deeply familiar with the complexities of government and defense procurement priorities. Managing Partner Jonathan Bronson emphasized the goal: “to ensure that world-changing technologies don’t get stuck on the lab bench, that they reach scale, adoption, and global impact.”
The leadership team features distinguished members with significant public sector and defense experience. This includes General Partner Matt Goldman, a retired Air Force colonel and former Chief Medical Officer at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and General Partner Adam Briley, a retired Navy SEAL Master Chief. Other partners, like General Partner Christine Keung, former Chief Data Officer for San Jose, California, reflect a blend of defense and civilian tech expertise crucial for identifying powerful dual-use technology opportunities.
Proven Track Record and Investor Confidence
Brookhaven marks J2’s third consecutive oversubscribed fund, following the $150 million Argonne Fund (2024) and the $68 million inaugural fund (2021). This repeated success reflects strong investor confidence in the firm’s performance and its specialized investment model.
The firm’s portfolio companies, which include innovators like Oura, Aalyria, and Apex Space, have demonstrated a powerful ability to attract non-dilutive government funding. On average, these companies secure $2 in government funding for every $1 invested by the firm. This model effectively de-risks investments and underscores the market’s need for strategic innovations.
Major financial institutions, including JP Morgan and MetLife, as well as the State Investment Council of New Mexico, participated as limited partners in the new fund. The firm continues to successfully link venture capital to federal priorities, fueling the growth of the next generation of essential tech companies.
