Applying Military Training to Raising Funds with Neil Keegan of Marlinspike

According to Neil Keegan, co-founder and CEO of disruptive technology fund Marlinspike, it was his background in the Navy that shaped the mission-driven ethos of his firm. The fund focuses on innovative companies that are solving challenges around national security while also exploring creative commercial applications. 

Finding a company that is making the world a better place is what gets Neil and his partners really excited. The fund focuses on five key growth and innovation sectors — AI and analytics, autonomy, robotics, aerospace, and cyber. 

In this episode of Fund Flow, Neil and host Jon Finger discuss how he and his partners apply their previous military training to push for success, and channel their excitement into investments where the opportunity to have a huge impact across multiple sectors is evident. 

During this episode, Neil shares his views on where investment in privately-held companies in the space industry will be focused, citing SpaceX as an example of how space exploration is changing to be faster and more efficient. 

Neil also has advice for building relationships with LPs, overcoming hesitations that newer funds might encounter, and how to position your team for success. 

For someone looking to raise their first fund, Neil reminds them they need to be ready for a long haul. “It's not for the faint of heart,” he says. “You've got to really commit and fully understand why you're doing it. You've got to have that fire in your belly to do it.” 

💡 Featured Guest 💡

Name: Neil Keegan

What he does: Neil is the co-managing partner and CEO at Marlinspike Partners. Before founding Marlinspike, he was the CEO of Roanoke Capital Management.

Organization: Marlinspike

Connect: LinkedIn

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