Protego Ventures
Protego Ventures is Israel’s first defense-exclusive venture capital fund, established in 2024 by Lital Leshem and Lee Moser. The firm focuses on investing in early-growth companies that develop critical defense technologies, including autonomous systems, sensors, AI/ML, advanced electronics, and communications. Headquartered in Herzliya, with a presence in New York, Protego manages a $200 million fund aimed at attracting U.S. institutional capital to support Israeli defense startups. The firm invests across various stages, from seed to later-stage financing, and targets companies in Israel,
Investing activity
Protego Ventures appears in 2 AI deals tracked by the AI Lounge deals desk, rounds totalling $35M. The rounds are mostly Seed, with a median round size of $18M. The most recent are Rilian (Seed, $17.5M, Apr 2026) and Rilian Technologies (Seed, $17.5M, Apr 2026).
Protego Ventures most often invests alongside First In, Tamarack Global, 8VC and Liquid 2 Ventures, and the companies it backs on AI Lounge are mostly in AI.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Protego Ventures
What AI companies has Protego Ventures invested in?
Protego Ventures's AI investments include Rilian and Rilian Technologies. The 2 rounds on AI Lounge are listed on this page with amounts, dates and co-investors.
Where is Protego Ventures based?
Protego Ventures is based in United States.
What stage does Protego Ventures invest at?
In the rounds tracked on AI Lounge, Protego Ventures has invested at Seed, with a median round of $18M.
Who does Protego Ventures co-invest with?
Protego Ventures's most frequent co-investors on AI Lounge are First In (2 deals), Tamarack Global (2 deals), 8VC (2 deals), Liquid 2 Ventures (2 deals) and Perot Jain (2 deals).
How can founders reach Protego Ventures?
Founders on AI Lounge can see Protego Ventures's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with the firm under Warm Paths, and add Protego Ventures to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.