Enlightenment Capital

Enlightenment Capital is a private investment firm founded in 2012 and based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The firm specializes in providing equity and debt investment solutions primarily to companies in the aerospace, defense, government, and technology sectors. With a focus on middle-market investments, Enlightenment Capital employs strategies including senior debt, mezzanine debt, and minority equity to support businesses that deliver mission-critical products and services. The firm's principals possess extensive experience in investing and advising within the aerospace and defense industry, allowing them to identify compelling investment opportunities and foster enduring partnerships. Enlightenment Capital's deep industry ties and understanding of evolving market dynamics inform its approach, positioning the firm as a valuable partner for management teams and equity sponsors dedicated to building leading companies in their fields.

Pierre Chao

Co-Founder

Robert Dowling

VP

Jeffrey S. Guffey

CFO

Robert D. Harper

vice_president

Garrett Kelley

Associate

Evan McMullin

Principal

Anish Randeria

Associate

Jason Rigoli

Partner

Devin L. Talbott

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Thomas Young

Principal

Past deals in District of Columbia

Robotic Research

Series A in 2021
Robotic Research, LLC, is a small engineering firm founded by Alberto Lacaze and Karl Murphy in 2002. Both worked together in the Intelligent Systems Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (Gaithersburg, MD) when they decided to make the move (across the street as it turned out) to pursue focused interest in unmanned vehicles.

Fenix Group

Private Equity Round in 2021
Fenix Group is a systems integration company dedicated to enhancing operational capabilities while minimizing risk, burden, and costs for military personnel. The company specializes in edge networks and integrated systems, creating a sensor ecosystem known as the Battlefield of Things. Its services focus on providing battlefield intelligence at the edge, which improves soldier effectiveness and enables smaller teams to manage larger areas using advanced technologies such as drones, augmented reality-enabled robots, and loitering munitions. By facilitating seamless connectivity for military and first responders during operations, Fenix Group plays a crucial role in modernizing tactical operations and enhancing situational awareness on the battlefield.

Expression Networks

Private Equity Round in 2019
Expression Networks, LLC offers a range of integrated information technology solutions, focusing on data analytics, software engineering, and electromagnetic spectrum management for the national security sector in the United States. Established in 1997 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the company specializes in services such as spectrum engineering, machine learning, systems engineering, information assurance, enterprise architecture, and software development. By providing tailored solutions, Expression Networks aims to help its clients effectively address current and future challenges in the security landscape.

Trowbridge & Trowbridge, LLC

Acquisition in 2019
Trowbridge & Trowbridge is an information technology company specializing in IT and telecom solutions.

ByteCubed

Private Equity Round in 2018
Located in Arlington, VA, ByteCubed is a results-oriented and high-impact consulting firm specializing in next-generation software development and technology. They aim to provide innovative and effective solutions to Their clients, not only from a life cycle and process approach, but also from a technology maturity standpoint. ByteCubed listens to its clients and delivers solutions that meet the ever-changing challenges many clients face today. Their goal is to bring added value to every relationship They enter into while exceeding Their contractual obligations. They work with various government agencies and companies including the DOD, DHS, DIA and many more.

1901 Group

Private Equity Round in 2017
1901 Group LLC, based in Reston, Virginia, specializes in providing IT services to both public and private sectors. Founded in 2009, the company delivers a range of services through its IT-as-a-service model, including infrastructure management, applications management, and security services. It focuses on optimizing network and storage environments, managing physical and virtual servers, and administering databases. Additionally, 1901 Group offers configuration management services, which involve automated network discovery and maintaining centralized management databases. The company designs and manages unified communication environments and oversees cloud-based DevOps setups. Its security offerings encompass security information and event management, endpoint security, compliance, and vulnerability management. Recognized as a Fantastic 50 company, 1901 Group is ISO 9001:2008 certified and assessed at CMMI Level 3 for development and services, underscoring its commitment to quality and efficiency in IT solutions.

TELOS

Venture Round in 2017
Telos Corporation, based in Ashburn, Virginia, provides a range of advanced information technology solutions and services aimed at securing cyberspace, cloud environments, and enterprise operations. The company serves military, intelligence, and civilian agencies, including federal government bodies and NATO allies. Key offerings include Xacta, a solution for continuous assessment and authorization widely used by the Department of Defense and commercial entities; enterprise cloud services encompassing engineering, migration, security, and management; and Telos Ghost, a cybersecurity tool that enables anonymous business operations and intelligence gathering. Telos also focuses on identity and access solutions to safeguard national security assets, as well as smart card-based secure credentialing for military and civilian personnel. Additionally, the company provides secure mobility solutions, automated message handling systems, and services for nationwide identity verification. Established in 1971, Telos is committed to enhancing security for its clients through innovative technology solutions.

Pixia

Private Equity Round in 2014
PIXIA Corp. (PIXIA) is a commercial software and solutions provider based in Reston, Virginia. Drawing from its founder’s roots in the broadcast and media industry, the company was founded in 1999 with a mission of applying its digital imagery experience to addressing the issues of BIG data access. Originally intended for commercial applications, the company's focus shifted after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, when it realized its software could revolutionize the way massive digital imagery files could be accessed within the U.S. Defense and Military branches around the world.