D.C.-based Shifters Raises $10.2 Million in Seed Funding

Washington, D.C. – Shifters, a D.C.-based developer of autonomous robotic systems using AI, has raised $10.2 million in seed funding. The round was led by Ace Capital Partners, with participation from Aurelius Capital Management, Corner Ventures, Arkin Capital, STEP World and Fresh Fund. The company said its robotic systems are used for rugged and dangerous environments.

“The first asset into a dangerous environment should increasingly be a robot, not a person,” said Ofer Ballin, CEO and co-founder of Shifters. “This funding allows us to accelerate the systems that make that possible: coordinated robotic teams that can be directed, intuitively, by one operator, adapt to complex ground environments and reduce human exposure before a mission escalates.”

Arlington-based CoStar to Acquire Zonda For $800 Million

Arlington, Va. – CoStar, the Arlington-based real estate marketplace and data company, announced that it has reached a deal to acquire California-based Zonda, a provider of software and analytics for the home construction industry, for $800 million in cash. Zonda’s platform is used by over 3,000 customers.

“Zonda has built an extraordinary business with deep relationships across the homebuilding industry and one of the most valuable proprietary datasets in new home real estate,” said Andy Florance, founder and CEO of CoStar Group. “This acquisition extends CoStar Group’s leadership into a major new segment of the real estate industry and strengthens our ability to provide clients with comprehensive information solutions across every major real estate segment.”

D.C.-based Enduring Climate Closes on $12 Million for Second Fund

Washington, D.C. – Enduring Climate, a D.C.-based venture fund focused on climate startups, announced the close of its $12 million second fund. The firm, which also has a major presence in the Pacific Northwest, aims to support early-stage climate innovators.

“Our mission remains simple and steadfast: provide fast, flexible, non-dilutive financing to early-stage climate innovators,” wrote Dimitry Gershenson, founder and CEO of Enduring Climate, in a LinkedIn post. “Across both funds, we have now deployed nearly $40 million to support just over 70 climate startups and SMBs.”

Paladin Leads Series A Investment in NC-based Arpio

Washington, D.C. – Paladin Capital Group, the D.C.-based venture capital firm, has led a Series A round in Durham, N.C.-based Arpio, an AI-based cloud recovery platform. Other investors in the round included Draper Associates, Uncorrelated, Valor Ventures, CreativeCo Capital and Lookout Ventures.

“Ransomware has permanently raised the bar for resilience. It’s no longer enough for a workload to come back. Recovery has to be automated, near instantaneous, and trusted, and legacy disaster recovery tools simply can’t do that,” said Tom Clute, a principal at Paladin Capital Group. “Nearly every day brings another headline about an organization that couldn’t recover when it mattered most.”

Arlington-based Bloomberg Industry Group Acquires Regology

Arlington, Va. – Bloomberg Industry Group, based in Arlington, announced that it has acquired Palo Alto-based Regology, an AI-powered regulatory intelligence platform. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Bloomberg said the acquisition will expand its law, tax, and government affairs offerings with “AI-driven regulatory change management capabilities.” Regology’s platform continuously monitors U.S. federal and state regulations, along with international regulations.

“This acquisition expands how we support customers who have been telling us they are managing increased regulatory complexity,” said Josh Eastright, CEO of Bloomberg Industry Group. “By bringing together Regology’s global regulatory coverage and advanced AI with the data, news, and intelligence of Bloomberg Law, Bloomberg Tax, and Bloomberg Government, we’re helping organizations move faster from awareness to action.”

McLean-based Valiant Solutions Acquires BreakPoint Labs

McLean, Va. – Valiant Solutions, a McLean-based cybersecurity firm, announced on Monday the acquisition of Falls Church-based BreakPoint Labs, a cybersecurity company focused on defense and national security clients. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal marks Valiant’s second acquisition in six months and expands its capabilities in areas including operational technology security, advanced penetration testing, and cybersecurity workflow automation.

Virginia-based OMNI Acquires Nara Logics

Gainesville, Va. – OMNI, a Virginia-based software provider to defense and intelligence agencies, announced that it has acquired Nara Logics, a Boston-based AI company focused on government and defense clients. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “By combining Nara Logics’ explainable AI platform with OMNI’s zero-trust data solutions, we are giving the customer the ultimate decision advantage, delivering trusted, secure, and discoverable intelligence across classified and compartmentalized networks,” said Parag Thakker, CEO of OMNI.

Briefly Noted

(Herndon, Va.) Everfox, a Herndon-based cybersecurity company, has named Ted Girard as its chief revenue officer. Girard most recently served as vice president of public sector at Snowflake.

(Herndon, Va.) HawkEye 360, the Herndon-based signals intelligence company, has named Alex Johnson as its SVP of Engineering and Systems Operations, and EJ Kreinar as Deputy, Engineering & System Operations. Johnson formerly worked at L3Harris Technologies. Kreinar served as vice president of engineering at HawkEye 360, a role he will continue.

(Columbia, Md.) Blend360, a Maryland-based AI services firm, announced that it is acquiring In516ht, a data engineering company based in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Blend360 said the acquisition will expand its capabilities in the Snowflake Data Cloud ecosystem.

Arlington-based Quartermaster Raises $43 Million in Series A

Arlington, Va. – Quartermaster, an Arlington-based startup linking maritime sensors to a data analysis platform, has raised $43 million in Series A funding. The round was led by First Round Capital and Quiet Capital, with participation from TMV Logistics, Steel Atlas, BoxGroup, Operator Partners, Shorewind Capital, and David Adelman.

“Six million working and commercial vessels sail the world’s waterways every day. Fishing boats, workboats, ferries, cargo vessels, offshore service vessels, coastal operators. They’re already in the places where maritime data matters, on every coastline, in every shipping lane, across every fishery,” the company wrote in a LinkedIn post about the funding. “We equip those vessels with SmartMast, our onboard sensing and edge compute platform. SmartMast captures structured real-time data on vessel activity, environmental conditions, video, geolocation, radio signals, and anomalies, processes it locally, and feeds the structured output into Quartermaster’s software platform.”

Ashburn-based DTC Acquires Adaptive Dynamics Inc.

Ashburn, Va. – DTC, an Ashburn-based provider of tactical communications systems, announced that it has acquired Adaptive Dynamics, Inc., a San Diego-based developer of anti-jamming and interference mitigation technologies. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Adaptive Dynamics’ technical expertise in interference mitigation and signal processing strengthens our ability to deliver communications systems that perform under the most challenging operational conditions,” said Paul Sangster, president of DTC. “This capability is increasingly critical as spectrum environments become more contested and complex across our markets, reflecting real-world operational demands and evolving battlefield requirements.”

TEDCO Names Board Members for Next Fiscal Year

Columbia, Md. – TEDCO, the Maryland technology economic development agency that is a major provider of seed funding in the state, announced the list of its executive officers and board members for fiscal year 2027, which begins on July 1. TEDCO’s board is made up of 19 members, 14 of whom are appointed by the Governor, two appointed by the President of the Maryland Senate, and two appointed by the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates. The full list is available here.

McLean-based Cycurion Acquires Secuvant For $2.9 Million

McLean, Va. – Cycurion, a McLean-based cybersecurity company, announced that it has acquired Utah-based Secuvant, a cybersecurity and risk management company for $2.9 million. Cycurion, which is publicly traded, said the acquisition will result in about $3 million in annualized revenue. “This acquisition marks a major milestone in our mission to fix what’s broken in cybersecurity,” said Kevin Kelly, Chairman and CEO of Cycurion. “Secuvant’s proven tools and expertise, combined with HavenX, let us deliver truly automated, scalable solutions that drive superior client outcomes and immediate financial impact.”

Maryland Tech Council Names 2026 ICON Awards Winners

Rockville, Md. – The Maryland Tech Council has announced the winners of the 2026 ICON Awards that recognized individuals and companies in Maryland’s technology and life sciences sector. “The 2026 ICON Award winners represent the very best of Maryland’s innovation economy,” said Kelly Schulz, CEO of MTC. “These leaders and organizations are developing groundbreaking technologies, advancing healthcare solutions, strengthening national security, and inspiring the next generation of innovators.” The list of winners is here.

Patrick Paolini Named CEO of McLean-based TEGNA

McLean, Va. – TEGNA, the McLean-based local television company that was originally part of Gannett, has named Patrick Paolini as its new CEO. Paolini was formerly EVP of advertising sales at FOX Television Stations. TEGNA, which operates 64 local television stations along with hundreds of digital media assets, is a subsidiary of Nexstar Media Group.

Briefly Noted

(Alexandria, Va.) Parry Labs, an Alexandria-based defense technology company that raised $80 million in 2024, has named Don Claussen as its CEO. Founder and previous CEO John Parkes will assume the role of executive chairman. Claussen was most recently the CEO of ST Engineering iDirect.

(Washington, D.C.) BRG, the DC-based technical consulting firm, has named Darin Cabral as its CFO. Cabral formerly served as chief financial and administrative officer at Constellis.

(Chantilly, Va.) Red River, a Chantilly-based cybersecurity firm, has named Mike Sang as its CFO. Sang has previously held senior finance and strategy roles at CAE, L3Harris and Morgan Stanley.

European Early-Stage VC ScaleWolf Opens Office in Alexandria

Alexandria, Va. – ScaleWolf, a European early-stage venture capital firm focused on dual-use technologies, announced the opening of a new office in Alexandria, Va. The office will focus on investments in the United States. ScaleWolf, which is based in Lithuania, focuses on defense technologies that could be used by NATO countries.

“Opening our Alexandria office represents an important milestone in ScaleWolf’s long-term strategy to build a premier platform for dual-use investment and operational scale,” said David Harden, managing partner of ScaleWolf. “The Washington region provides unparalleled access to government stakeholders, institutional capital, mission-focused industry partners, and emerging technology ecosystems shaping the future of allied resilience, infrastructure modernization, and defense innovation.”

Richmond-based Procurement Sciences Acquires HigherGov

Richmond, Va. – Procurement Sciences, a Richmond-based developer of government contractor proposal management technology, announced the acquisition of HigherGov, an AI-driven intelligence company for government contractors with a presence in NYC and D.C. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“Data is the new oil, but in government contracting, the real advantage is turning opportunity, award, agency, competitor, teaming, and pricing intelligence into action,” said Christian Ferreira, CEO of Procurement Sciences. “With HigherGov, we now have one of the most extensive government contracting data layers in the market across federal, state and local, grant, and historical award data.”

Vox Media Sells Major Assets to Lupa Systems

Washington, D.C. – Vox Media, the digital media company that was founded in DC, announced that it has sold its podcast business, along with New York Magazine and Vox, to Lupa Systems, the media holding company founded by James Murdoch. The purchase was reportedly over $300 million. The remaining assets of Vox Media – including Eater, Popsugar, SB Nation, The Dodo and The Verge - will remain in an independent company that will take on a new name.

“Separating into two distinct companies best sets up our brands, shows, businesses, talent, and teams to continue to lead and prosper in the changing media landscape,” wrote Jim Bankoff, co-founder of Vox, who formerly held a senior position at Dulles-based AOL. “Each company will be better positioned to grow within a focused portfolio of complementary businesses. Lupa’s investments in Tribeca Enterprises and Art Basel reflect the same belief in culture, creativity, and talent that defines New York Magazine, Vox, and the podcast network, a business that has become our v over the past five years.”

Herndon-based Team Velocity Acquires Foundation Direct

Herndon, Va. – Team Velocity, a Herndon-based provider of a marketing and technology platform for auto dealerships, has acquired Ashburn-based Foundation Direct, a digital agency founded by former Google automotive executives. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Foundation Direct will continue to operate as an independent unit. “We are combining elite digital strategy with the power of the Apollo platform. We’ve admired their approach for years, and together, we are providing a ‘concierge-level’ digital strategy that the industry has been demanding,” said David Boice, CEO of Team Velocity.

McLean-based Cycurion Acquires Seattle-based Halo Privacy

McLean, Va. – Cycurion, a McLean-based cybersecurity company, announced that it has made a strategic acquisition of Seattle-based Halo Privacy, a developer of secure and “privacy-first” communication tools. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We also see tremendous opportunity on the corporate side to expand this business, as secure communications are paramount in today’s business world when conducting sensitive operations,” said Kevin Kelly, CEO of Cycurion. “With AI-powered applications like Halo Link, we are bringing the same government-grade protection to investment banks, healthcare organizations, R&D-intensive enterprises, law firms, and C-suite executives who demand the highest levels of privacy and security.”

Chad Kettering Named New CEO of Germantown-based HTL

Germantown, Md. – Herrick Technology Laboratories (HTL), a Germantown-based signals intelligence company backed by Blue Delta Capital Partners, has named Chad Kettering as its new CEO. Previous CEO Acie Vickers has moved to the position of chairman of the board of directors as he addresses a serious health issue, according to the company. Kettering was the former VP of Engineering for HTL. Prior to HTL, Kettering was a Senior Mechanical Engineer at DRT, which was acquired by Boeing. “Chad is the right person to lead HTL at this critical time and I am thrilled the Board of Directors unanimously and enthusiastically agreed with my recommendation to make him the new CEO,” said Vickers.

Exit Planning Institute Launches D.C. Chapter

Washington, D.C. – The Exit Planning Institute (EPI), an educational and peer organization focused on business exit planning, has announced the launch of its D.C. chapter. Christopher Kaiser is the president of the local chapter, which recently held its inaugural meeting. The leadership team of the D.C. chapter is listed here.

Briefly Noted

(Washington, D.C.) Prism Layer, a D.C.-based enterprise risk management platform, has named Liam Kenneally as chief revenue officer. Kenneally formerly worked at Stratyfy. Prism Layer came out of stealth last month with pre-seed funding from Fenway Summer, Plural VC, and various DC angel investors.

(Herndon, Va.) MANTECH, the Herndon-based defense contractor, has promoted Sarah Carter to SVP and Chief Growth Officer (CGO). Prior to MANTECH, Carter worked at Ernst & Young and Irving Burton Associates

(Washington, D.C.) BriefCatch, a D.C.-based writing platform for legal professionals, has named Yoel Lavie as its chief operating officer. Lavie previously served as General Counsel at VIDAA.

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Join us next week (May 15) for Potomac Tech Wire's GovCon Social Media Marketing Outlook breakfast in Reston.

We're bringing together some of the region’s leading GovCon marketing experts to discuss the unique aspects of social media in government contracting marketing.

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Shab Nassirpour, SVP, Marketing and Communications, Everforth ECS
Ethan…

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Mark Amtower, Managing Partner, Amtower & Company
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