Razor's Edge Ventures closes $340M fund as it looks to invest in defense startups

In a sign that national security tech is a safe bet even during troubled economic times, defense- and security-focused VC firm Razor's Edge Ventures today announced the closing of its third startup investment fund at just under $340 million. It exceeded the initial target of $250 million, the firm notes, and will target companies developing autonomous systems, space technologies, cybersecurity, AI and machine learning, digital signal processing and other aerospace and defense technologies. Founded in 2010, Razor's Edge funds multistage startups with both commercial and government customers but specializes in ventures that "[help] national security community [members] solve difficult technology problems and advance critical missions," in its own words. The outfit's interest areas are informed by "strategic national security priorities," managing partner Mark Spoto tells TechCrunch, with the ostensible goal of helping the U.S. maintain "technological superiority." "While economic conditions in the broad financial markets are challenging at this time, spending for defense has grown significantly both in the U.S. and abroad; we face an increasingly complex and growing threat environment," Spoto said via email.