- The non-profit investment firm called In-Q-Tel, otherwise known as the venture capital firm established by the CIA, was launched to “support US intelligence capabilities” and “deliver cutting-edge technologies that address national security needs.”
- In-Q-Tel was founded by former CIA Director George Tenet, former Lockheed Martin CEO Norm Augustine, and venture capitalist Gilman Louie back in 1999.
- In the early 2000s, the CIA’s venture capital arm decided to fund a satellite mapping software operation known as Keyhole, which later became Google Earth.
Garry Lu from Boss Hunting writes:
“Ordinarily, the headlines surrounding how encrypted messaging platform Wickr has secured more than $1.6 million in funding wouldn’t be something we’d take note of, much less cover in the editorial sense. The source of Wickr’s funding, however, is drawing further attention from several publications, not just BH. You see, the public disclosure records reviewed by Motherboard indicates Wickr is being bankrolled by a non-profit investment firm called In-Q-Tel — otherwise known as the venture capital firm established by the Central Intelligence Agency to “support US intelligence capabilities” and “deliver cutting-edge technologies that address national security needs.”
Record scratch moment. Since when did the CIA have an entire branch dedicated to handing out seed capital? More importantly, how does it work? As it so happens, In-Q-Tel – formerly known as Peleus before rebranding with a direct reference to James Bond’s own quartermaster (yes… really) – was founded by former CIA Director George Tenet, former Lockheed Martin CEO Norm Augustine, and veteran venture capitalist Gilman Louie back in 1999…”
See full story here.
Categories: Business, Government, Politics, Tech
Economic Left 
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