IQT (In-Q-Tel) is a not-for-profit strategic investor founded in 1999 to support national security and economic interests of the United States and its allies. Founded by the CIA and now operating with independence, the firm collaborates with the U.S. Intelligence Community, including agencies such as the CIA, DIA, FBI and Homeland Security, as well as allied partners in the United Kingdom and Australia. Over more than 750 investments, IQT has served as a bridge between government agencies and technology startups, guiding innovations from pilot testing to deployment in real-world missions.
IQT invests across a broad array of technology areas. The firm’s portfolio spans artificial intelligence and analytics, space systems including satellites and rockets, biotechnology, microelectronics, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and advanced energy and materials science. By providing funding and technical guidance, IQT enables startups to adapt their technologies for government applications, often supporting field trials and integration phases to ensure solutions meet mission requirements.
With more than two decades of work in energy innovation, IQT supports developments in clean technology and battery systems that strengthen supply chain resilience and energy security. Investments include Alta Resource Technologies, which uses protein-based methods to extract critical minerals from waste streams and ores, and Imprint Energy, a startup developing zinc-based rechargeable cells that offer improved safety and flexibility for small electronics. The firm also backed Mitra Future Technologies, focusing on domestic production of iron-based cathode materials for grid storage and electric vehicles, reducing reliance on scarce metals through data-driven chemistry development.
