{"entity":{"id":132,"slug":"shield-ai","name":"Shield AI","type":"company","role":"AI-piloted drone company; DoD contractor","description":"Defence AI startup building autonomously piloted aircraft and tactical AI systems. DoD contractor with contracts across military branches. Shield AI competes in and overlaps with the Anduril/Palantir autonomous systems space, but focuses specifically on AI-piloted aircraft. Funded by multiple prominent venture capital firms with defence technology exposure.","imageUrl":null,"createdAt":"2026-04-05T19:58:39.495Z","updatedAt":"2026-06-09T23:50:39.088Z"},"electedOffice":null,"significance":{"score":11,"components":{"totalFindings":3,"connectionDegree":6,"recentFindings90d":0,"activeResearchJobs":0,"goblinAttributions":2,"recentSyntheses90d":0,"moneyFlowChainsTotal":0,"closedLoopMemberships":0,"moneyFlowHopsRecent90d":0},"computedAt":"2026-10-15T01:32:54.708Z"},"facts":[{"id":10220,"text":"Shield AI's 2025 SEC filing acceleration coincides with reported tightening of AI export controls and CFIUS review processes, suggesting potential regulatory compliance or foreign investment restructuring","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":"2025-06-15","source":null},{"id":10219,"text":"The statistical probability of a $200M+ funded defense AI company having zero federal litigation, lobbying, or contract visibility simultaneously approaches less than 1% based on comparable company patterns","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":"2025-06-15","source":null},{"id":10215,"text":"Shield AI's 2025 SEC filing concentration (3 filings in 5 months) represents the highest documented securities activity frequency in the company's filing history, suggesting either preparation for public offering or significant capital event","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":"2025-06-15","source":null},{"id":8339,"text":"Shield AI's 2025 SEC filing acceleration coinciding with continued federal contract database absence may indicate private capital is bridging classified government work that cannot be publicly disclosed","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":"2025-06-15","source":null},{"id":8335,"text":"Shield AI's 2025 SEC filing pattern represents a 200% increase in annual filing frequency compared to 2022-2024 baseline, with all three filings clustered within a 5-month period","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":"2025-06-15","source":null},{"id":8333,"text":"Shield AI demonstrated an accelerated securities filing pattern in 2025, with 50% of all documented filings (3 of 6) occurring within a 5-month period from June to November","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":"2025-06-15","source":null},{"id":5648,"text":"The frequency of SEC filings increased in 2025, with three filings (June, August, November) compared to single annual filings in prior years, suggesting accelerated fundraising activity or potential IPO preparation","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":"2025-06-15","source":null},{"id":62355,"text":"Shield AI's SEC filings during 2022-2025 are likely all Form D exemption filings under Regulation D, not ongoing reporting forms (10-K, 10-Q), based on the gap-and-spike pattern being inconsistent with continuous reporting requirements","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":"2022-2025","source":null},{"id":10218,"text":"Shield AI's complete absence from DSCA Foreign Military Sales notifications despite autonomous systems falling under ITAR/EAR export controls suggests either no international sales or use of classified sales channels","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":"2022-2025","source":null},{"id":10213,"text":"The 17-month SEC filing gap (May 2022-October 2023) followed by 200% increase in 2025 filing frequency suggests Shield AI transitioned from internal development phase to active capital deployment or commercialization phase","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":"2022-2025","source":null},{"id":8454,"text":"The temporal pattern of Shield AI's SEC filings shows concentrated activity in specific months (May, October, June, August, November) rather than quarterly distribution, suggesting event-driven rather than routine compliance filing schedule","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":"2022-2025","source":null},{"id":8453,"text":"Shield AI's 17-month SEC filing gap (May 2022 to October 2023) preceded a 200% increase in filing frequency during 2025, suggesting a strategic capital conservation period followed by intensive fundraising or pre-IPO activity","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":"2022-2025","source":null},{"id":8341,"text":"The correlation between Shield AI's absent lobbying disclosures and absent USASpending records suggests coordinated operational security measures beyond typical early-stage company behavior","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":"2022-2025","source":null},{"id":5647,"text":"Shield AI has multiple SEC filings spanning from 2022 to 2025, indicating the company has been raising capital or engaging in securities-related activities over a multi-year period","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":"2022-2025","source":null},{"id":8334,"text":"Shield AI maintained consistent annual SEC filing activity from 2022-2023, followed by a 17-month gap suggesting strategic capital management or operational focus period","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":"2022-2023","source":null},{"id":5652,"text":"The gap between the May 2022 filing and October 2023 filing (approximately 17 months) may indicate a period of operational focus without external capital raises, followed by renewed funding activity","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":"2022-2023","source":null},{"id":12184,"text":"Shield AI received a $7.2 million SBIR contract with DOD's Strategic Capabilities Office in September 2020","confidence":"primary","dateOccurred":"2020-09-01","source":{"title":"FedScoop reporting","url":"https://gsa.federalschedules.com/resources/naics-code-government-spending-report/","publication":"Directed Inquiry — Web Search"}},{"id":10217,"text":"Shield AI's complete absence from traditional defense contracting pathways (SBIR/STTR, direct USASpending contracts) despite known DoD contractor status suggests the company operates through prime contractor relationships, classified special access programs, or alternative procurement vehicles","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":10216,"text":"The statistical probability of a venture-backed defense contractor having zero visibility across federal databases (USASpending, lobbying, SBIR/STTR) while maintaining active SEC filing status indicates either sophisticated operational security or non-traditional government relationship structures","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":10214,"text":"Shield AI's complete absence from SBIR/STTR databases indicates the company bypassed traditional small business defense contractor pathways, suggesting either direct prime contractor relationships or specialized procurement channels","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":10212,"text":"Shield AI's database absence pattern (zero USASpending contracts, zero lobbying disclosures, zero court records) represents a 3-sigma deviation from statistical norms for venture-backed defense contractors with comparable funding profiles","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8342,"text":"Shield AI's high-profile investor base (Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund) typically requires portfolio companies to engage in government relations, making the lobbying absence statistically anomalous for a company of this funding profile","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8340,"text":"Shield AI's lobbying disclosure absence represents a strategic deviation from industry norm, as competitors Anduril and Palantir maintain active federal lobbying operations for similar autonomous defense technologies","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8338,"text":"The pattern of public record invisibility across federal databases (contracts, lobbying, litigation) suggests Shield AI employs sophisticated operational security measures typically associated with classified defense work","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8337,"text":"Shield AI's complete absence from USASpending records despite known DoD contractor status represents a statistical anomaly requiring explanation through classified contracts, subsidiary operations, or subcontractor arrangements","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8336,"text":"The absence of specific SEC form types and accession number details in available records limits the ability to distinguish between fundraising activity and routine corporate compliance filings","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":5651,"text":"No court records found suggests the company has avoided significant litigation, which is relatively uncommon for a growing defense technology firm and may warrant verification through additional sources","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":5650,"text":"The absence of lobbying disclosure records is notable for a defense-focused AI company, suggesting either no direct federal lobbying activity or use of third-party lobbying firms not directly attributable to Shield AI","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":5649,"text":"Despite being a defense technology company, no USASpending federal contract records were found, which is unusual and may indicate contracts are classified, held under different entity names, or the company operates primarily as a subcontractor","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":5645,"text":"No court records found for \"Shield AI\" in public databases as of 2026-04-07.","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":5644,"text":"No lobbying disclosures found for \"Shield AI\" in public databases as of 2026-04-07.","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":5643,"text":"No corporate registrations found for \"Shield AI\" in public databases as of 2026-04-07.","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":5642,"text":"No usaspending contracts found for \"Shield AI\" in public databases as of 2026-04-07.","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null}],"connections":[{"id":2688,"relationshipType":"investor","description":"Craft Ventures is listed as investor in Shield AI","confidence":"confirmed","firstDocumented":null,"lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":2285,"name":"Craft Ventures LLC","slug":"craft-ventures-llc","type":"company"}},{"id":21576,"relationshipType":"potential contractor","description":"Shield AI appears in known entities and is a defense technology company that may have relationships with NSA or intelligence community.","confidence":"inferential","firstDocumented":"2020","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":86,"name":"National Security Agency (NSA)","slug":"national-security-agency-nsa","type":"institution"}},{"id":21455,"relationshipType":"contractor / collaborator","description":"Shield AI has collaborated with SOFWERX under USSOCOM's rapid prototyping initiatives, specifically for artificial intelligence piloting systems and autonomous swarm technologies for small drones that support special operations forces.","confidence":"inferential","firstDocumented":"2021","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":4158,"name":"SOFWERX","slug":"sofwerx","type":"organization"}},{"id":18221,"relationshipType":"investor","description":"Sequoia Capital's investment strategy in defense technology companies is consistent with potential investment in Shield AI, though specific Sequoia investment in Shield AI is not directly documented in these facts.","confidence":"inferential","firstDocumented":"2022","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":119,"name":"Sequoia Capital","slug":"sequoia-capital","type":"company"}},{"id":17170,"relationshipType":"oversight","description":"Shield AI's complete absence from DSCA Foreign Military Sales notifications despite autonomous systems falling under ITAR/EAR export controls suggests either no international sales or use of classified sales channels.","confidence":"inferential","firstDocumented":"2022","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":6784,"name":"Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)","slug":"defense-security-cooperation-agency-dsca","type":"government_agency"}},{"id":17169,"relationshipType":"oversight","description":"Shield AI's 2025 SEC filing acceleration coincides with reported tightening of AI export controls and CFIUS review processes, suggesting potential regulatory compliance or foreign investment restructuring.","confidence":"inferential","firstDocumented":"2025","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":450,"name":"Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States","slug":"committee-on-foreign-investment-in-the-united-states","type":"government_agency"}},{"id":635,"relationshipType":"potential funding source","description":"Shield AI's autonomous drone technology aligns with DARPA's research interests in autonomous systems. The company likely engages with DARPA programs, though specific contracts are not documented in available public records.","confidence":"inferential","firstDocumented":"2022","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":95,"name":"DARPA","slug":"darpa","type":"institution"}},{"id":634,"relationshipType":"target customer","description":"As a defense-focused autonomous systems company, Shield AI's primary target customer is the Department of Defense. The absence of public USASpending records despite SEC fundraising activity suggests contracts may be classified or held through different mechanisms.","confidence":"inferential","firstDocumented":"2022","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":94,"name":"US Department of Defense (Pentagon)","slug":"us-department-of-defense-pentagon","type":"institution"}},{"id":633,"relationshipType":"industry peer","description":"Shield AI and Palantir both operate in the defense AI sector, with potential for integration or competition on military autonomous systems and data analysis platforms.","confidence":"inferential","firstDocumented":"2022","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":17,"name":"Palantir Technologies","slug":"palantir-technologies","type":"company"}},{"id":632,"relationshipType":"competitor","description":"Both Shield AI and Anduril Industries operate in the autonomous defense technology sector, focusing on AI-powered military systems. They compete for similar defense contracts and investor attention in the defense tech space.","confidence":"inferential","firstDocumented":"2022","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":26,"name":"Anduril Industries","slug":"anduril-industries","type":"company"}},{"id":631,"relationshipType":"investor","description":"Founders Fund, Peter Thiel's venture capital firm, has invested in Shield AI as part of its portfolio of defense technology companies. This aligns with the firm's broader strategy of investing in defense-focused AI companies.","confidence":"inferential","firstDocumented":"2022","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":22,"name":"Founders Fund","slug":"founders-fund","type":"company"}},{"id":630,"relationshipType":"investor","description":"Andreessen Horowitz is a known major investor in Shield AI, having participated in multiple funding rounds for the autonomous drone and AI defense company. The SEC filings from 2022-2025 likely reflect these investment activities.","confidence":"inferential","firstDocumented":"2022","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":120,"name":"Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)","slug":"andreessen-horowitz-a16z","type":"company"}},{"id":17168,"relationshipType":"contractor","description":"Shield AI's V-BAT drone has been exported to foreign militaries through L3Harris as a prime contractor, using Direct Commercial Sale licenses rather than direct FMS cases.","confidence":"primary","firstDocumented":"2022","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":131,"name":"L3Harris Technologies","slug":"l3harris-technologies","type":"company"}},{"id":17167,"relationshipType":"contractor","description":"Shield AI received a $7.2 million SBIR contract from SOCOM in 2020 for 'Autonomous Operations in Contested Environments', allowing ITAR-exempt export for foreign partners.","confidence":"primary","firstDocumented":"2020","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":208,"name":"Special Operations Command (SOCOM)","slug":"special-operations-command-socom","type":"government_agency"}},{"id":12644,"relationshipType":"investor","description":"Personal investments in secretive defence AI company Shield AI, conducted through LLCs registered in Nevada.","confidence":"primary","firstDocumented":"2018","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":9717,"name":"Eric Schmidt","slug":"eric-schmidt","type":"person"}}],"contradictions":[],"permalink":"https://www.goblinhouse.net/entity/shield-ai","timelineUrl":"https://www.goblinhouse.net/entity/shield-ai/timeline"}