First In Brings Aboard Two Operating Partners to Support Cybersecurity and Dual-Use Innovation Investments

First In, the mission-driven venture capital firm focused on cybersecurity and dual-use startups, adds operating partners Lenore Karafa and Patrick Metke.

ASPEN, Colo., Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Today, First In™ announced its team's expansion to include two new operating partners, Lenore Karafa and Patrick Metke. The firm closed its first fund in March 2022 and now manages over $55 million in total capital. The entrepreneurs leading First In's portfolio companies are driving innovation at the forefront of cybersecurity, data intelligence, data management and automation, and defense technology.

Operating Partner Lenore Karafa will focus on organizational management, connecting strategy to execution while scaling, and ensuring leaders at portfolio companies grow with their organizations. Lenore currently serves as the President of Bunker Labs' Board of Directors. She is an experienced executive who is passionate about empowering leaders to reach their potential. Lenore was previously Head of People for a business unit of the investment firm Citadel and a managing partner at McChrystal Group. Lenore began her career as a United States Marine Corps officer. She is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and received her MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Operating Partner Patrick Metke brings extensive domain experience at the nexus of national security and the private sector. He is a management consultant in Deloitte's government practice, where he uses operational data science to solve interagency and defense client concerns. Recently retired after a 20+ year military career, Patrick served as a United States Army officer in a special mission unit and the Special Forces. Prior to Army special operations roles, he served as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps. He owns Hello Garage of Raleigh, a garage transformation business seeking to promote veteran- and military-spouse-operated ventures. Patrick received an MBA from London Business School, an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and a BA from Hobart College.

About First In™
First In invests in companies at the forefront of modern security and data intelligence for the enterprise. First In's team is led by Managing Partner Renny McPherson and composed of investors and operators with deep experience in founding, executive, and management roles in early and growth-stage companies in cybersecurity, technology, and finance. Many First In team members began their careers in the US military or intelligence community. First In believes that cybersecurity and dual-use investments provide a mission-driven investment opportunity to drive critical innovation for society while producing strong financial returns. The importance of this mission is apparent as cyberattacks grow across the public and private sectors alike—often without distinguishing between the two—and geopolitical tensions increase globally.

First In's portfolio includes cybersecurity companies Adlumin, Appaegis, Caveonix, Phylum, Shift5, Tidal, TwoSense, and ZeroTier; companies that focus on data intelligence such as Antithesis and Precog; and the defense technology company Anduril.

Media Contact

Victoria Elghasen, N2 Communications, 1 7025775141, victoria@n2comms.com

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SOURCE First In