Apollo Projects

Apollo Projects is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Greenville, South Carolina, dedicated to backing "moonshot" companies. Founded by Dakota Young and Brandon Brooks, the firm focuses on investing in deep tech and frontier tech startups that are tackling some of the world's most challenging problems. Their investment thesis centers on supporting founders who are building foundational technologies with the potential for significant, long-term impact across various sectors, including artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, space exploration, advanced materials, and climate solutions. They seek out technically proficient founders with ambitious visions, often investing at the pre-seed and seed stages.

The firm launched its debut fund, successfully raising $20 million to deploy into these high-potential, high-risk ventures. Apollo Projects typically writes initial checks ranging from $250,000 to $1 million, reserving additional capital for follow-on investments as their portfolio companies achieve key milestones. This strategic approach allows them to provide crucial early funding to startups that might be overlooked by more traditional investors due to the inherent long development cycles and capital intensity often associated with deep tech.

Beyond capital, Apollo Projects aims to be a hands-on partner, leveraging its network and expertise to support founders through the complex journey of bringing breakthrough technologies to market. Their commitment to backing companies from the very earliest stages, often before product-market fit, underscores their belief in the transformative power of scientific and engineering innovation. By focusing on fundamental breakthroughs rather than incremental improvements, Apollo Projects positions itself as a key enabler for the next generation of disruptive technologies.