Protego Ventures closes debut $125 million fund for Israeli defense tech

Protego Ventures, an Israeli venture capital firm, announced it has closed its debut fund with $125 million in commitments. The firm focuses on investing in startups specializing in defense technology.

The fund's size allows Protego Ventures to make investments ranging from $5 million to $50 million per company. The targeted startups are expected to address critical defense and security needs for Israel and the global community.

The defense tech sector has seen significant growth, with VC dealmaking reaching a record in Q1 2026. New VC firms have emerged globally, dedicated to investing solely in defense startups.

Protego Ventures, co-led by Lital Leshem and Lee Moser, was founded two years ago and describes itself as Israel's first and largest dedicated defense tech VC firm.