Here Are 14 Firms That The CIA Has Invested In

Larry Downing/REUTERS

Business Insider: 14 cutting edge firms funded by the CIA

The Central Intelligence Agency has its own investment capital arm, and it's been pumping money into some of Silicon Valley's most innovative companies for years.

In-Q-Tel (named after "Q" in the James Bond films) invests in companies that can deliver useful technology to the intelligence community within 36 months. But since it's structured as an independent, non-profit organization, it's rather unique: It's a VC firm that doesn't really need to make money back for outside investors, and it can tap into the deep pockets of the intelligence "black budget."

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WNU Editor: Wow .... what these 14 firms are doing is truly cutting edge. Whether they deliver a reliable product .... I guess time will only tell.

An Inside Look At The CIA's Venture-Capital Arm In-Q-Tel

In-Q-Tel: A Glimpse Inside The CIA’s Venture-Capital Arm -- FOX Business

Many Americans were shocked last week to learn about the size and scope of the U.S. intelligence community’s telephone and Internet surveillance activities.

But investors may also be surprised to learn that same "intel" community operates a formidable venture-capital arm that aims to give the CIA and other spy agencies first dibs on the hottest gadgets and software.

Founded in 1999 as a way for the U.S. to keep up with the rapid innovation in science and technology, In-Q-Tel has been an early backer of start-ups later acquired by Google (GOOG), Oracle (ORCL), IBM (IBM) and Lockheed Martin (LMT).

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Update #1: How the CIA Grows Tech - An inside look at In-Q-Tel -- Defense News
Update #2: In-Q-Tel: The CIA's Tax-Funded Player In Silicon Valley -- NPR

WNU Editor: For more information on In-Q-Tel, Wikipedia has a good description. IN-Q-Tel's website is here, and it's Facebook page is here. Even the CIA's website provides some info on the work that In-Q-Tel does.