Wes Blackwell

Managing Director, Europe & US at ONE9 VC

Panellist

Wes Blackwell has nearly a decade of experience investing in dual-use and defense technology across two leading platforms. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy and holder of an MBA from University of Virginia Darden School of Business, he is a former U.S. and U.K. Naval Aviator, having completed a four-year diplomatic exchange with the Royal Navy. He maintains an active U.S. TS/SCI clearance and has multiple combat deployments, including two with NATO as the lone American.

Following early operating roles in technology and private equity, he transitioned into venture capital at Scout Ventures, where he led the firm’s strategic pivot into national security, now a core leader in national security technology. He was subsequently recruited to Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE:BAH), where he founded and built Booz Allen Ventures, a $300M corporate venture platform, deploying nearly $100M into high-impact companies. He also co-founded AIN Ventures, the only investment syndicate and fund comprising alumni from all five U.S. Service Academies.

He is based in Cascais, Portugal, strategically positioned between Washington, D.C., the U.K., Ukraine, and the broader European market, where he is happily married and the father of two young children.