BGV Launches Bold Dual Use Center of Excellence in Menlo Park as Firm Bets Big on Defense-Tech and AI Revolution Across Global Markets

Benhamou Global Ventures (BGV), the Menlo Park-based venture capital firm known for backing cross-border enterprise technology startups, has introduced a new Dual Use Center of Excellence aimed at accelerating investments that sit at the intersection of commercial markets and defense applications.

The move signals a more structured push by the firm into technologies that can operate in both civilian and military environments—particularly in areas like autonomous systems, AI-driven infrastructure monitoring, satellites, and drone technology.

Why the Dual Use Center Matters Now

BGV says the new Center of Excellence is designed to bring order and scale to a growing category of innovation that doesn’t fit neatly into traditional investment buckets.

Instead of treating dual-use technologies as occasional bets, the firm is now formalizing a long-term strategy around them.

This includes coordinating cross-border investments, tapping domain specialists, and strengthening partnerships across regions where such technologies are rapidly evolving.

The initiative builds on BGV’s earlier investments in satellite systems and drone platforms, which already placed the firm close to defense-adjacent innovation markets.

First Major Move: Investment in Percepto

To mark the launch of the platform, BGV has backed Percepto, an Israeli robotics company best known for its autonomous “drone-in-a-box” systems.

These systems are designed to operate without human pilots on-site, enabling continuous inspection, surveillance, and security operations across industrial sites such as energy facilities, utilities, and large infrastructure projects.

The investment reflects BGV’s belief that automation and AI-powered monitoring tools will become essential infrastructure for both private industry and security-focused applications.

Team Expansion to Support Global Strategy

Alongside the new initiative, BGV has expanded its leadership team significantly.

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The firm has added several senior figures, including Ziv Elul and Robert Pincas as Partners, Eitan Efron as Venture Partner, and Shiri Freund Koren as Operating Partner.

These additions come in addition to long-time Partner Barak Ben-Avinoam, who has been with the firm for more than a decade.

The expanded team is expected to strengthen BGV’s ability to identify and support startups across multiple regions, especially in the US, Israel, Europe, India, and Japan—markets where the firm already maintains an active presence.

A Bigger Bet on “Enterprise 5.0”

BGV, led by Founder and Managing Partner Eric Benhamou, continues to position itself as a global investor focused on what it calls “Enterprise 5.0” technologies.

At the core of this strategy is a belief that the next generation of companies will blend human decision-making with intelligent systems that automate execution, improve productivity, and scale operations in ways traditional enterprise tools cannot.

The firm’s portfolio already includes more than 50 companies and over 20 successful exits, with investments spanning from early-stage startups to IPO-level growth companies.

BGV has also outlined its broader Dual Use AI thesis in a recently published white paper, which details its perspective on how artificial intelligence will increasingly power both commercial and defense ecosystems.

Impact and Consequences

The launch of a dedicated Dual Use Center of Excellence could reshape how BGV deploys capital, shifting it from opportunistic investments to a more coordinated global strategy focused on high-impact technologies.

For startups, this may mean greater access to cross-border funding, industry expertise, and potential defense-sector pathways that are often difficult to navigate independently.

On the broader market side, the move highlights a growing trend among venture firms treating defense-tech and industrial AI not as niche categories, but as core pillars of future enterprise innovation.

However, it also places BGV more directly in a space where geopolitical sensitivity, regulation, and export controls can significantly influence deal flow and scaling strategies.

What’s Next?

The next phase for BGV will likely involve expanding its pipeline of dual-use startups across key global innovation hubs, especially in robotics, autonomous systems, AI infrastructure, and space technology.

More partnerships and follow-on investments similar to Percepto could emerge as the Center of Excellence begins to actively shape deal sourcing and portfolio strategy.

There is also an expectation that the firm will deepen collaboration between its regional teams, particularly between Israel, the US, and Europe, where many dual-use technologies are currently being developed.

Summary

BGV has officially launched a Dual Use Center of Excellence to sharpen its focus on technologies that serve both commercial and defense needs.

The firm is backing this strategy with a fresh investment in Percepto and a strengthened leadership team, signaling a more structured and globally coordinated investment approach.

Bulleted Takeaways

• BGV launched a Dual Use Center of Excellence focused on commercial and defense technologies
• The initiative formalizes its investment strategy in dual-use sectors like drones, AI, and satellites
• First investment under the platform is Israeli autonomous drone company Percepto
• The firm expanded its leadership team with multiple new partners and venture leaders
• Strategy is guided by BGV’s “Enterprise 5.0” vision combining human and machine intelligence
• BGV operates across US, Israel, Europe, India, and Japan with 50+ portfolio companies
• The move reflects a broader industry shift toward defense-adjacent and AI-driven infrastructure innovation