SAIA Quarterly Event: 6/24/2025

Join us for an insightful conversation exploring how capital is being deployed into the national security, aerospace, and dual-use technology sectors through innovative public-private investment models. We’ll explore how specialized financing models — such as government contract lending and trusted capital programs — are unlocking growth for high-impact businesses solving critical defense, intelligence, and space-related challenges. 

 

Topics will include underwriting risk in opaque or esoteric sectors, accessing government referrals and Programs of Record, and the strategic advantage of being embedded within the federal innovation ecosystem. Whether you’re interested in direct credit strategies, venture capital, or thematic exposures around defense tech and space infrastructure, this forum will offer a rare window into the inner workings of investing where the stakes — and the impact — are extraordinarily high.

 

 

Registration & Sign up: 3:30PM to 4:00PM

Panel Discussion and Q&A: 4:00PM to 5:15PM

Networking: 5:15PM to 6:30PM

K&L Gates

925 Fourth Avenue, Suite 2900

Seattle, WA 98104

Open Bar & Heavy Hors-d'oeuvres Included

 

Christopher (Chris) Lay is a Founding Partner at Leonid Capital Partners, and previously a partner at BayView Capital. Prior to his work as a financial services professional, Chris accumulated 15 years of experience in neuroscience including therapeutic drug monitoring at The Scripps Research Institute and fundamental research in ischemic stroke at the University of California. This research led to the authorship of 22 peer-reviewed journal publications, and two fellowships from the University of California and the American Heart and Stroke Association. Chris holds a B.S. in Biology from the College of Idaho, a Ph.D. in Neurobiology from the University of California (Irvine), and an MBA from the University of Southern California. He is the recipient of a University of California Distinguished Fellowship in Neuroscience, an American Heart Association Fellowship in Cerebrovascular Disease, and a Guilford C. Babcock Fellowship in Finance from USC.

Matt Patterson

Managing Director

Stellar Ventures

 Matt Patterson is an experienced tech entrepreneur and investor. He currently is a Managing Director at Stellar Ventures. Throughout his career he has raised capital from venture funds, family offices and fund of funds. He has invested in over 75 private companies, built several funds and numerous SPVs, as well as raised and deployed several private credit vehicles. Prior to launching Stellar Ventures Matt founded and served as the CEO of several companies, including a fuel and logistics business, a fintech lending company, and an ad-tech company. Matt has an MA in Sociology and a BA in Economics, both from Stanford University. 

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