Venture Studio & Advisory

The advantage
belongs to the early

AI is changing every industry - and most people are still sleeping in. Dawn Patrol Ventures builds AI-first tools and backs the founders who are up early and paddling out before the crowd.

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Mike Wagstaff
About

An exited founder,
still in it for the craft

I'm Mike Wagstaff — the builder behind Dawn Patrol Ventures. I've built many businesses, most notably founding and growing Spectora from zero to a successful $100M+ exit. I've learned many hard lessons along the way. Now I channel that experience into building my own AI-first tools, advising founders navigating the same terrain, and making selective investments in the companies I believe in most.

I work with founders who build because it's who they are. The ones who value outcomes over optics, empathy over ego, and customers over clout. The ones that are disciplined enough to stay the course and do the right thing.

Founder Operator Investor Advisor Bootstrapper Board Director
Philosophy

Read the sets. Choose the right wave.
Commit fully.

The ocean doesn't reward the person who paddles for every wave. It rewards the one who has studied the patterns, positioned themselves well, and goes all-in on the right one. That's how I approach building and investing — fewer attempts, higher conviction, better outcomes.

Get out there early

There's a narrow window when the waves are clean, the lineup is empty, and everything is yours for the taking. We're in that window now with AI. The founders who recognize this moment and start building now will have an advantage that latecomers can't buy.

Choose wisely

I care about tools that solve real problems for real people, not pitch-deck fantasies. It has to make someone's day better. I'll go all-in on the right ones.

Commit and go hard

When the right wave comes, commit and paddle hard. My track record is built on independent thinking, not following the pack. And once I'm in, I'm in it for the whole ride.

"The goal is not to catch every wave. It's to be in the right position when the big set comes through."
What I Do

Build in-house. Back the brave.

Studio

Building AI-first products

I build tools and products in-house — often starting as personal itches, sometimes growing into something more. Every project is rooted in real problems, built with AI at the core, and held to the standard of shipping things people actually want to use.

  • AI-native apps and tools
  • Rapid prototyping and validation
  • Full-stack product development
  • Open to collaborators and co-builders
Advisory & Investment

Backing early-stage founders

I work with a small number of founders at the earliest stages — when the product is still rough, the market is unproven, and what you need most is someone who's been in the seat. I write small checks, give honest advice, and stay out of the way.

  • Pre-seed and seed-stage investment
  • Product, go-to-market, and teambuilding strategy
  • Founder mentorship from operator experience
  • AI-first companies and vertical SaaS
Surfer walking toward the ocean at dawn
Tropical beach with turquoise water
Golden sunrise over calm ocean
What I Look For

Founders who build because they have to

I'm drawn to people who treat building as a way of life — not a career move. If you care more about your customers than vanity metrics, we should talk.

Empathy

Customers come first

Innovation

Leverage the latest tools

Speed

Move fast and iterate

Learning

Always a student

Creativity

Confidently different

Capital Efficiency

No wasteful spend

Patience

Long game thinking

Engagement

Be all-in

Get in Touch

Building something early-stage?

If you're a founder building something real with AI and you want an operator in your corner, I'd love to hear from you.

Say Hello