About the firm
Our name is taken from the orders establishing an Aeronautical Division of the US Army Signal Corps in 1907 — over a year before they tested and acquired a pair of Wright Flyers. The unit was charged with "all matters pertaining to military ballooning, air machines, and all kindred subjects."
Founded 2024 in Washington, DC, now based in London, UK.
Kindred Subjects works with founder-controlled companies and institutions on cold-start and collective-action problems, organizational transitions, and public affairs and policy storytelling. We work with people who own what they're building; not managers, not boards, not committees. The engagement model is direct, low-overhead, and built around trust.
The pattern recognition comes from having done it, repeatedly, in rooms where the outcome actually mattered. It also means people bring us challenges before they become problems. Our work compounds through relationships built over decades. Our work is not contracts won on pitches.
Team
Joshua Hone
Started in political fundraising in Washington, DC and at home in New Mexico. Spent four years building and leading the business development function at Quorum, a bootstrapped software company in DC that grew to many tens of millions in revenue. Founding team at Column Software as COO, a venture-backed public information technology company that raised tens of millions of dollars. Founded Kindred Subjects in 2024 to advise and do fractional work with founder friends and incubate new ideas. Eagle Scout.
Justin Ailes
25 years in complex sales, policy, political engagement, and organizational leadership. Core staff to former Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Richard Lugar and staff to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. Ran government relations, PAC operations, and grassroots advocacy at the American Land Title Association for over 12 years. Led government relations at the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council through COVID, translating between sophisticated financial markets and the political and regulatory apparatus. Founder advisor across Europe and the US. Engagement lead at the Chief of Staff Association.