Dual-Use Investing with Deloitte at Fed Supernova
Joe Lonsdale from 8vc chats with Silpan Patel of Ultra Labs. The subject? Building a dual-use technology company on the back of Venture Capital, and investing in Artificial Intelligence companies that serve commercial and national security customers.
What you’ll find out:
- Why VC’s should be excited to invest in national security critical technologies (02:16)
- Does it make sense for startups to emphasize the dual use nature of their product or tech, or should they focus? (12:57)
- If a startup wants to work with a big company, what’s the #1 challenge for them? (35:31)
Key quotes:
- “To me, the very best defense startups need to be doing it for the right non-crony reasons. A lot of defense companies are really happy if they can use some unfair advantage to close contracts to make money, whether or not they are bringing their very best… And to me frankly I think that’s disgusting. I think the way America is going to be stronger, it’s about better talent, better solutions, not better connections.” — Joe Lonsdale, 8vc (05:40)
- “[The most exciting new tech I’ve seen is] these directed AMP systems that can take out electronics from 300 meters accurately, I just think it’s really fun. We’re using it for naval purposes, we’re using it for drones, It’s the kind of thing that you can carry in a SEAL team.” — Joe Lonsdale, 8vc (17:30)
- “Big companies should only work with startups when the startup’s doing something they’re convinced they can’t do themselves.” — Joe Lonsdale, 8vc (35:33)
Who you’ll hear from:
About Fed Supernova
Fed Supernova, presented by Deloitte, is a virtual conference highlighting defense innovation in Texas. This first-of-its-kind interactive experience will draw national attention and connect leading entrepreneurs, investors, thought leaders, corporations, and decision makers from around the world.
About Capital Factory
Capital Factory is the center of gravity for entrepreneurs in Texas, the number one startup state in the U.S. Hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs, programmers and designers gather day and night, in-person and online for meetups, classes and coworking. With boots on the ground in Austin, Dallas and Houston, we meet the best entrepreneurs in Texas and introduce them to their first investors, employees, mentors and customers. According to Pitchbook, Capital Factory has been the most active investor in Texas since 2013.
