Marketplace Tech VCs are investing in LA's defense tech startups
Oct 2, 2025
Queenie Wong, a tech reporter at the Los Angeles Times, discusses the explosive growth of defense tech funding in L.A., with companies raising $4 billion this year alone. She explores why venture capitalists are drawn to military-focused technology, highlighting the profit motives tied to defense contracts. Wong shares insights on notable startups like DeRoll, which secured a massive $2.5 billion round. Additionally, she reflects on the growing tension within the tech workforce over military collaborations and their impact on ethical considerations.
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VCs Embrace Military AI
- Venture capital firms are increasingly open to funding military-focused AI because the new administration and geopolitics shifted sentiment.
- VCs chase large, multi-year defense contracts that promise big returns and tech advancement spillovers.
Big Raises And Young Founders
- DeRoll raised a $2.5 billion round to build AI command-center software for autonomous vehicles and battlefield systems.
- Mock Industries builds autonomous missiles and is led by very young founders tapping venture interest amid tech layoffs.
DoD Expands High-Value Contracts
- The Department of Defense has announced contracts with ceilings up to hundreds of millions, drawing big-name AI firms into partnerships.
- Tech executives are even being recruited as part-time advisors to the Army, signaling deeper institutional ties.