Marketplace All-in-One VCs are investing in LA's defense tech startups
Oct 2, 2025
Queenie Wong, a tech reporter at the Los Angeles Times with expertise in defense tech, discusses the surge in funding for LA's defense tech startups, which have raised $4 billion this year alone. She highlights the shift in venture capital sentiment towards military AI applications and the notable fundraising efforts of companies like Anduril and Mock Industries. Wong also touches on the ethical concerns surrounding tech worker resistance to military contracts and transparency issues regarding dual-use technologies.
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VCs Embrace Military AI Opportunities
- Venture capital sentiment has shifted toward supporting military uses of AI under the current administration.
- VCs see defense contracts as large, multi-year revenue streams that accelerate AI development.
Big Rounds From New Defense Startups
- 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 who quickly attracted major funding.
DoD Is Deepening Tech Partnerships
- The Department of Defense has announced multiple high-ceiling contracts that include big-name AI firms.
- The DoD has been recruiting tech executives as part-time advisors, signaling a deeper industry-government partnership.