Drone Wars What Top VCs Look For in Defense: Beyond Just Great Tech | Aaron Jacobson
In this episode of Drone Wars, host Dan Magy sits down with Aaron Jacobson, Partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and the lead investor in Firestorm's Series A. Aaron pulls back the curtain on what top-tier venture capitalists look for when investing in the future of robotics, autonomy, and defense technology.
Aaron shares his unique journey from a young gamer obsessed with StarCraft and EverQuest to a leading investor shaping the future of deep tech. He reveals the critical lessons he learned from working on a DARPA-funded robotics project and why he believes the most effective solutions are often the simplest.
Join us as we explore the massive geopolitical and technological shifts that are forcing the U.S. and its allies to rethink military strategy, and why Aaron believes the "Zergling rush" — overwhelming an adversary with mass-produced, low-cost, attritable systems — is no longer a video game fantasy, but a strategic imperative.
Twitter: @aaronej
LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronejacobson/)
NEA Website: www.nea.com
www.launchfirestorm.com/
Timestamps:
00:00 - The Biggest Mistake in Robotics
00:26 - Introducing Aaron Jacobson, Lead Investor from NEA
01:05 - From Gamer to Tech Geek to Venture Capitalist
02:07 - The DARPA Robot That Changed Everything
02:51 - Why I Joined NEA: The Dream Job for a Tech Futurist
04:06 - What is NEA? A Venture Firm Built for Generational Companies
05:39 - The Most Important Question: What Were Your Favorite Video Games?
06:18 - How StarCraft Explains the Future of Warfare
07:29 - The "Zergling Rush" Strategy for Modern Defense
08:17 - Where Do Autonomous Systems Fit in Today's World?
09:55 - How Robots Will Reshape Global Industries
10:07 - My Controversial Take: Humanoid Robots Are a Mistake
11:38 - How a VC Picks a Winner in a 10-Year Arms Race
14:34 - The Investment Thesis for Defense-First Technology
15:23 - Why Now? The Geopolitical Shift Forcing Innovation
19:10 - The #1 Thing I Wish I Knew When I Started in Venture Capital
20:40 - My Prediction for Autonomous Systems in the Next Decade
23:20 - Why We Chose to Invest in Firestorm
25:48 - Where to Find and Follow Aaron Jacobson
26:11 - Outro
#DroneWars #DefenseTech #VentureCapital #NEA #AaronJacobson #Firestorm #MilitaryTechnology #Robotics #AutonomousSystems #UAS #Drones #Investing #Podcast #StarCraft #AI #FutureOfWarfare
About Drone Wars
Firestorm Studios brings you The Drone Wars Podcast, a show that explores all facets of autonomous systems - ground, air, and sea - and their transformative impact on various aspects of human life, from agriculture to warfare. We feature interviews with CEOs, founders, and C-suite executives from the world's leading autonomy and robotics companies.