StrictlyVC Download

This week we're sharing an interview from the Equity podcast. Rebecca Bellan chatted with Deedy Das, principal at Menlo Ventures. Das has seen this shift from multiple angles, first as an engineer and product leader at Google, Facebook, and AI startup Glean, and now as an investor helping technical founders figure out how to build enduring companies in this new AI landscape. They discuss how compensation packages and acquisitions are warping startup hiring and retention and how VCs are thinking about key-person risk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on StrictlyVC Download, TechCrunch EIC Connie Loizos and Alex Gove of StrictlyVC speak with Dimitrious Kottas, the founder and CEO of Delian Alliance Industries. They discuss his journey from Apple's Special Projects Group to building autonomous defense systems in Greece, how his company is reimagining surveillance and strike capabilities using AI and commercial tech, and why he believes we're at the start of a decade-long technological race in autonomous warfare. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 02:04 - Dimitrios's background and journey from Apple to defense tech 05:00 - The founding moment: Why he left Silicon Valley for Athens 08:55 - Starting with surveillance towers: The perception-first strategy 13:21 - Current deployments in Greece and Ukraine aspirations 16:32 - Dual-use applications and critical infrastructure protection 18:39 - The Intercept-Egon series: Concealed autonomous weapons 21:52 - Cost advantages through vertical integration 24:46 - European defense tech landscape and procurement challenges 28:16 - Greece's defense industry and cross-border competition 31:04 - Modular vs. full-stack approach 32:54 - Thoughts on Anduril and the defense tech race 35:00 - Greek roots and the personal nature of European defense Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aileen Lee, founder of Cowboy Ventures and the coiner of 'unicorn,' dives into the future of venture capital. She discusses the evolving startup landscape, highlighting the rise of 'unsexy tech' and how AI can empower workers through skill development. Aileen shares insights on navigating economic shifts and the importance of diverse teams in innovation. She also addresses the pressures faced by college freshmen regarding their career paths and emphasizes enjoying the college experience amidst uncertainties.

Navin Chaddha, Managing Partner at Mayfield and early investor in Lyft and Poshmark, discusses the revolutionary potential of AI in the $5 trillion services sector. He highlights how startups can thrive by combining human expertise with AI, making services more accessible to small businesses. Chaddha examines the vulnerabilities of legacy firms like Accenture and McKinsey as they struggle with AI integration. He also shares insights on outcome-based pricing and the ongoing conversation around job displacement versus the creation of new roles.

In this discussion, Chris Olsen, co-founder of Drive Capital—a venture firm shaking up traditional investment norms from Columbus, Ohio—shares insights on their unique approach. He dives into why their strategy of smaller funds and geographic diversity is thriving while others falter. The conversation reveals how Silicon Valley billionaires are flocking to Columbus and highlights groundbreaking investments blending technology with traditional industries. The episode also touches on the significant shift in the venture capital landscape post-COVID and the rise of Columbus as a tech hub.

Sean Neville, co-founder of Circle and Catena Labs, is on a mission to create the first regulated AI-native financial institution. Fresh from Circle’s impressive IPO, he shares insights on 'agent-native finance' and the upcoming role of AI agents in managing payments and treasury. Neville emphasizes the importance of building regulatory trust and necessary standards for safe transactions. He discusses challenges like preventing AI hallucinations and how this venture aims to move faster than traditional banking models.

Katie Haun, Founder and CEO of Haun Ventures and a former federal prosecutor, discusses her groundbreaking 'harpoon strategy' for investing in distressed crypto assets. She delves into the evolving landscape of stablecoins and their role in cross-border payments. Katie also shares insights on the GENIUS Act, highlighting its potential impacts and her concerns about regulatory measures. With a focus on tokenization and the future of crypto, she underscores that we're still in the early days of this transformative industry.

Charles Hudson, Founder and Managing Partner of Precursor Ventures, shares insights into early-stage investing and the evolving landscape of venture capital. He discusses his data-driven approach to portfolio management and the impact of recent market volatility on LP expectations. Hudson highlights the importance of adaptability in light of liquidity challenges and emphasizes the shift towards sustainable growth over inflated valuations. He also draws parallels between today's AI advancements and the early internet, advocating for thoughtful investment strategies.

This week on StrictlyVC Download, Alex and Connie are joined by Justin Fanelli, the Acting Chief Technology Officer for the US Navy and Technical Director of Program Executive Office Digital, where he oversees billions of dollars in IT infrastructure and cybersecurity initiatives. He's also a venture partner at NextGen Venture Partners and serves as a senior fellow for the Open Forum for AI. In this episode, they discuss the Navy's innovation adoption kit designed to bridge the "valley of death" between commercial technology and military implementation, the partnership with Defense Innovation Unit to streamline startup onboarding, and how the Navy is measuring success through new outcome-driven metrics that prioritize sailor time saved and operational resilience over traditional activity-based measurements. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction and background 03:19 - Innovation adoption kit and valley of death solutions 05:43 - Partnership with Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) 08:27 - Onboarding non-traditional vendors and startups 13:22 - Current pain points and AI adoption challenges 15:37 - Technology modernization and team structure 17:39 - Measuring effectiveness with world class alignment metrics 21:23 - Common failure points in technology adoption 22:09 - America first policies and supply chain resilience Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elad Gil, a solo capitalist and AI investing pioneer known for backing stars like Airbnb and Stripe, dives into the evolving world of artificial intelligence. He discusses how AI is revolutionizing company scaling and enhancing team efficiency. Elad also examines the nuances of human-AI relationships, highlighting risks like bias in education. He shares insights on AI tutoring's societal implications and the need for businesses to adapt amid the competitive landscape, emphasizing the delicate balance between founder involvement and delegation.