Joe Lonsdale

Defense tech startup Epirus raises $250M Series D to counter drone swarms

Fundraising /

Defense tech startup Epirus, which specializes in anti-drone systems, has raised an oversubscribed $250 million Series D, it told TechCrunch. Epirus, based in Torrance, California, was previously valued at $1.35 billion for its $200 million Series C in 2022, per its announcement at the time. Epirus did not give a specific valuation for this round, […]

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From recruiting for Palantir to landing a plane on Highway 85: meet defense tech’s wildest power broker

Venture /

In 2023, defense tech recruiter Peterson Conway VIII pulled up to the offices of nuclear fusion startup Fuse in a black Suburban, donning his signature cowboy hat. He picked up a recent Fuse hire and proceeded to regale her with stories of his old recruiting days. One story involved prostitutes attending a recruiting event (“not

From recruiting for Palantir to landing a plane on Highway 85: meet defense tech’s wildest power broker Read More »

Defense startup Epirus in talks to raise over $150M, potentially cutting valuation 

Venture /

Defense tech startup Epirus is reportedly raising between $150 million and $200 million in a new funding round led by Joe Lonsdale’s venture firm 8VC, Bloomberg reports. The round could give the company, which develops technology to intercept drones, a valuation of about $1 billion. If that’s the final valuation, it would be a decrease

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From forced landings to stuffed animal heads, headhunter Peterson Conway is defense tech’s wildest power broker

Venture /

In 2023, defense tech recruiter Peterson Conway VIII pulled up to the offices of nuclear fusion startup Fuse in a black suburban, donning his signature cowboy hat. He picked up a recent Fuse hire and proceeded to regale her with stories of his old recruiting days. One story involved prostitutes attending a recruiting event (“not

From forced landings to stuffed animal heads, headhunter Peterson Conway is defense tech’s wildest power broker Read More »

Marc Andreessen, Joe Lonsdale, and all the other VCs reportedly in the running for DOGE and other Trump committees

Government & Policy /

With Elon Musk playing such a high-profile role in Donald Trump’s transition team, Musk’s buddies, many of them Silicon Valley venture capitalists, are reportedly being tapped to help out. For instance, VC firm Andreessen Horowitz, and in particular co-founder Marc Andreessen, is repeatedly being mentioned. He, along with Antonio Gracias and Joe Lonsdale, are reportedly

Marc Andreessen, Joe Lonsdale, and all the other VCs reportedly in the running for DOGE and other Trump committees Read More »

Silicon Valley is debating if AI weapons should be allowed to decide to kill

AI /

In late September, Shield AI cofounder Brandon Tseng swore that weapons in the U.S. would never be fully autonomous — meaning an AI algorithm would make the final decision to kill someone. “Congress doesn’t want that,” the defense tech founder told TechCrunch. “No one wants that.”  But Tseng spoke too soon. Five days later, Anduril

Silicon Valley is debating if AI weapons should be allowed to decide to kill Read More »