StrictlyVC LA Focuses on Defense Tech and AI

On June 18, 2026, StrictlyVC Los Angeles will take place at The Aerospace Corporation Campus in El Segundo, California. According to TechCrunch’s announcement, it will be an evening where investors, founders, and technology leaders come together to explore transformative trends spanning venture capital, defense technology, artificial intelligence, and advanced industries. Registration is already open.

StrictlyVC is an invitation-only, paid event series hosted by TechCrunch, emphasizing intimate, high-level networking and deep discussion. This Los Angeles edition particularly highlights the intersection of defense technology and AI.

Speaker Lineup

The event kicks off with Ethan Thornton, founder of Mach Industries. In his session, “Built for a New Era of Defense Technology,” he will discuss how to build hardtech companies with speed, and how advances in autonomy, manufacturing, and national security are transforming the defense sector. Mach Industries has gained attention as a startup developing next-generation defense systems, and Thornton’s perspective symbolizes the growing number of founders tackling ambitious challenges in this rapidly changing industry.

Next, Delian Asparouhov of Founders Fund and Saif Khawaja of Shinkei Systems will take the stage. They will discuss the rise of physical AI, exploring how developments in robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence are creating new opportunities to transform the physical world. Their discussion will offer practical insights into what it takes to build and scale groundbreaking technology that goes beyond software alone.

Additionally, Carter Reum, co-founder and partner at M13, will speak in a session titled “Finding the Next Big Thing.” Reum will explore how AI is reshaping industries and how investors look beyond short-term hype to identify companies with lasting durability. He will share his perspective on where innovation is generating the most meaningful opportunities and how venture investing is evolving as new categories emerge.

Significance and Background of the Event

StrictlyVC Los Angeles is more than just a lecture. In addition to the speakers’ dialogues, it is designed as a space for attendees to connect. The venue will offer opportunities for founders, investors, and business leaders to engage in meaningful discussions and idea exchange in an informal setting. Whether you want to expand your network, gain new perspectives, or discover emerging opportunities, the event aims to serve all these purposes.

This event draws particular attention amid the recent surge in investment activity in defense technology and AI. In the United States, defense tech companies such as Palantir and Anduril have gone public or raised large sums, breaking into the traditional defense industry. Moreover, the fusion of software and hardware—through autonomous drones, AI-powered command systems, and more—is turning defense transformation into reality. Within this trend, emerging startups like Mach Industries have appeared, and top VCs like Founders Fund are actively investing.

Physical AI is also expected to find applications across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, and healthcare. Shinkei Systems develops robotics for the seafood processing industry, offering a concrete example of the interface between AI and the physical world. Such discussions also resonate with the trends in AI agents that this site has previously covered.

Changes Among Investors and Founders

Carter Reum’s session also sheds light on changes in the venture capital industry. As the AI boom continues, investors face the challenge of identifying “the next big thing.” Simply riding short-term fads does not create sustainable companies; a deep understanding of the technology’s essence and market needs is required. M13 is known for investing in consumer goods and platform companies, but it is also actively involved in the AI space.

Throughout the event, the ethical and social challenges posed by the fusion of defense technology and AI are also likely to be on the table. The development of autonomous weapons and military AI is a divisive topic, but a venue like StrictlyVC is expected to foster candid discussions.

Editorial Perspective

Short-term impact: We see StrictlyVC LA as further evidence that the investment fervor in defense tech and AI will continue through 2026. In particular, interest in hardtech companies like Mach Industries and Shinkei Systems is likely to rise, potentially leading to a wave of funding rounds and partnership announcements in similar fields over the next three to six months. It appears that investor attention is also shifting from a software-only focus toward physical AI and robotics.

Long-term outlook: Over a one- to three-year span, the fusion of defense technology and AI will deepen, and AI agents and autonomous systems are expected to be deployed at operational levels in military and security domains. At the same time, regulatory and ethical issues will come to the fore. The discussions at this event may influence subsequent industry standards and investment trends. Furthermore, advances in physical AI will likely accelerate automation in manufacturing and logistics, bringing changes to the labor market.

A question from the editors: What implications does the theme of StrictlyVC LA have for Japanese startups and investors? There are moves in Japan for startups to enter the defense equipment field, but there is a gap in scale and speed compared to the U.S. Can Japanese startups compete globally in defense technology and physical AI? Also, how should ethical and legal frameworks for the military use of AI be developed? We invite our readers to think about these questions.

References

• Defense tech, AI, and fundraising take center stage at StrictlyVC Los Angeles on June 18 - TechCrunch — Published June 4, 2026