How Silicon Valley Is Going To War

This article was originally published on Inc.com.

For decades, America’s weapons were built by the same defense giants. Today, a new generation of tech founders is changing who builds the future of warfare—and why. As Silicon Valley increasingly intersects with national defense, startups, venture capital, and policymakers are reshaping the military landscape.

In 2025, tech founders, politicians, and investors gathered in Washington, DC, for the Hill & Valley Forum, a summit designed to bring the tech industry closer to US national security leaders. Instead of focusing on consumer artificial intelligence (AI) or crypto, conversations centered on America’s geopolitical dominance and how technology can preserve the country’s military edge. Notably absent were executives from traditional defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman. Instead, younger startup founders and their allies took center stage.

Palantir CEO Alex Karp was the event’s biggest draw. His appearance—and a disruption by activists criticizing Palantir’s work with the Israeli Defense Forces—highlighted the growing tension surrounding defense technology and Silicon Valley’s expanding role in warfare.

Startups like Mach Industries, founded by 22-year-old Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) dropout Ethan Thornton, are building autonomous drones and rockets designed for modern battlefields. Founders point to a looming rivalry with China over AI and military supremacy, framing the issue as urgent and deeply personal. Patriotism and nationalism are driving the movement, alongside founders who openly embrace weapons development, including Anduril founder Palmer Luckey.

Educational pipelines like Hacking for Defense and major venture investments, from Andreessen Horowitz’s American Dynamism fund, among others. are accelerating the shift. With US defense spending reaching historic levels, competition among tech startups for military contracts is intensifying. America’s defense future is now inseparable from its tech industry.