Nicola Sinclair really hits the nail on the head here. This quote is worth reading twice in my opinion: "I don’t want to be in a boardroom hoping that one of my companies will land another arms contract. I want to be in a boardroom knowing my companies play a role in deterring conflict. In supporting stability, so that companies funded by other VCs have the space to be amazing engines of change in sectors like climate, health and education. Maybe this conversation shouldn’t be about more VCs funding more weapons. Frankly many investors don’t have the experience or the network to understand which technologies will really move the needle." As someone on the "other side" of these deals as a co-founder at CulturePulse we're not just worried about fundraising and revenue, we also lay awake at night with ethical questions, and we should. I try and stay in my lane. I don't know enough about weapons, I know human psychology and how people act and react at scale in high risk environments. The AI that we've built has that knowledge built into its core. Having a board that pushes our core use and value, which goes to serve a variety of communities (and can include defense/security) is important. I'm happy to help where there is mission alignment with an MoD/DoD. I'm also happy to help where there is mission alignment with a Fortune 500. CulturePulse tech, particularly its ARES platform, is focused on conflict because we can lessen conflict, and if you EVER talk to a uniformed person, they will almost surely tell you with more emotion than anyone that they'd love more peace-tech, because uniformed people and their families are the ones who are most effected by war. So if my tech can help bring them home and help to end a conflict, and if the end of that conflict positively impacts the bottom line of our clients with complex supply chains or insurance risks, this is the kind of win I need to sleep well at night. For me, the fact that the same algorithm can help both, with very different industries, but similar missions, is where #dualuse meets the #deeptech #ai that we have.
Dual use and defense tech: what's the difference? by Nicola S., Founder and General Partner at Twin Track Ventures. 👇 Why it matters.👇 Understanding the nuances between deeptech, defence tech, and dual use is crucial for founder-investor fit and efficient communication. Early Silicon Valley startups with defence links highlight the historical significance of dual use. Today, some argue VCs hide behind dual use, avoiding offensive tech funding. However, many dual use investors leverage sector expertise to balance returns and national security. Deeptech encompasses high technical risk tech, dual use serves both commercial and national security sectors, and defence tech spans consumer to deeptech with military applications. Clarity in these terms helps VCs and LPs align on impactful investments. Read the full article on EUVC Insights. 🔽 https://buff.ly/3zvO83m #venturecapital #startupfunding #Europe #EUVCInsights
