Palmer Luckey says he learned the hard way that relying on Silicon Valley talent can be a trap. The founder of Oculus VR and Anduril Industries recalled how, after Facebook (now Meta) acquired Oculus in 2014, his other company's hiring funnel narrowed almost exclusively to Bay Area engineers. Many, he said, were "very mercenary-minded" and more interested in résumé building than mission.
The Reindustrialize Summit emphasized the potential for startups and venture capitalists to drive an American manufacturing renaissance, amid a generational challenge with the Chinese Communist Party.
"The US Army is pushing radical transformation, preparing for a war that it hopes never happens, and striving to send China the message that it won't win should a fight come."
ATMOS is enhancing Europe's rapid response capabilities through its partnership with ARX Robotics, integrating orbital re-entry logistics and unmanned ground systems for disaster relief.
STING is a programmable and scalable airburst interceptor round that gives ground units a last-mile defense against drone swarms, effectively transforming tactical defense strategy.
"In a rapidly changing defense landscape, my goal is to help bridge the gap between innovative tech startups and the military's evolving needs, ensuring impactful collaboration."
