Pioneer1890

We formed BlueHalo to solve our nation’s toughest security challenges and deliver the next-generation technologies needed to protect our warfighters and way of life. Since that day, this mission has guided our innovation, our investments, and our growth. And today, we are excited to announce that this mission has led us to be acquired by AeroVironment. Learn More ? https://loom.ly/Xu9OG-8

Earlier today I sent this note to our customers. Because this is such a critical topic for the drone industry and for our national security, I'm sharing it here publicly as well.?

We at Pioneer1890 believe #Virginia and the greater #DMV area should not just be known for government but be a premier center to build leading businesses from technology, aerospace, defense, industrials, and public sector services. In that vein, alongside our wonderful co-hosts Austin Pace (who gave a great overview of the ADG market at dinner), Kevin Flannery, John Jongbloed, especially Adam Greenwald, who organized an exceptional tour of Glenstone, the art gallery founded by Danaher Corporation founder Mitchell Rales, who not only built an industry-defining company but has influenced generations of companies and leaders who serve critical sectors. This is our second event to bring together leaders from VC, PE, IB, and Operators from the DMV and beyond. We will continue this series in the future. Please feel free to comment below or ping me if you are interested in learning more and joining us.

?"The World's Best Little Town," Bedford, Virginia, sacrificed too many of its sons on the "altar of freedom"80 years ago to the day. ?A town of less than 3500 people lost 19 of its citizens that day, which was the single most per capita loss by any city in America that day. The "Bedford Boys," who served bravely in the 116th Infantry Regiment and 29th Infantry Division, were among the 1st waves of soldiers who landed on Omaha beach facing the full force of the entrenched German positions. In 2001, the Lynchburg News and Advance distributed a wonderful tribute to these 19 brave souls. As we commemorate # the 80th anniversary of #DDay, it's a stark reminder that so many who had their whole lives ahead of them paid the ultimate price for its success. Let us #neverforget their sacrifice for a better world. https://lnkd.in/e8QUDjHH

It was wonderful to attend the Milken Institute #GlobalConference last week. It was a whirlwind week of meeting new and old friends, and after taking some time to reflect, as mentioned last week, here are my key takeaways. The key theme is a ?? in transition... ??With Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z gaining greater influence around the world (US politics being the exception), the current post-WWII system will change significantly. We are likely to see more geopolitical conflicts and turbulence in the next few years, creating a sizeable demand for security and resilience solutions from companies to countries. ??Energy demand will increase exceptionally due to AI. The rise of a new middle class from Asia to Africa will require new technologies, efficiencies, and systems to meet demand over the next forty years. For reference, from 2012 to 2022, worldwide terawatt hours only increased by 22%. ??By 2040, one out of every five Americans will be over 65, a double-digit increase from today. As we start the largest generationtional transition in US history, longevity, healthcare, and even real estate will need to be transformed to accommodate this new reality. ??AI, while promising, is still in its "intern phase", and we will likely see AI get incrementally better each year, and only when we look back like we do at the early brick-like mobile phones will we realize how far AI has progressed. ??Lastly, on private markets, the industry is still adjusting to a higher interest rate environment, with PE/VC invested capital down 34% from 2021 to 2023, causing little cash returns to patient-waning Limited Partners. While private credit, which now encompasses venture debt, net asset value loans, in addition to senior & junior debt, is in hot demand, the private investment world still has much to reconcile before dealmaking returns. ?? Special shoutout to Dr Mohsin Pirzada, #ChrisDarby, #MichaelMilken, Ken Griffin, Elon Musk, Theodore Koenig, Peter Stavros, Raj Subramaniam, Daniella Ballou-Aares, Kahlil Byrd (KB), Yup S. Kim, Anne Valentine Andrews, and Andrew Milgram for your thoughtful commentary that greatly informed these reflections.