Fulcrum Venture Group

?? The future of warfare will be decided not just on the battlefield, but in the factories that power our arsenal ?? In today’s complex global environment, the ability to produce critical components when and where they’re needed isn’t just an operational advantage—it’s a strategic necessity. As highlighted by Rear Adm. Jon Rucker, the Navy's push for 3D printing underscores a fundamental truth: “Time is not on our side.” Additive manufacturing isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about resilience. It addresses fragile supply chains and ensures we can meet the demands of national security. From submarine parts to advanced aerospace components, the future belongs to those who can manufacture with precision and speed. This is why Fulcrum Venture Group invested in Canopy Aerospace, and why we are looking for more opportunities in advanced manufacturing. If you're working on something that can help build for the next fight, we want to talk. Investing in upstream production technologies isn’t optional—it’s imperative. Let’s ensure we’re ready for the challenges ahead. #manufacturingtech #defensetech #defensetechnology #defenseinnovation

YC's request for startups, 2024. I launched Fulcrum Venture Group to attack a generational opportunity to remake the American A&D industry, and the timing could not have been better. Over the next decade, capital will continue to flow into FVG's core areas of focus, including critical defense-adjacent sectors such as 1) Government software, 2) Public safety technology, 3) US manufacturing, 7) Space companies, and 8) AI-aided engineering tools. And this isn't just lip-service; at Fulcrum, every investment we've made falls under one or multiple of these categories ?? Working with Fulcrum's LP's to secure America's future is the honor of a lifetime. We're not taking the foot off the gas! #defensetech #defensetechnology #defenseinnovation

?? The future of defense tech demands tools built for speed, collaboration, and flexibility - Stell is essential in modern A&D manufacturing ??? Legacy tools like IBM DOORS, designed for high-cost, monolithic platforms, no longer cut it for today’s Third Offset technologies—think interoperable, autonomous, and AI-driven systems. Stell fills this gap by providing a purpose-built solution that enables rapid, real-time management of complex engineering requirements and compliance. Stell lets teams ingest PDF requirements, streamline compliance matrices, and facilitate fast, secure collaboration across the supply chain. The result? Reduced manual workload, faster design cycles, and systems built for the demands of tomorrow. In an industry where speed and adaptability are critical, Stell empowers engineers to innovate without getting bogged down by outdated processes. Check out there latest blogpost here! Malory McLemore Anne Wen

This is the way. “The critical opportunities are in the technologies that make drones (and other platforms) effective and scalable, such as: the data lifecycle and value chain (transmission, processing, analysis, storage, security, etc.); the AI tools needed to quickly derive actionable insights from the flood of data these platforms generate, enabling the warfighter and closing kill chains; and on the manufacturing side, the upstream components and manufacturing innovations that allow these platforms to be produced efficiently and at scale. These aren’t as flashy, but they’re indispensable if we want to have a chance in the future fight.”

Agile procurement means contracts will be shorter—how will you stay competitive? About 7 months ago, I reshared a post from my friend Daniel Lagana on the changing landscape of defense procurement. A recent article I came across adds to that conversation, highlighting how the Army is pushing for more flexible funding, especially in areas like electronic warfare and unmanned systems, to keep pace with rapidly evolving threats. The big takeaway: procurement has to be more agile if we want to make sure our warfighters have the best tech when they need it. A lot of people in the defense tech venture space—VCs and founders alike—are all for a more forward-thinking system. But are we really ready for it? With increased competition and shorter contract timelines, how are founders planning to build long-term enterprise value? It’s no longer just about winning that one big contract—it’s about staying ahead and constantly innovating to remain relevant. #DefenseTech #DefenseTechnology #DefenseInnovation

Stell will be at AFCEA Los Angeles Industry Days this year Oct 23-24! Reach out to Malory McLemore Anne Wen or Jack Goodwin if you'll be attending - we would love to connect!

Many of our investors at Fulcrum Venture Group ask about the upcoming election and whether a Kamala victory could be bad for business. The short answer: either way, we’re not concerned. Defense innovation is and must remain a?non-partisan priority. In fact, three of the four authors of this recent piece on defense innovation—Reps. Adam Smith, Ro Khanna, and Mike Rogers—are Democrats. They all agree on the urgency of reforming how we innovate in the defense space, regardless of political leadership. At Fulcrum, we believe that?national security transcends politics, and investing in cutting-edge technologies to protect and strengthen our nation is mission-critical, no matter who’s in the White House. #DefenseTech #DefenseInnovation

??????????: ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ????-?????????????? ???????? ??????????????????!??? Building on their Tenspiler tool described in the previous blog, Code Metal has taken the next step with???????????????, an AI-driven system that combines large language models (LLMs) with formal verification to automate and verify the migration of legacy code. ?? ????-???????????? ???????? ??????????????????: LLMLift automatically migrates legacy code into modern programming languages, making it compatible with the latest hardware platforms. ?? ???????????????? ????????????????: Unlike traditional AI approaches, LLMLift ensures the migrated code is both accurate and functional, reducing errors in translation by combining AI with formal verification. ?? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????? ??????????????????????: LLMLift outperforms formal tools by completing complex code migrations up to 20x faster, enabling developers to quickly scale their applications across different domains. ??♂? ???? ???????? ???????????? ??????????????????????????: LLMLift eliminates the need for manual code optimizations during migration, significantly reducing the time and effort needed to deploy code on modern AI hardware. ?? ????????-?????????? ????????????: In their tests, LLMLift successfully migrated 138 programs across various applications—something traditional tools struggled with—proving its value in real-world scenarios. ?? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ????????? Code Metal is harnessing the best of AI and formal methods to ensure even the most outdated code can run efficiently on today’s cutting-edge tech—saving time, effort, and resources for developers. This breakthrough has major implications for industries like defense, healthcare, and telecommunications that rely on decades-old infrastructure. LLMLift offers a way to modernize legacy systems, bringing them up to speed with AI-specific hardware quickly and accurately, without the massive time and labor costs of traditional migrations. ???? ???????????????? ????????, ????????????????, ?????? ??????????-???????? ???????? ??????????????????, ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ???????????? ????????????????????????, ?????????????? ??????????????????????, ?????? ????????????-?????????? ?????????? ????????????????????. It’s a game-changer for sectors where performance and system longevity are critical. Check out their full blog post for all the details ?? Andrew Bartholomew Peter Morales Alex Showalter-Bucher Edward Loew Will Meris Zander Brumbaugh Akhil Iyer Maggie G. Michael A. Brown Alexander Harstrick Shield Capital J2 Ventures #AI #SoftwareDevelopment #CodeMigration #LegacyCode #PerformanceOptimization

It’s easy to dismiss defense tech as something distant from our everyday lives—especially if, like me, you haven’t faced the harsh realities of conflict. But as I’ve spent more time in this community, I’ve come to understand that a strong defense foundation underpins many of the freedoms we often take for granted. The costs of inaction aren’t just theoretical—they’re real, and they're already impacting us. The DoD’s 2023 National Defense Science and Technology Strategy makes it clear: investing in cutting-edge technology isn’t just about military strength. It’s about preserving our way of life. Check out the latest post to learn why underinvesting in defense tech could jeopardize the privileges we rely on and what needs to change. Fulcrum Venture Group

"As climate change accelerates, the need for climate adaptation and mitigation technologies in the defense sector has shifted from a "nice to have" to an absolute necessity. The DoD and allied defense agencies are increasingly acknowledging that the technologies required to combat climate threats are not just strategic advantages but vital to ensuring national security. This urgency presents a significant opportunity for investors who recognize that these innovations are set to become integral components of military operations." Latest blog post from our Head of Capital Formation, Rafaella Fontes #climatetech @defensetech #dualuse