No Strings Attached

No Strings Attached

Venture Capital is a Trap, Do This Instead

This is a collaborative piece written by me, David Roush and my wife Annie Roush so that we could share our firsthand experience with the venture capital system and why we chose to take a different path.

The Pitch That Changed Everything

The year is 2021. We're at a sleek, minimalist co-working space, in a private meeting room.

"So, what are you guys, a drone studio?" Adam Draper sat on the other side of the Zoom call, a blank stare glazed over his face.

We locked eyes with one another in confusion. This was a man with vast wealth, a "deep-tech" investor, and he didn’t understand what a swarming drone was? Here was a guy whose business it was to be ahead of his time, and he clearly wasn’t following a single word we said.

"Uh, no... we’re building a 3D-printed swarming drone platform to eliminate wildfires in California."

"Oh." [Pregnant pause.] "Well, that sounds like a great idea, guys. Thanks for sharing your vision. We’ll be in touch if we decide to move forward."

Click.

The call ended. The screen went dark.

We just sat there, looking at one another in stunned silence.

Our idea was undeniable. The scalability was profound. The execution was solid. The market was desperate for it.

But that didn’t matter.

Venture capitalists don’t invest in vision, but numbers they can see on a spreadsheet.

The Venture Capital Machine

Venture capitalists sell themselves as pioneers of progress. They throw around words like "innovation" and "human advancement," pretending to push technology—and with it, the world—forward.

But it’s all just optics.

They invest in what they can control, nitpicking pitch decks instead of asking real questions about the technology. They dangle funding like a carrot, waiting for desperate entrepreneurs to take a big, juicy bite.

Take Adam Draper, for example. His firm, Boost VC, is branded around superheroes. He idolizes Iron Man, and talks openly about building the first Iron Man suit, claiming to push the boundaries of "deep tech." What could be more heroic than to champion a technology that has the power to eliminate wildfires?

Meanwhile, his home state of California burns to the ground year after year. The technology to prevent it already exists—we pitched it to him. California deserves better than a bunch of rich kids playing with expensive toys.

But venture firms don’t want the best technology. They want safe, generic, and easy.

This isn’t about one investor. It’s about a system that rewards spectacle over substance, hype over impact. If that weren't the case, Theranos, WeWork, FTX, and countless other venture-stuffed shells wouldn't be laundering money by making fake products.

(As an aside—we pitched his dad, Tim Draper, too. The technology that could stop wildfires before they start didn’t make the cut. But you know what did? A nail dryer.)

Aerie Collective & The Mallard

Our company, Aerie Collective started with hydrogen infrastructure before COVID. Hydrogen-powered drone technology revolutionizes logistics and defense. But the market wasn’t ready. Investors weren’t interested in long-term impact. They wanted quick returns.

So we pivoted.

We built The Mallard, a swarming drone platform designed to eliminate wildfires, transform infrastructure inspections, and advance military ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance).

Most wildfires start from utility infrastructure. California already has a sensor network that detects sparks. The Mallard would integrate with that system, launching instantly when a fire is detected—130% faster than emergency services.

A single Mallard swarm could cover 250 linear miles per day, scanning power lines, vegetation, and infrastructure with sub-millimeter accuracy using thermal, LiDAR, and optical sensors. It could autonomously identify fire hazards in real time, deploy suppression measures within minutes, and prevent wildfires before they start.

Despite the potential to save lives, land, and billions of dollars in disaster recovery, venture capitalists didn’t care.

The Matrix Mindset

Entrepreneurs buy into a lie. The startup ecosystem teaches them to chase VC money like it’s their only path to success.

We fell for this same trap. We thought government grants were straightforward, funding was easily attainable, and investors actually wanted to help us.

Oh, we were so, so wrong.

No one cares about your mission unless they can profit from it, fast. The only way to win is outside of this system where you control distribution, own the narrative, and build undeniable value.

The Value Exchange

Everything in life is a value exchange.

From birth, we trade attention, skills, and knowledge for opportunity. Over time, it becomes second nature to recognize imbalance. Like when someone cold-DMs you with a hard pitch. You feel it. It’s forced. It’s off. It's icky.

Real influence isn’t forced. It’s built through authority, credibility, and consistency. The new economy revolves around individuals, not institutions.

Look at Dwayne Johnson, Mark Wahlberg, and Chris Pratt. They don’t just act. They own brands. They are brands. Their audience follows them because they have what people want—status, wealth, and access to the good life.

We all crave leadership and follow those who show us the right way to live. But most entrepreneurs miss the point. They chase funding instead of building an audience. They pitch gatekeepers instead of creating direct demand.

Unfortunately, we had to learn this the hard way.

Venture capitalism is dead for anyone who refuses to be controlled. The only path forward is to own your narrative and create direct value. Stop chasing investors. Stop waiting for permission. The market is attention. The currency is trust.

To build trust, you need impact, and to build impact, you need a system.

The Consume, Convert, Create Formula

To create impact, follow our formula.

Consume

Expose yourself to high-quality content that aligns with your goals—books, podcasts, articles, or conversations with insightful people. The goal is to extract ideas, perspectives, and knowledge that fuel your growth.

Invest in an Audible account and start consuming books.

Convert

Take what you’ve consumed and process it into actionable insights. Use Kortex (which is designed for creators) to capture thoughts, refine understanding, and relate it to your own expertise. This step bridges the gap between passive learning and application.

Create

Turn your refined insights into tangible output—articles, videos, or art. Creation solidifies your ideas, strengthens your voice, and delivers value to your audience.

This formula is simple but powerful. Consume to learn. Convert to refine. Create to contribute. Repeat this cycle, and over time, you’ll sharpen your skills and establish yourself as a thought leader.

Want to learn about money? Listen to Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel.

Want to be successful? Listen to Key Person of Influence by Daniel Priestly.

Want to know more about the drone industry? Our book PROPaganda: Drones, Airspace and the New World Order will be released soon.

This process isn’t instant. It might take a month—or longer—to break bad habits and find your voice. That’s fine. The goal isn’t to rush but to make it sustainable. Every note, every insight, every small step builds your personal knowledge base.

Take it one step at a time.

Start now, trust the process, and let momentum carry you.

Silicon Valley Is Dead

Imagine you've got a game-changing idea. You know your craft inside and out, but you don’t know how to build a company. Enter venture capital—the so-called answer to all your problems. You’re told you need funding to bring your vision to life. So, you start refining your pitch, polishing your deck, and running the VC gauntlet.

The process looks like this:

• Build an MVP.
• Chase early investors.
• Dilute your equity.
• Dance for VCs.
• Race toward an exit.

You become a puppet. Performing for people who don’t understand your mission, don’t care about your impact, and see you as nothing more than a number on a spreadsheet.

You think you need them? Wrong. They need you. You’re the one with the idea. You’re the one solving the problem. They’re just chasing their next payday. Don’t jump through their hoops. Don’t dance for them.

The second you take their money, your dream is no longer yours. Your startup becomes their asset. Suddenly, you’re no longer building—you’re performing.

But there’s another way. A way where you keep control. Where you own your vision. No boardroom politics. No forced pivots. No begging for funding.

Build something so valuable that money chases you.

Building the Future without Asking Permission

We’re not stepping back—we’re going all in. We’re not seeking approval, chasing permission, or wasting time pitching VCs. Instead, we’re focused on building a direct relationship with you.

If you believe in bringing infrastructure back to America and developing safe, secure technology free from foreign control, then stand with us by supporting this newsletter.

Your likes, shares, and comments aren’t just engagement—they’re a vote for action. Let’s build this together.