Defense Tech Ethics: Raytheon Missiles vs. Temu
David George of Marq urges a nuanced ethical view for defense tech investing, contrasting Raytheon's defensive missiles with Temu's economic warfare.
Why Every VC Is Suddenly Investing in Defense
With David Weisburd · Sunday, August 16, 2026
This episode explores the rapid surge in venture capital interest in defense technology. David George, founder of Marq, discusses the geopolitical, economic, and technological factors driving this trend, alongside the unique challenges and opportunities within government procurement. The conversation also delves into the ethical considerations of defense investing and Marq's innovative approach to supporting its portfolio companies.
Key takeaways
- David George, founder of Marq, argues that ethical investing in defense technology demands a nuanced view, moving beyond simplistic product classifications to focus on intent and actual use-cases. Read more →
- Venture capital interest in defense tech has skyrocketed from "single-digit billions" in 2019-2020 to "well over $100 billion a year" today, signaling a rapid re-rating of the sector by sophisticated capital. Read more →
- Defense tech VC firm Marq operates a unique Fellowship Program, immersing active-duty military and government civilians in venture capital for two months. Read more →
- Selling to the U.S. government faces a 'principal agent problem' where warfighters, the end-users, "almost never has budget or purchasing authority," forcing vendors to navigate separate paths for buy-in, requirement definition, congressional funding, and identifying the ultimate buyer. Read more →
4 articles from this episode
Defense Tech Funding Soars Past $100B Annually
Venture capital has flooded defense tech, driven by global conflicts, a rising $1.5T DoD budget, and the success of neo-primes like Palantir, signaling a sector re-rating.
Marq's Fellowship: A Secret Weapon in Opaque Defense Tech Deals
Marq VC's Fellowship embeds military and government personnel for two months, building a proprietary 100-alumni network to unblock defense tech deals.
Defense Procurement: The 'Last Supper' and Neo-Prime R&D Shift
David George explains how DoD's 'principal agent problem' and post-Cold War consolidation shaped defense procurement, revealing a new R&D model for 'neo-primes.'
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