In just 3 weeks, StrictlyVC is coming to Los Angeles
Original reporting by TechCrunch
StrictlyVC Los Angeles 2026 is set to bring together a curated assembly of leading investors and pioneering entrepreneurs, offering an unparalleled look into the rapidly evolving frontiers of venture capital and technology. Scheduled for Thursday, June 18, at The Aerospace Corporation Campus in El Segundo, this exclusive gathering is designed to foster high-signal conversations and provide direct access to the ideas and individuals shaping the next wave of innovation. For executives, founders, and investors navigating an increasingly complex market, it's a rare opportunity to engage with insights that rarely surface in public, particularly across the critical sectors of defense, artificial intelligence, and advanced industry.
On the Agenda
The evening will commence with Ethan Thornton, founder of Mach Industries, whose session "Built for a New Era of Defense Technology" will delve into the accelerated pace of building hard tech companies. Thornton will articulate the structural shifts underway in defense innovation, driven by the interconnectedness of autonomy, manufacturing, and national security, reflecting a new generation of founders disrupting once-stagnant sectors. Following this, the focus shifts to physical AI, featuring Delian Asparouhov of Founders Fund and Saif Khawaja of Shinkei Systems. Their discussion will illuminate how advancements in AI, robotics, and automation are transforming not just software but the tangible world, exploring the challenges and triumphs of deploying breakthrough technologies at scale. Beyond the stage, the event cultivates an environment where connections spark insights and opportunities, shaping the future of companies.
StrictlyVC Los Angeles 2026 stands as a pivotal convergence point, designed to illuminate the complex interplay between venture capital and the cutting edge of frontier technology. By bringing together visionary founders and leading investors, the event offers a rare glimpse into the strategies and discussions that are actively redefining sectors from national security to advanced industry. The curated agenda, featuring insights from leaders like Ethan Thornton of Mach Industries and investors such as Delian Asparouhov and Saif Khawaja, underscores a commitment to exploring the tangible forces shaping the future. It is an environment where direct access fosters not just networking, but a deeper understanding of the evolving technological and economic landscape.
Reshaping Industries The focus on defense innovation, the acceleration of hard tech, and the emergence of physical AI points to a profound structural shift underway. This isn't merely about incremental technological advances; it signifies a recalibration of how foundational industries operate, how national security is conceived, and how capital is deployed. The emphasis on rapid development and real-world scalability, particularly in areas like autonomous systems and advanced manufacturing, signals a new era where breakthroughs quickly transition from concept to tangible impact. This paradigm shift is poised to drive unprecedented investment into deep tech, foster new ecosystems of specialized talent, and fundamentally alter competitive dynamics across global markets. The conversations cultivated at gatherings like StrictlyVC are thus not just industry discussions; they are critical signposts for understanding and participating in the unfolding transformation of our physical and digital worlds, signaling where the next generation of value will be created and captured.
Frequently asked questions
- What emerging technologies are venture capitalists currently focusing on for future innovation and investment?
- Venture capitalists are increasingly targeting frontier technologies that drive profound structural shifts across industries. Key areas include defense innovation, particularly the acceleration of "hard tech" companies building tangible products, and the emergence of "physical AI," which integrates artificial intelligence with robotics and automation to transform the physical world. These sectors are seen as critical for redefining national security, advanced industry, and global market dynamics.
- What is physical AI, and how does it impact industries beyond software?
- Physical AI refers to the integration of artificial intelligence with robotics and automation to create tangible, real-world applications. Unlike traditional software AI, physical AI focuses on deploying breakthrough technologies that interact with and transform the physical environment. This includes advancements in autonomous systems and advanced manufacturing, which are reshaping foundational industries, impacting national security, and driving significant investment into deep tech.
- How are "hard tech" companies and defense innovation reshaping national security and industry?
- "Hard tech" companies are driving a new era of defense innovation by developing tangible, advanced technologies at an accelerated pace. This involves structural shifts in how defense is conceived, integrating autonomy, advanced manufacturing, and national security. These companies are disrupting once-stagnant sectors, fostering rapid development and real-world scalability. This paradigm shift is attracting significant investment, creating new talent ecosystems, and fundamentally altering competitive dynamics in global markets.