Harpoon Ventures

Jack Ma, China's tech darling, has a criminally dirty secret...here's what you need to know 👇  Jack Ma, China's superstar entrepreneur, built an e-commerce empire (Alibaba) but got tangled with the government for criticizing them. Turns out, a shady billionaire named Xiao Jianhua was secretly invested in Ma's companies for years. Xiao was invested in Ma's companies for years, leveraging his connections to China's elite for personal gain. Xiao used his connections to China's elite to make a ton of money, and now both men are out of the picture. China's business world is messy and being a successful entrepreneur in China means playing by different rules. You might not even know who your investors are! So what? Jack Ma isn't so squeaky clean. Ma criticized government control, but it turns out he was linked to a corrupt billionaire. Xiao Jianhua is sus. This guy was basically a middleman for rich Chinese officials to move money around. The party's over for both of them. Ma is MIA and Xiao is in jail. This whole thing shows how risky it is to get on the wrong side of the Chinese government and investment. We are incredibly proud at WireScreen, a Harpoon Ventures portfolio company, for their work on this story. Read about it here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/e6WagrVJ ⇀

Did you know Harpoon Ventures has a newsletter? 👇 Sign up using the link below to never miss an update from the team, one of our live or virtual networking events, and to ensure you keep up to date on the great work our portfolio companies are doing for this incredible country. 👉https://lnkd.in/daRWTHcw ⇀

San Diego is absolutely crushing it in defense tech right now. With technology hitting major inflection points and a push to revamp our industrial base, this city’s ecosystem is top-tier. We’re talking: 1. A massive pool of defense talent 2. An impressive array of technology 3. Leading defense spending in the U.S. These are just a few of the reasons why we’re amped to keep our roots deep in San Diego’s defense tech scene. Oh! And we've got some great events on the horizon. Be sure to stay tuned so you don't miss an invite. ⇀

At Harpoon Ventures, we don’t do “casual” venture capital. 👇 In this relentless economy, only the fiercest, most driven founders survive. The time for VC hobbyists is officially over. We’re stoked for this shift—it’s filtering out the best, the unstoppable, the obsessive. These are the pioneers who aren’t just part of the future; they’re creating it. And we’re here to fuel their fire. Let’s go big or go home. ⇀

At Harpoon Ventures, we’re all about fueling America’s tech leadership into the future. 👇 Think of us as the go-to VC for the bold and the brave—those creating the tools and tech that’ll keep the U.S. on top. From AI and deep tech to software infrastructure and cybersecurity, we’re here to back game-changers. So far, we’ve pushed our startups to snag over $500M in contracted revenue and pull in another $1B in follow-on financing, popping out a few unicorns along the way. Ready to build something legendary? Let’s talk. ⇀

How do we fight tomorrow's wars with yesterday's playbook? It's time to rewrite military doctrine for the modern era of tech-enabled warfare. 👇 The Global War on Terror and the insurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan taught us valuable lessons on the need of refreshing doctrine. It took a bold leader like General David H. Petraeus, US Army (Ret.) to masterfully craft the COIN doctrine and its accompanying field manual. Now, we need to do the same for tech-enabled warfare. This isn't just about drones and electronic warfare. It's about harnessing OSINT for next-gen intelligence, applying computer vision to tradecraft, and creating fully integrated, full-stack, combined arms drone and EW warfare. Our adversaries are evolving, and so must we. We need a full rewrite, a complete overhaul of our military doctrine, and our entire doctrine writing process so that it's refreshed at a speed of relevance. Who's working on this? I'd love to meet them, and I'd love to see if we can help. 

We are beyond excited to have several Harpoon Ventures portfolio companies featured on the NATSEC 100. 👇 The NATSEC 100, compiled annually by the Silicon Valley Defense Group (SVDG), spotlights the hottest defense and national security startups with venture capital backing. Think of it like the "It List" for tech that could seriously impact how the U.S. handles security. For Harpoon, we couldn't be more thrilled that the following portfolio companies made the list 👇 Astranis Space Technologies builds cost-efficient, flexible microsatellites in geostationary orbit that enable low-cost, dedicated broadband for connectivity anywhere in the world. Kodiak is disrupting the freight industry, providing autonomous capabilities built for trucks operating on highways. Firestorm is building the future of modular, open-architecture unmanned aerial systems, supporting the warfighter’s needs. Ursa Major develops advanced propulsion systems across space, hypersonics, and national security domains. Netskope is a global cybersecurity leader helping organizations apply Zero Trust principles to protect data. Special shoutout to the other teams that are doing great work and are featured in the NATSEC 100. We're all in this together, and gosh we've got work to do! ⇀ https://natsec100.org/

Shoutout to Kodiak and Ursa Major, two Harpoon Ventures portfolio companies, for being featured in The Wall Street Journal's latest article on the challenges of startups winning government contracts. It's always an uphill battle navigating the DoD's procurement system, but we're excited at the traction these two great teams are getting in the space! https://lnkd.in/g-2WqhKu ⇀

At Harpoon Ventures, we invested in Sema4.ai because it revolutionizes decision-making by enabling seamless human-AI collaboration. 👇 Knowledge workers face complex decisions that demand both speed and accuracy. Sema4.ai enhances these processes by providing data-driven insights while preserving the human element, resulting in more effective outcomes. The platform's intuitive design ensures easy integration into existing workflows, facilitating rapid adoption and scaling. This not only drives significant cost savings and operational efficiencies but also provides a competitive edge through better, faster decisions. Our investment is based on Sema4.ai's potential to deliver substantial business value by transforming how organizations make decisions, ultimately driving economic growth and innovation. We are excited to support Sema4.ai's mission to enhance human-AI collaboration and unlock new possibilities across industries.

Welcome to the Special Operations Renaissance. 👇 In the face of rising global tensions and strategic competition with major powers like China and Russia, U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) are entering the spotlight like never before. The demand for these elite units has skyrocketed, with mission numbers expected to triple over the next decade. Artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems are revolutionizing how SOF operates. The threat environment has changed, and the technological opportunities are more abundant than ever. These technological advancements allow for the management of vast data volumes and enhance operational effectiveness in today's complex, fast-paced targeing environments. AI is sorting through intel at lightning speed and autonomous drones are conducting swarm reconnaissance missions with pinpoint accuracy—this is the new reality for SOF. SOF's importance is magnified as the U.S. navigates threats from adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. These nations are using cyber intrusions and proxy conflicts to disrupt the international order and challenge U.S. alliances. Special operators are at the forefront of countering these moves, leveraging their unique skills and advanced tech to stay ahead. U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) leadership describes this era as a "special ops renaissance." SOF units are evolving to tackle new types of warfare, remaining a strategic advantage for the U.S. military. While the focus has shifted towards strategic competition, traditional SOF missions like counterterrorism still hold significant importance, especially in regions like Central and West Africa. Recent geopolitical shifts, such as the eviction of U.S. troops from bases in Niger and Chad, present new challenges, but SOF's adaptability ensures they remain effective. The evolving and expanding role of SOF, driven by technological innovation and the necessity to address diverse global threats, marks a new chapter in its storied history. One thing is clear: U.S. Special Operations Forces are more essential than ever, standing as the spear's tip in defending national interests and maintaining global stability. At Harpoon Ventures, we're proud to back our nation with a stack of deep-tech portfolio companies poised to impact safeguarding our nation, bolstering our national and ally force's capabilities, and ensuring we have the technology needed to flourish in this next decade. This next chapter in our history will require adaptation, innovation, and relentless dedication to keep us ahead in an ever-changing battlefield. We've got work to do. ⇀