Innovating Media in the Heart of a Conflict Zone, Fundings: Phylax, MetOx International, Beta Technologies
6 November 2024 - A Weekly Publication by New North Ventures
We’re excited to welcome journalist Tim Mak on the latest episode of Securing Our Future this week! With more than fifteen years covering Capitol Hill, national security, and presidential campaigns—and experience as a former US Army medic—Tim brings a rare and nuanced perspective to the major issues shaping the world today.
As the author of Misfire, a critical look at the NRA, and with reporting featured in The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, and Rolling Stone, Tim's insights are a must-hear.
Currently based in Ukraine, Tim’s recent work in The Counteroffensive and Counteroffensive Pro offers on-the-ground insights into the complexities of the ongoing conflict and the human stories behind the headlines.
Join us as he shares what it’s like to report from a war zone, how national security threats are evolving, and what he believes the future holds. This is a deep dive you won’t want to miss—tune in wherever you listen to your podcasts or on Spotify below:
The evolving nature of war has shifted from Cold War-era indirect conflicts constrained by nuclear deterrence to more direct, complex confrontations. After the Soviet Union's fall, US strategy centered on containing regional conflicts, shifting post-9/11 to target terrorism and nonstate actors through limited engagements.
This approach lasted until 2022 when Russia's invasion of Ukraine and crises like the 2023 Gaza conflict revived a form of warfare requiring extensive resources, broad national mobilization, and international involvement.
Today’s conflicts blur traditional boundaries, with autonomous systems, cyber tools, and advanced weapons creating hybrid tactics across multiple fronts. Actions by Russia and China's nuclear expansion highlight risks of conventional wars escalating to nuclear crises, testing established deterrence models.
The US must now prepare for this complex form of warfare to effectively deter adversaries, especially in regions like Taiwan, where China's assertiveness requires robust deterrence strategies.
More Links to Explore:
Australia scrapped satellite because new tech could 'shoot it out of sky', says defence minister.
Huawei’s new made-in-China software takes on Apple and Android.
Founded: 2024
Key People: CEO Odysseas Lamtzidis
Elevator Pitch: An open-source protocol platform intended to prevent hacks.
Funding: The company raised $4.50 million of pre-seed funding in a deal led by Figment Capital and Nascent on November 3, 2024.
Founded: 1998
Key People: CEO Arthur Vos IV
Elevator Pitch: Superconducting wire intended to transmit electricity without electrical loss or generate heat during operation.
Funding: The company raised $40.00 million of Series B venture funding in a deal led by New System Ventures and Centaurus Capital on November 4, 2024.
Key People: CEO Kyle Clark
Founded: 2012
Elevator Pitch: An electric aerospace company intended to create a new paradigm for transporting goods and people.
Funding: The company raised $318 million of Series C venture funding in a deal led by Qatar Investment Authority on October 31, 2024.
Look for a new episode of the Securing the Future Podcast wherever you listen. In our most recent episode, general partner Jeremy Hitchcock sits down with journalist Tim Mak for a powerful discussion on national security, his experiences reporting from Ukraine, and insights from his acclaimed work on the NRA and global conflict.