National Security and Innovation at Dartmouth, Fundings: Skyqraft, DeNexus, Evolectric
20 September 2023 - A Weekly Publication by New North Ventures
In our latest Securing Our Future podcast, host Jeremy Hitchcock sits down with Allison Coukos, MBA Candidate at the Tuck School of Business. With a passion for innovation, cybersecurity, and national security venture capital, Coukos has dedicated her career to driving excellence in the technology sector and is currently a venture fellow at Blu Ventures.
Prior to her MBA journey, Coukos was a Senior Consultant in Technology Strategy at Deloitte and received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at George Washington University. During her time at Deloitte, Coukos worked directly with the Navy, receiving a security clearance. She is currently planning the inaugural Tuck National Security and Innovation Conference, sponsored by New North Ventures.
In this episode, Coukos provides a unique insight as an MBA student and former tech consultant into the dual-use venture space. She explains her passion for innovation in National Security and tells about her work at Dartmouth to further the cause.
Coukos also talks about her vision for the upcoming Tuck National Security and Innovation Conference. She plans on having hands-on tabletop exercises to really help participants understand what it takes to foster a successful partnership between the private and public sectors. If you are interested in attending, you can register for the conference here.
Coukos's experience is an inspiration to anyone in the business. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or on Spotify below:
We are thrilled to share what some of our portfolio companies have been up to the past few weeks:
Efabless Corporation proudly announced the winners of its Second AI Generated Open-Source Silicon Design Challenge, a significant leap in chip design innovation. Participants harnessed generative AI tools to create Verilog designs, showcasing the power of AI-driven design.
Emilio Isaac Baungarten Leon secured first place with a dedicated hardware IC for a Convolutional Neural Network. Mark Zakharov and William Salcedo claimed second and third places, respectively, with remarkable designs. These creations will soon come to life, propelling AI-powered chip design into the future. Click here to learn more.
We are proud to be a part of these incredible success stories and look forward to witnessing our portfolio companies achieve even greater milestones in the future. Stay tuned for more exciting updates and achievements from our growing portfolio.
Venture Capital Gives America a Strategic Edge in the Age of Technology Wars
America's technological advantage in the military sector is under threat due to China's rapid development of dual-use technologies.
The U.S. Department of Defense authorized a $75 million investment in dual-use hardware startups but has been hesitant to adopt a venture capital-style approach.
The Pentagon launched the National Security Innovation Capital (NSIC) program to support early-stage startups with prototype development contracts but needs greater risk tolerance to drive innovation.
Inconsistent and limited funding for NSIC has hindered its effectiveness, despite a $75 million congressional authorization, making it less competitive than similar programs in other countries.
In Show of Force, Silicon Valley Titans Pledge ‘Getting This Right’ With A.I.
Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, and Mark Zuckerberg discussed various aspects of artificial intelligence (A.I.) during a three-hour meeting with lawmakers in Washington.
Musk emphasized the potential civilizational risks associated with A.I., while Pichai highlighted its capacity to address health and energy issues. Zuckerberg stressed the importance of open and transparent A.I. systems.
The meeting, known as the A.I. Insight Forum, was organized by Senator Chuck Schumer to educate Congress about A.I. and future regulations.
The discussion aimed to provide lawmakers with insights into A.I.'s implications and challenges, with input from prominent tech leaders..
China’s Coming Lawfare Offensive
U.S. financial regulators, including the SEC and federal prosecutors, have been focused on Elon Musk's actions while seemingly overlooking China's efforts to manipulate information flows impacting domestic and international capital markets.
China has been aggressively implementing a program, rooted in Xi Jinping Thought, known as "lawfare" to weaponize law with both territorial and extraterritorial effects. The goal is to reshape economic relations globally, creating a capital market "with Chinese characteristics."
Key components of this program include China's amended Counter-Espionage Law and the new Law on Foreign Relations, which significantly broaden the scope of what can be targeted and controlled under Chinese law.
The result is a chilling effect on open disclosure, with the legal framework making it effectively illegal under Chinese law to provide full and frank information to investors and regulators worldwide.
The SEC has issued warnings to Chinese firms listed in the U.S. about the risks posed by these changes, emphasizing the need for more specific and tailored disclosures regarding China-specific matters.
Founded: 2019
Key People: CEO Louise Gauffin
Elevator Pitch: A visual data analytics platform intended to automate the process of infrastructure inspection.
Funding: The company raised $3.8 million of venture funding in a deal led by Antler, Subvenio Invest, and Neptunia Invest on September 18, 2023
Founded: 2019
Key People: CEO Tyler Adams
Elevator Pitch: A cyber security management platform designed to offer cyber risk modeling for industrial networks.
Funding: The company raised $7.89 million of venture funding in the form of convertible debt from HCS Capital, WGG Partners, and VentureOut on September 15, 2023.
Founded: 2019
Key People: Co-founded Jakson Alvarez and Bill Beverley
Elevator Pitch: Electric vehicle and battery services intended to advance global electrification technologies.
Funding: The company raised $15 million of venture funding from Seismic Capital on September 15, 2023.
Look for a new episode of Securing the Future Podcasts wherever you listen. In our latest episode, we have guest Allison Coukos sit down with General Partner Jeremy Hitchcock for an engaging conversation where Allison discusses her vision and current work to improve national security through innovation.
