StrictlyVC brings defense tech and physical AI focus to Los Angeles in June
TechCrunch's invitation-only investor conference lands in El Segundo on June 18, featuring founders and VCs debating autonomy, manufacturing, and the reshaping of hard tech.
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StrictlyVC moves westward with hard-tech and defense focus
According to TechCrunch AI, the investor conference StrictlyVC is holding its Los Angeles edition on June 18 at The Aerospace Corporation Campus in El Segundo. The event brings together venture capitalists, founders, and corporate executives for structured conversations on how autonomy, manufacturing, and national security are converging to reshape defense innovation and physical-world AI applications.
Featured speakers and session themes
The evening opens with Ethan Thornton, founder of Mach Industries, who will address what structural shifts in defense contracting mean for founders building at speed. His session, titled “Built for a New Era of Defense Technology,” positions the defense sector as a new frontier for technical founders—an industry historically seen as slow-moving but now accelerated by advances in autonomous systems and precision manufacturing.
The second announced panel brings together Delian Asparouhov of Founders Fund and Saif Khawaja of Shinkei Systems to discuss the commercialization gap between AI research breakthroughs and physical-world deployment. According to TechCrunch, their conversation will focus on robotics, automation, and how venture backing supports the scaling of hardware-software integration from prototype to production.
TechCrunch notes that additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks, with the full agenda still under development.
Why this matters
The timing and speaker lineup signal a sustained venture-capital pivot toward hard tech and defense innovation. For founders evaluating market timing in autonomy, manufacturing, or aerospace—sectors that traditionally required government relationships or long sales cycles—this event represents a consolidation of investor thesis around speed and technological disruption in previously entrenched industries. Investors scouting the next generation of defense-adjacent startups will find direct access to operators building at scale, while founders gauging appetite for capital-intensive, long-horizon businesses can test their narratives against active decision-makers in a curated setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is StrictlyVC and who should attend?
StrictlyVC is TechCrunch's invitation-only evening event for founders, executives, and investors. It focuses on high-signal discussions around venture capital trends and frontier technologies, with emphasis on direct access to industry leaders.
What topics will be covered at the Los Angeles edition?
The June 18 event emphasizes defense technology innovation, physical AI, robotics, automation, and the intersection of manufacturing with national security. Sessions will explore how these sectors are being reshaped by technological acceleration.
How can I attend the Los Angeles event?
According to TechCrunch, attendees can secure spots via registration links mentioned in the announcement. The event is held June 18 at The Aerospace Corporation Campus in El Segundo.