Venture capital's conversation about artificial intelligence is shifting from short-term excitement to identifying which AI companies will actually survive and thrive. On June 18, investors, founders, and technology leaders will gather at The Aerospace Corporation Campus in El Segundo for StrictlyVC Los Angeles, an invitation-only event designed to cut through the noise and explore the most consequential trends reshaping venture capital, defense technology, and advanced industry.

What Makes This Event Different From Other Tech Conferences?

StrictlyVC has built a reputation for offering something increasingly rare in the venture world: direct access to the people actually building, funding, and shaping the next generation of companies. The conversations are candid, the audience is highly curated, and the insights extend far beyond what typically appears in headlines, podcasts, or social media feeds. Rather than broad industry panels, the event features intimate fireside chats with founders and investors tackling specific challenges in rapidly evolving sectors.

The evening's agenda reflects a deliberate focus on three interconnected themes: how hard tech companies are being built at speed, where artificial intelligence is creating genuine opportunities beyond software, and how investors are learning to distinguish between temporary hype cycles and durable business models.

Who Are the Key Speakers and What Will They Discuss?

The event opens with Ethan Thornton, founder of Mach Industries, who will share his perspective on building a hard tech company in the defense sector. His session, titled "Built for a New Era of Defense Technology," will explore how advances in autonomy, manufacturing, and national security are transforming the industry. Thornton's story reflects a broader movement of founders tackling ambitious challenges in industries undergoing rapid transformation.

The conversation continues with two investors discussing the rise of physical artificial intelligence. Delian Asparouhov of Founders Fund and Saif Khawaja of Shinkei Systems will examine how developments in robotics, automation, and AI are creating new opportunities to transform the physical world, offering insight into what it takes to build and scale breakthrough technologies beyond software alone.

Carter Reum, co-founder and partner at M13, will lead a session titled "Finding the Next Big Thing," exploring how AI is reshaping industries and how investors are moving beyond short-term hype to identify companies built for long-term durability. Reum will share his perspective on where innovation is creating the most meaningful opportunities and how venture investing is evolving as new categories emerge.

How Are Investors Rethinking AI Opportunity Assessment?

The shift in focus from hype to durability reflects a maturation in how the venture capital community evaluates artificial intelligence companies. Rather than chasing every AI startup announcement, leading investors are now asking harder questions about which companies have genuine competitive advantages, sustainable unit economics, and defensible market positions. This represents a significant departure from the 2023-2024 period, when AI funding often flowed based on concept alone.

The emphasis on physical AI and defense technology at this particular event signals where venture capitalists believe the most significant opportunities lie. Physical AI, which combines machine learning with robotics and automation, requires different engineering approaches and capital structures than software-only businesses. Defense technology, meanwhile, operates under different regulatory and procurement frameworks that create both barriers to entry and long-term customer relationships.

Steps for Founders and Investors to Navigate This Evolving Landscape

• Focus on Defensibility: Build companies with genuine competitive advantages that extend beyond having access to the latest AI models, such as proprietary data, specialized domain expertise, or unique manufacturing capabilities.
• Understand Your Customer's Economics: Demonstrate how your AI solution improves your customer's profitability or efficiency in measurable ways, rather than simply adding AI features to existing products.
• Plan for Long-Term Capital Requirements: Hard tech and physical AI companies often require more capital and longer development timelines than software startups; secure funding partners who understand this reality.
• Engage With Industry-Specific Expertise: Whether in defense, manufacturing, or robotics, partner with investors and advisors who understand the regulatory, technical, and operational nuances of your sector.

Beyond the formal presentations, StrictlyVC Los Angeles is designed to facilitate meaningful networking among founders, investors, and operators. The value of such events extends well beyond scheduled sessions, as the informal conversations often reveal emerging trends and opportunities that haven't yet reached mainstream coverage. For executives navigating a rapidly changing technology landscape, access to this curated group of decision-makers offers strategic advantages in understanding where the venture capital ecosystem is actually placing its bets.

The timing of this event is particularly significant. As artificial intelligence moves from the research lab into production systems across industries, the venture capital community is learning to distinguish between companies solving real problems and those riding temporary waves of investor enthusiasm. The speakers and conversations at StrictlyVC Los Angeles will likely shape how a significant portion of venture capital is deployed in the coming months, making the event a bellwether for where the industry believes the most durable opportunities lie.

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