Department of Defense Emerging Technology Strategy: A Venture Capital Perspective

The purpose of this paper is to assess the DOD’s efforts to access new sources of innovation through engagement with venture-backed emerging technology companies. The intended audience is threefold: DOD innovation policy makers, members of innovation units deployed to emerging tech ecosystems, and their overseers and financial backers in Congress. 

The paper starts by offering an overview of venture funding trends in areas of DOD interest both generally, and then in the Artificial Intelligence category. The encouraging conclusion is that at least on the surface, DOD efforts have been a stunning success. Based on publicly available data, venture funding to dual use companies the last five years has tripled from around $5B to nearly $15B. 

However, a deeper look as shown in the AI study reveals that the DOD overly focuses on the Early Stage. The corresponding geographic analysis of venture flows in 2018 compared to DOD innovation units shows an incomprehensible lack of engagement in Silicon Valley. The Valley sees nearly 55% of dual use funding but only 2.7% of DOD innovation budgets. The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) based in Mountain View, California is the most important element of DOD’s emerging technology strategy. It’s resources should be sharply increased, and its mandate greatly expanded to reflect Silicon Valley’s importance as the leading emerging technology ecosystem.