With two weeks to go, StrictlyVC Los Angeles is set to bring investors, founders, and tech leaders together on Thursday, June 18, at The Aerospace Corporation Campus in El Segundo, according to TechCrunch. The evening's conversations will explore consequential shifts across venture capital, defense technology, artificial intelligence, and advanced industry. For enterprise technology decision-makers navigating a rapidly changing landscape, the event promises direct access to the people building, funding, and shaping the next generation of companies.
Sessions and Speakers
The lineup includes Ethan Thornton, founder of Mach Industries, who will present "Built for a New Era of Defense Technology." TechCrunch reported that Thornton will share his perspective on building a hard tech company at speed and how advances in autonomy, manufacturing, and national security are transforming the defense sector. His story reflects a broader movement of founders tackling ambitious challenges in industries undergoing rapid change.
A conversation with Delian Asparouhov of Founders Fund and Saif Khawaja of Shinkei Systems will follow. They will discuss the rise of physical AI and how developments in robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence are creating new opportunities to transform the physical world. Their discussion will offer insight into what it takes to build and scale breakthrough technologies beyond software alone.
Also joining is Carter Reum, co-founder and partner at M13, in a session titled "Finding the Next Big Thing." Reum will explore how AI is reshaping industries and how investors are moving beyond short-term hype to identify companies built for long-term durability. He will share his perspective on where innovation is creating the most meaningful opportunities and how venture investing is evolving as new categories emerge.
Event Details and Value for Attendees
TechCrunch noted that beyond the onstage conversations, StrictlyVC Los Angeles is designed to bring together the people driving innovation across technology and venture capital. Throughout the evening, attendees will have opportunities to connect with founders, investors, and operators in an environment that encourages meaningful discussion and the exchange of ideas. Whether looking to expand a network, gain new perspectives, or discover emerging opportunities, the value extends well beyond the scheduled sessions. Additional speakers and conversations will be announced soon as the agenda continues to grow.
Implications for Enterprise Decision-Makers
For CTOs and technology procurement leaders, the insights from this event highlight the accelerating convergence of defense technology and AI—areas that often set the pace for commercial innovation. Early exposure to trends in autonomy, manufacturing, and physical AI can inform long-term investment in logistics automation, supply chain resilience, and industrial robotics. The focus on hard tech and durable companies signals a shift from pure software to integrated hardware-software solutions, a direction that will increasingly influence enterprise procurement strategies in logistics and supply chain technology.
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