Pentagon adopts venture capital model to fund defense startups and bypass bureaucracy

Emil Michael, the former business development chief at Uber who was appointed head of the Pentagon’s technology unit last May, is leveraging his private-sector expertise to pivot defense spending toward emerging technology startups.

According to a report by The Washington Post, Michael’s arrival has triggered a new development strategy within the Pentagon that envisions issuing loans for technology projects and acquiring equity stakes in defense startups.

During his first six months in office, Michael met with representatives from more than 100 startups. He stated that his primary objective is the production of cheaper, smarter, and more compact weaponry. Michael noted that the goal is to cultivate a new generation of companies capable of competing with established defense titans such as Lockheed Martin.

The report highlighted that Michael is part of a team utilizing President Donald Trump’s business experience to transform the Pentagon. Instead of relying on decades-old bureaucratic procurement systems, the new team is introducing an alternative approach. This involves fast-tracked procedures and the provision of up to $200 billion in federal loans—alongside equity investments in private defense ventures—targeting fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and mineral extraction.

The Washington Post noted that these shifts are effectively transforming the Pentagon into a massive venture capital firm.

One of the first major loans under this framework, totaling $620 million, was granted to Vulcan Elements, a company specializing in the production of rare earth magnets. The report indicated that Vulcan Elements is financed through 1789 Capital, a firm where Donald Trump Jr. is a partner. According to the newspaper, a former senior Pentagon official described the institution’s practice of taking equity stakes in companies as unethical.

Michael stated that the technology unit has accelerated the evaluation and integration processes for new tools into the military. The Pentagon has reportedly signed multimillion-dollar contracts with startups developing miniature hypersonic missiles, maritime drones, and satellite imagery analysis systems.

In an interview, Michael said the speed of contract signings serves as evidence of the administration’s shift in approach. “This happened in record time because we opened the doors wide for them. We are essentially walking alongside them at every stage,” he said.

According to data from PitchBook, the volume of private venture capital transactions in defense technology is projected to reach $48.5 billion in 2025, nearly double the volume recorded in 2024.

The Washington Post also noted that US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll worked in private equity and venture capital prior to his appointment at the Pentagon.

Born in Cairo, Emil Michael immigrated to the US with his family in the early 1970s. He joined Uber in September 2013, serving as senior vice president of business development. As the right-hand man to CEO Travis Kalanick, Michael played a key role in helping the company secure $5 billion in investment in 2016.

Separately, the Pentagon continues to integrate artificial intelligence into its operations. According to a Reuters report from March, the Maven system developed by Palantir is set to be approved as an official Pentagon program. Maven, which assists in target identification by analyzing battlefield data, currently serves as the primary AI operating system for the US Armed Forces.