How the Besties Think About Defense Investing Last week, @friedberg, @DavidSacks, and @chamath discussed investing in defense startups: Both Sacks and Chamath said they would have to think twice about investing in startups that made weapons. But, both have invested in defense companies building tech that is defensive in nature, gathers intelligence, and saves lives, like @saildrone and @allencontrol. Sacks: "I don't have a problem with investing in a company like @anduriltech. America needs defense companies ... and we need startup disruptors. So I'm not morally opposed to it. And in fact, I think it's probably a good thing." "I think my concern would be I don't really want to be part of the military industrial complex. I feel like it might corrupt my views on things. I don't want to feel an incentive to be like these generals who go on CNN and Fox News and justify every single war." Chamath: "That's my biggest fear as well. It's one thing to be investing in a bunch of companies where we're sitting around hoping for cheaper clicks on Facebook and Google. It's an entirely other thing to sit on the board of a company and hope for war. That's a horrible place to be." "If you believe that America should be the most important country in the world, and you have the ability to help it be that, eventually some of those decisions will come in contact with (the choice to invest in defense startups). Friedberg: "I think the fact that both of you highlighted a degree of trepidation, and you guys are fairly outside of the middle bounds of how Silicon Valley would think and make decisions, indicates why so much of Silicon Valley has deep concerns about investing in defense technology..."
@theallinpod @friedberg @DavidSacks @chamath What’s the use in reposting content 4 days after its genesis? Be relevant - post on day 1 or 2 at the latest.
@theallinpod @friedberg @DavidSacks @chamath Interesting discussion on disruption of the MIC and its motivations. @oldhongkong @TheVirginiaGen1 @DolioJ
@theallinpod @friedberg @DavidSacks @chamath Such a ridiculous take from the “besties”. The gvt is spending on defense, regardless of whether we’re at war or not. Defense investors are not praying for war, they are praying for deterrence.
@theallinpod @friedberg @DavidSacks @chamath So, you have views and values that minimize (or eliminate) conflict and warfare - fine - how then do you defend those views and values from other nation states who see the world differently and would desire to subjugate those who hold views and values like yours?
@theallinpod @friedberg @DavidSacks @chamath 🎯 As a veteran, this statement hits deep from @DavidSacks “I don't want to feel an incentive to be like these generals who go on CNN and Fox News and justify every single war."
@theallinpod @friedberg @DavidSacks @chamath Stepping away is how we let the bad guys win. Own the shares and then use your shares to force change.
@theallinpod @friedberg @DavidSacks @chamath defund blackrock
@theallinpod @friedberg @DavidSacks @chamath invest in fabs, energy, and resource extraction — let others handle up the value chai.
@theallinpod @friedberg @DavidSacks @chamath Please look into @GalvanickCo.