The Billion-Dollar Bet on American Domination
In a rare move, Palantir’s CTO Shyam Sankar took to the stage at the company’s Washington D.C. office, surrounded by a cluster of nervous new employees. The tech mogul’s impassioned speech would have been unthinkable just a few years prior. Sankar evangelized the importance of a new wave of defense tech startups, spawned by Palantir, Tesla, and SpaceX alums.
The Unholy Union
But this isn’t just about business. Sankar’s crusade is driven by his fervent belief that America needs to reclaim its industrial dominance. "Winning is not assured," he warned, echoing the darkest fears of Western leaders. "We must create a force multiplier to ensure our technological supremacy."
The First Breakfast Experiment
Sankar’s brainchild, First Breakfast, is a software program that provides guidance and tools to defense tech startups, helping them navigate the complex government approval process and qualify for lucrative contracts. But this is more than just a clever business move. It’s a Trojan horse, designed to accelerate America’s technological resurgence.
The Rise of the New Order
Palantir’s co-founder, Joe Lonsdale, has been funding some of the biggest defense tech startups through his venture firm, 8VC. Ex-Anduril employees are leading key early-stage defense tech startups, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem of American dominance. The defense tech boom has become a behemoth, fueled by billions in venture capital and Pentagon contracts.
The End Game
Sankar knows that providing a leg-up with software isn’t enough to ensure the ecosystem’s success. He’s banking on defense giants like Lockheed Martin and Boeing eventually snapping up these startups, creating liquidity and driving growth. The stakes are high, but the reward is a chance to reclaim America’s spot as the world’s technological leader.
Breakfast for the Brave
But for now, Sankar’s focus is on the here and now. He’s planning a literal breakfast with fellow tech moguls, hoping to forge alliances and drive the defense tech revolution forward. As the war between innovation and stagnation rages on, one thing is clear: only the bravest and most reckless entrepreneurs will emerge victorious in this era of American dominance.
