From Pentagon to Portfolio: Investing in Critical Technologies for American Resilience
About the Evening
AI, autonomy, space, cyber, and advanced manufacturing are shaping the next decade of markets and national resilience. Capital is flooding in, and so is hype. The investors who win will be the ones who can tell the companies building real, defensible technology apart from the ones riding a headline.
Join us at The Palm House for an intimate conversation with investors and operators who back critical technology for a living. Our panel will share how they find signal in a noisy market: which sectors have real momentum, what separates a lasting dual-use company from a one-contract wonder, and how they structure investments across venture, growth, and private capital to capture the upside while managing risk.
What We'll Cover
Where the durable opportunities are in critical tech right now, and where the hype is
The dual-use playbook: building companies that win with both commercial and government customers
How seasoned investors diligence deep tech when the technology outruns the market
Portfolio strategy for family offices and private investors entering the category
The evening is invitation-only, with cocktails and networking before and after the panel.
Agenda
5:30 PM: Cocktails and canapés
6:00 PM: Welcome and introductions
6:05 PM: Panel discussion
6:50 PM: Audience Q&A
7:05 PM: Closing remarks
7:10 PM: Networking reception continues
Moderator
Secretary Patrick J. Murphy served as the 32nd Under Secretary of the Army and as Acting Secretary of the Army in 2016. He previously represented Pennsylvania's 8th District in the U.S. House from 2007 to 2011, the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress.
Panelists
John Dunfee is Chief Executive Officer of JD Group Holdings, a family office with roots in the energy sector whose investment focus has expanded to include space, defense technology, and data infrastructure.
Mike Sherbakov is Co-Founder and General Partner of The Veteran Fund, a top-decile venture capital firm investing in veteran-led critical technology startups. He served five years on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps before building and scaling startups as an operator and investor.
Sean Drake is Founder and Managing Partner of Stoney Lonesome Group, a Tampa-based venture firm investing in dual-use deep tech and national security companies. He served five years on active duty as an Army infantry officer.
Kaj Larsen is a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer, successful entrepreneur, and founder of a defense innovation fund investing in emerging technologies that advance U.S. national security. He currently serves as an advisor to the Secretary of War, helping lead Project Meridian, a task force focused on shaping the future of warfare and national defense.
For questions: Genine Fallon, g9@patrickjmurphy.com, 513-236-4839