Webinar
Rewiring the Battlefield: AI, Autonomy, and Energy as Strategy
Join Alumni Ventures’ Drew Wandzilak for an in-depth exploration of how AI, autonomy, and energy independence are reshaping modern defense — and what it means for investors backing the companies rebuilding America’s strategic infrastructure.
The defense industry was built for a slower world — scale, predictability, and decades-long programs. But modern conflict compresses time. Drones iterate in months. Software updates rival hardware upgrades. Supply chains and power are now targets. Scale alone no longer wins. Speed and adaptability do.
The conversation will cover what the U.S. Strategic Tech Fund is actually betting on: manufacturing as strategy, autonomy that works when the cloud doesn’t, networks over platforms, energy as national security, and space as infrastructure. Drew will explain why this isn’t about betting on conflict — it’s about backing the rebuild. You’ll learn how execution separates enduring companies from experiments, and why production speed is now strategic advantage.
Whether you’re a current investor or exploring opportunities in strategic technology, this webinar offers essential perspective on one of the most significant infrastructure transformations of our time. Reserve your spot to understand how the arsenal is being rebuilt — in factories, powered by resilient energy, connected by software, and sustained
Want to access our U.S. Strategic Tech Syndicate startup deals to see, evaluate, and optionally invest? No cost, no commitment.
Why Attend?
- HomeUnderstand the structural shift from traditional defense primes to venture-backed neoprimes
- HomeLearn why defense tech held through the VC downturn and is accelerating faster than broader venture
- HomeDiscover how the U.S. Strategic Tech Fund backs companies across manufacturing, autonomy, energy, space, and infrastructure
About your presenter
Drew has worked in high-growth industries as both an investor and operator, focusing on how people and technology interact within organizations. As a long-time investor with Alumni Ventures, he has worked across multiple funds and internal initiatives. He has worked on National and State level political campaigns, focusing on Small Business and Entrepreneurial policy. Drew holds a BS from Northwestern University in Education and Social Policy, specializing in Learning & Organizational Development. He also served as an Ambassador for Northwestern’s Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and was recognized in Chicago Inno’s 25 under 25.