Where does Trae Stephens work?

Trae Stephens is Founder of Anduril and Partner at Founders Fund and Board director at Gecko Robotics and Board director at Flexport.

What check size does Trae Stephens write?

Trae Stephens typically writes checks of $500K – $150M.

What companies did Trae Stephens found?

Trae Stephens founded Anduril, Pursuit.

What boards does Trae Stephens sit on?

Trae Stephens holds tracked board seats at Eight Sleep, Flexport, Flexport, Varda Space Industries, Varda Space Industries, Inc..

Where did Trae Stephens go to school?

Trae Stephens studied at Georgetown University (BS, Regional and Comparative Studies (Middle East)); Lebanon High School.

What podcasts and interviews feature Trae Stephens?

Tracked appearances include "Trae Stephens: Why No Company is Successful Because of their VC | E1135", "Anduril Founder Trae Stephens on Our Modern Defense System", "Trae Stephens on Anduril’s Origin, Peter Thiel, & Palantir DNA", and 7 more.

Trae Stephens

InvestorUnicorn founder

Founder at Anduril · Partner at Founders Fund · Board director at Gecko Robotics · Board director at Flexport

San Francisco, CA

Writes $500K – $150M checks · typically $5M

FoundedAnduril$61B Pursuit · YC

Midas 2024 · #91 Midas 2025 · #19 Midas 2026 · #7

Photo: TechCrunch, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons ↗

About

Trae Stephens is a partner at Founders Fund and a co-founder and chairman of defense technology company Anduril, whose rise to a $61 billion valuation propelled him to number 7 on the 2026 Forbes Midas List. A former Palantir engineer, he focuses on national security and government-facing startups and has become one of the leading voices for Silicon Valley's return to defense work.

Contact· self-published, not guessed

t•••@foundersfund.comreveal

Invests in

AI & Machine LearningBiotechDefense TechFintechSpace Tech

Beyond investing

Founded: Stephens co-founded Anduril Industries in 2017 alongside Palmer Luckey, Matt Grimm, Joe Chen, and Brian Schimpf. Stephens co-founded Sol (at one point Sindarin Inc.) in 2021, developing a next-generation wearable e-reader device. Stephens co-founded Varda Space Industries in 2020 with Delian Asparouhov and Will Bruey. Stephens co-founded Valinor Enterprises in 2024, an incubator of product companies.
Education: Studied at Georgetown University (degree in Regional and Comparative Studies (Middle East), Arabic and Security Studies, 2005) Studied at Walsh School of Foreign Service
Boards: Stephens is a commissioner at the Atlantic Council Commission on Software-Defined Warfare. Stephens served as a federal advisory committee member on the Defense Innovation Board, chaired by Eric Schmidt, and co-authored a software acquisition study for it in 2019.
Communities: Stephens describes himself as Christian and in June 2024 preached a sermon to tech entrepreneurs about the intersection of Christian faith and innovation. Stephens grew up in Lebanon, Ohio, and was a senior at Lebanon High School during the September 11 attacks.
Hobbies: Stephens is interested in prepping and has built an emergency bunker and keeps a survival kit.
Family: Stephens is married to Michelle Stephens and they have two sons. His wife founded ACTS 17 (Acknowledging Christ within Technology and Society), a Christian nonprofit ministering to elites.
More: Stephens served on President-elect Donald Trump's 2016 transition team, leading the Department of Defense transition effort. Stephens became a billionaire in June 2025 after Anduril's Series G fundraising round.

Mentioned above: the Georgetown University mafia →

From published sources — common ground for a warm intro.

Founder at Anduril

Intro paths

→

In turn, Trae can intro founders to Anduril's investors below.

Anduril's investors · 90

137 VenturesSan Francisco 1789 CapitalPalm Beach · since 2026 1Flourish CapitalMountain View 8VCAustin · $100K – $50M checks 9Yards CapitalNew York · $100K – $10M checks AccelPalo Alto · $1.6M – $70M checks · since 2026 Altra VentureNew York City · $500K – $25M checks Andreessen HorowitzMenlo Park · $500K – $50M checks · since 2026 Anorak VenturesLos Angeles · $25K – $400K checks AntiSan Juan · $250K – $30M checks Balaji Srinivasan$10K – $500K checks Balerion Space VenturesDallas Bezos Expeditions Booz Allen Ventures Brave CapitalSan Rafael BroadLight CapitalGreenwich Broom VenturesSan Francisco BVVCBurr Ridge Champion Hill Ventures$500K – $1M checks Coatue ManagementNew York · $1M – $20M checks Collective LiquidityPlantation ContrarySan Francisco · $2M checks Coral CapitalTokyo · $1M – $184M checks Cortado VenturesOklahoma City Cosmic Venture PartnersAustin · $100K – $5M checks Craft VenturesSan Francisco · $50K – $50M checks Elad GilSan Francisco · $100K – $10M checks · since 2026 Elementum VenturesSan Francisco · $250K – $1.5M checks Elevate VenturesIndianapolis · $20K – $2M checks Embedded VenturesLos Angeles EQUIAMSan Francisco · $1M – $10M checks Ethos VCSan Francisco · $250K – $3M checks Factorial FundsSan Francisco Felicis VenturesSan Francisco · $500K – $15M checks Fifth Down CapitalDover First InWashington · $500K – $2M checks FJ LabsNew York · $100K – $3M checks FloodgateMenlo Park · $500K – $5M checks Flyover CapitalKansas City · $500K – $2M checks Founders FundSan Francisco · $500K – $5M checks · since 2026 Friends Family CapitalSilicon Valley Galdana VenturesBarcelona General CatalystSan Francisco · $30M checks Gestio CapitalLondon GreycroftNew York · $100K – $5M checks HaystackSan Francisco · $1M – $3M checks Human CapitalSan Francisco · $250K – $200M checks Hyperguap ICONIQSan Francisco · since 2026 In-Q-TelTysons · $100K – $2.5M checks Inflection VenturesNew York JovonoCalifornia · $50K – $3M checks K5 GlobalSan Francisco · $1M – $3M checks Khosla VenturesMenlo Park · $5K – $50M checks Kyber Knight CapitalSan Francisco LakestarZurich · $540K checks · since 2026 Lightspeed Venture PartnersMenlo Park · $1.7M – $87M checks Liquid VenturesSan Francisco · $250K – $5M checks Long Journey VenturesSan Francisco · $100K – $1M checks Lux CapitalNew York · $100K – $100M checks · since 2026 Manhattan WestLos Angeles Manta Ray VenturesLondon mark vcAustin MDSV CAPITALPalo Alto MVP VenturesChicago Never Lift VCNew York · since 2026 Perot JainDallas · $500K checks PIPELINE CAPITAL PARTNERSLas Vegas PLUS CapitalVenice · $100K – $1M checks Primary Venture PartnersNew York · $1M – $3M checks Red Beard VenturesWestport · $90K – $300K checks RevolutionWashington, D.C. · $100K – $1M checks Rosecliff VenturesNew York City · $500K checks Saga VenturesAustin SciFi VCSan Francisco · $100K – $1M checks Sero Capital, LLCMiami Beach Silent VenturesDallas · $1.5M – $3M checks Sinai Capital Partners Sozo VenturesRedwood City Sparq Capital (SFO)Palo Alto Summit Peak InvestmentsFort Worth SV AngelSan Francisco Texas VenturesHouston Thrive CapitalNew York · $500K – $25M checks · since 2026 Toba CapitalIrvine · $1M – $10M checks U.S. Air Forcesince 2019 Valor Equity PartnersChicago VU Venture PartnersSan Francisco · $200K – $1M checks WealthUnion$10K checks XYZ Venture CapitalSan Francisco · $10K – $5M checks

Co-founders at Anduril

Palmer LuckeyFounder

Brian SchimpfCEO

Board director at Gecko Robotics YC W16

Intro paths

Trae went through Y Combinator (Winter 2016) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

Their group partner at YC was Jared Friedman, YC Group Partner — the partner who ran Gecko Robotics's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

→

In turn, Trae can intro founders to Gecko Robotics's investors below.

Gecko Robotics's investors · 26

ACE & CompanyNew York Alpha PartnersNew York · $3M – $10M checks Base Venture Management, Inc.Oakland · $100K – $700K checks Cubit CapitalDallas · $500K – $3M checks Drive CapitalColumbus · $5M – $30M checks · since 2019 Fifth Down CapitalDover Formula VCYerevan · $1.2M – $10M checks FoundersSan Francisco · $250K checks · since 2025 Founders FundSan Francisco · $500K – $5M checks · since 2025 Friends Family CapitalSilicon Valley FundersClubSan Francisco · $250K – $5M checks Garage CapitalWaterloo Granatus VenturesYerevan · $100K – $4.7M checks Hemisphere Ventures LLCMckinney Houston Angel NetworkHouston MVP VenturesChicago Nearingpoint Venture Partners Inc.Toronto Next47Palo Alto Prime Movers LabJackson · $2M – $30M checks · since 2025 Socium VenturesAtlanta · $3M – $25M checks Strategxy Ventures LLCBeverly Hills · $1M – $5M checks The Westly GroupMenlo Park · $500K – $15M checks ThirdbaseNew York U.S. Air Forcesince 2019 XYZ Venture CapitalSan Francisco · $10K – $5M checks Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2025

Co-founders at Gecko Robotics

Jake LoosararianFounder/CEO

Troy DemmerFounder/COO

Board director at Flexport YC W14

Intro paths

Trae went through Y Combinator (Winter 2014) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

→

In turn, Trae can intro founders to Flexport's investors below.

Flexport's investors · 44

137 VenturesSan Francisco 8VCAustin · $100K – $50M checks Acequia Capital (AceCap)Seattle · $100K – $5M checks Adit Ventures Management, LlcNew York Allied Venture PartnersCalgary · $100K – $350K checks Andreessen HorowitzMenlo Park · $500K – $50M checks · since 2022 Better Tomorrow VenturesSan Francisco · $500K – $4M checks Bloomberg BetaSan Francisco · $25K – $1M checks Champion Hill Ventures$500K – $1M checks Cherubic VenturesGrand Cayman · $220K – $27M checks · since 2019 DST GlobalGeorge Town, Grand Cayman · $100K – $200M checks · since 2019 Ethos VCSan Francisco · $250K – $3M checks Felicis VenturesSan Francisco · $500K – $15M checks First Round CapitalSan Francisco · $1M – $7M checks FJ LabsNew York · $100K – $3M checks Founders FundSan Francisco · $500K – $5M checks · since 2022 FPVJackson · $100K – $5M checks Friends Family CapitalSilicon Valley Fuel CapitalCovina · $500K – $1M checks JovonoCalifornia · $50K – $3M checks JuniperoMiami K2 GlobalSingapore Long Journey VenturesSan Francisco · $100K – $1M checks MaC Venture CapitalLos Angeles · $500K – $2M checks Nelstone Ventures Next Legacy PartnersPortola Valley Night Owl Ventures Prologis VenturesSan Francisco · $100K – $5M checks ReshapeNew York · $100K – $2M checks Ritual CapitalMenlo Park · $100K – $500K checks Rosecliff VenturesNew York City · $500K checks Saga VenturesAustin Sherpalo VenturesMenlo Park ShopifyOttawa · since 2022 SoftBank Vision FundLondon · since 2019 Sound VenturesSanta Monica Sozo VenturesRedwood City Sparq Capital (SFO)Palo Alto Standard CapitalSan Francisco Susa VenturesSan Francisco · $1M – $5M checks · since 2019 SV AngelSan Francisco Vershina CapitalNicosia Winklevoss CapitalNew York · $100K – $5M checks Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2014

Co-founders at Flexport

Ryan PetersenFounder & CEO

Ryan PetersonExecutive Officer, Director

Experience

Founders FundPartnercurrent2014 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
Anduril IndustriesCo-Foundercurrent2017 — presentOrange County, California, United States
PursuitCo-Foundercurrent2021 — present
SolCo-Foundercurrent2021 — present
Georgetown UniversityAdjunct Professor2013Washington DC-Baltimore Area
Palantir TechnologiesForward Deployed Engineer2008 — 2013Washington DC-Baltimore Area
LexisNexis Special ServicesLead Data Analyst, International Data2006 — 2008
Georgetown UniversityAsst. to the Chief of Staff2005 — 2006
Embassy of AfghanistanPolitical Affairs Intern2003 — 2005Washington DC-Baltimore Area
Office of Congressman Rob PortmanCongressional Intern2005

Skills & more

Government63Policy21Program Management55DoD10Data Analysis20Intelligence Analysis6Research13Requirements Analysis11National Security13System Administration1Cloud Computing8Enterprise Architecture3

+10 more

IntegrationDefenseProposal WritingSoftware EngineeringSoftware DevelopmentSystems EngineeringAnalysisSecurity ClearanceDatabasesSQL

From Trae's professional profile.

Deals · 4

FlexportBoard seat

via Founders Fund · filed Feb 2022 · $935.4M raise

press ↗

Varda Space Industries, Inc.Board seat

via Founders Fund · filed Sep 2021 · $42.2M raise

Eight SleepBoard seat

via Founders Fund · filed Jul 2021 · $87.6M raise

Gecko RoboticsQuoted

via Founders Fund · filed May 2025

press ↗

Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.

Other disclosed investments

Board seats

Varda Space Industries

Sources: SEC Form D filings · curated public sources.

Podcasts & interviews

featuring Trae Stephens

Trae Stephens: Why No Company is Successful Because of their VC | E1135

20VC with Harry Stebbings

Anduril Founder Trae Stephens on Our Modern Defense System

goop

Trae Stephens on Anduril’s Origin, Peter Thiel, & Palantir DNA

Sourcery with Molly O'Shea

Anduril & Founders Fund’s Trae Stephens on Choosing Good Quests in the Age of AI | Ep. 35

Uncapped with Jack Altman

Trae Stephens – Anduril’s AI Weapons, Palantir Myths, Antichrist and War with China | SRS #245

Shawn Ryan Show

Trae Stephens on Founders Fund

Turpentine VC

4 more appearances

Colleagues at Founders Fund

Alex Bangash

Managing Director and General Partner at Transpose Platform Management

Alyx Sylvia

Assistant Controller at Founders Fund

Amin Mirzadegan

Partner at Founders Fund

Arkady Rakhilkin

CEO at Seven Rivers Capital LTD

Beatrice Couture

Principal at Teralys Capital

Bridget Harris

Associate at Founders Fund

Brooke Oliver

Chief Human Resources Officer at Main Street Capital

Danielle Biesanz

Head of Legal Operations at Founders Fund

Frequently asked questions

Who is Trae Stephens?: Trae Stephens is a partner at Founders Fund and a co-founder and chairman of defense technology company Anduril, whose rise to a $61 billion valuation propelled him to number 7 on the 2026 Forbes Midas List. A former Palantir engineer, he focuses on national security and government-facing startups and has become one of the leading voices for Silicon Valley's return to defense work.
Where does Trae Stephens work?: Trae Stephens is Founder of Anduril and Partner at Founders Fund and Board director at Gecko Robotics and Board director at Flexport.
What does Trae Stephens invest in?: Trae Stephens invests in AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Defense Tech, Fintech, Space Tech.
What check size does Trae Stephens write?: Trae Stephens typically writes checks of $500K – $150M.
What companies did Trae Stephens found?: Trae Stephens founded Anduril, Pursuit.
What boards does Trae Stephens sit on?: Trae Stephens holds tracked board seats at Eight Sleep, Flexport, Flexport, Varda Space Industries, Varda Space Industries, Inc..
Where did Trae Stephens go to school?: Trae Stephens studied at Georgetown University (BS, Regional and Comparative Studies (Middle East)); Lebanon High School.
What podcasts and interviews feature Trae Stephens?: Tracked appearances include "Trae Stephens: Why No Company is Successful Because of their VC | E1135", "Anduril Founder Trae Stephens on Our Modern Defense System", "Trae Stephens on Anduril’s Origin, Peter Thiel, & Palantir DNA", and 7 more.