Trae Stephens
InvestorPartner at Founders Fund
San Francisco, CA
Writes $500K – $150M checks · typically $5M
FoundedPursuit · YC
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.
Trae Stephens @traestephens
Thank you for your support, Governor! It's an honor to be building the next generation of flight in the Birthplace of Aviation. And thanks for tolerating @mttgrmm's hospitality today. https://t.co/Kms7KMSnsG
Jul 27, 2026 · ♥ 384 · ⇄ 11
Trae Stephens @traestephens
Uhhhhh…there are exceptions, right? https://t.co/nlEKhOA8MI
Jul 26, 2026 · ♥ 1384 · ⇄ 12
Trae Stephens @traestephens
The Factory is the Weapon. Great to speak to @MariaBartiromo on @FoxBusiness live from Arsenal-1. Full segment here: https://t.co/XPHvyUP3AU
Jul 24, 2026 · ♥ 256 · ⇄ 18
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDefense TechFintechSpace Tech
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
Education
- Georgetown UniversityBS, Regional and Comparative Studies (Middle East)2002 — 2005
- Lebanon High School1998 — 2002
Skills & more
+10 more
IntegrationDefenseProposal WritingSoftware EngineeringSoftware DevelopmentSystems EngineeringAnalysisSecurity ClearanceDatabasesSQLFrom Trae's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended Georgetown University320
+ 314 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Anduril Industries23
+ 17 more
Also worked at Sol1
Also worked at Georgetown University34
+ 28 more
Deals · 4
FlexportBoard seat
via Founders Fund · filed Feb 2022 · $935.4M raise
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
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Trae StephensAnduril & Founders Fund’s Trae Stephens on Choosing Good Quests in the Age of AI | Ep. 35
Uncapped with Jack Altman
Trae Stephens on Founders Fund
Turpentine VC
Trae Stephens (Founders Fund & Anduril Industries) - What Happened to the Future?
Techsylvania
The future of defense funding with Founders Fund’s Trae Stephens | StrictlyVC LA
TechCrunch
Colleagues at Founders Fund
Network1
Investors connected to Trae in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.




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