Fundraising Fox
Trae Stephens
InvestorUnicorn founderFounder at Anduril · Partner at Founders Fund · Co-Founder at Pursuit
San Francisco, CA
Writes $500K – $150M checks · typically $5M
FoundedAnduril$61BPursuit · YC
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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
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 mafia → · the Anduril mafia →
From published sources — common ground for a warm intro.
Co-Founder at PursuitYC W22
Intro paths
Trae went through Y Combinator (Winter 2022) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
In turn, Trae can intro founders to Pursuit's investors below.
Pursuit's investors · 5
Co-founders at Pursuit
Founder at Anduril
Intro paths
In turn, Trae can intro founders to Anduril's investors below.
Anduril's investors · 114
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Co-founders at Anduril
Deals · 3
FlexportBoard seat
via Founders Fund · filed Feb 2022 · $935.4M 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.
Other disclosed investments
Board seats
Varda Space IndustriesVarda Space Industries
Sources: SEC Form D filings · curated public sources.
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Trae StephensTrae Stephens: Why No Company is Successful Because of their VC | E1135
20VC with Harry Stebbings
Andruil co-founder Trae Stephens Talks Innovating in an Age of War | Bloomberg Talks
Bloomberg Podcasts
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
6 more appearances
- Trae Stephens on Anduril Valuation, Defense Industry2025-06-05
- Trae Stephens on Founders Fund2024-09-03
- Trae Stephens (Founders Fund & Anduril Industries) - What Happened to the Future?2024-08-11
- Anduril Co-founder & Founders Fund Partner Trae Stephens shares insights into the defense industry2024-04-03
- Stanford Seminar - Silicon Valley & The U.S. Government: Anduril Industries’ Trae Stephens2024-04-01
- The future of defense funding with Founders Fund’s Trae Stephens | StrictlyVC LA2024-03-01
Colleagues at Founders Fund
Network1
Investors connected to Trae in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
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 Co-Founder at Pursuit.
- 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.
- What companies has Trae Stephens invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Anduril, Armada AI, Biofire, Campus, Carbyne, Contact, Dirac, Eight Sleep, Erebor, Expanse, Flexport, Galvanick, and 13 more.
- What podcasts and interviews feature Trae Stephens?
- Tracked appearances include "Trae Stephens: Why No Company is Successful Because of their VC | E1135", "Andruil co-founder Trae Stephens Talks Innovating in an Age of War | Bloomberg Talks", "Anduril Founder Trae Stephens on Our Modern Defense System", and 9 more.
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia10,638
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Georgetown mafia239
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Flexport mafia37
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Founders mafia28
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Anduril mafia25
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
About this profile. Compiled from public sources — Founders Fund's own website, regulatory filings, press coverage and public professional profiles — and summarised by Fundraising Fox; every fact is kept with where it came from. Spotted an error, or would rather not be listed? Email privacy@fundraisingfox.com · How we build profiles · Your rights