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StrictlyVC Los Angeles 2026 Brings Together Investors and Entrepreneurs for Venture Capital Conversations

StrictlyVC is hosting an intimate event in Los Angeles on June 18, 2026, bringing together investors and entrepreneurs for discussions on venture capital, defense technology, and physical AI. Featured speakers include Ethan Thornton of Mach Industries and investors Delian Asparouhov and Saif Khawaja, who will discuss how technological acceleration is reshaping defense innovation and automation.





Quick Facts
Who
Ethan Thornton
What
StrictlyVC Los Angeles 2026 event
When
June 18, 2026
Where
The Aerospace Corporation Campus
- StrictlyVC Los Angeles 2026 event
- panel discussions on defense technology
- discussion on physical AI and robotics
- networking event for investors and entrepreneurs
- Ethan Thornton
StrictlyVC is hosting an intimate evening event in Los Angeles on June 18, 2026, designed to bring together leading investors and entrepreneurs for high-signal conversations about venture capital and frontier technology. The event will take place at The Aerospace Corporation Campus in El Segundo and will feature discussions on defense technology, AI, robotics, and advanced industry innovation.
The evening will begin with Ethan Thornton, founder of Mach Industries, who will discuss building hardtech companies at speed in his session titled "Built for a New Era of Defense Technology." Thornton will explore the structural shifts occurring in defense innovation as autonomy, manufacturing, and national security become increasingly interconnected, reflecting a growing trend of founders entering traditionally slow-moving industries now being rapidly transformed by technological acceleration.
A subsequent panel will focus on the frontier of physical AI, featuring Delian Asparouhov from Founders Fund alongside Saif Khawaja of Shinkei Systems. The discussion will examine how advances in AI, robotics, and automation are reshaping the physical world and the challenges involved in scaling breakthrough technologies from concept to real-world deployment.
Organizers emphasize that the true value of the event extends beyond the formal presentations. The intimate setting is designed to facilitate meaningful networking, with the goal of transforming introductions into insights and insights into business opportunities. Additional speakers and agenda details are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The event is available to executives, investors, and founders seeking access to conversations and perspectives on how technology and capital are shaping the future.
Topics
Why This Matters
This event represents a critical intersection of venture capital, advanced technology, and national security innovation. For investors and entrepreneurs, it provides rare access to decision-makers and founders navigating the rapid transformation of defense technology, robotics, and AI automation—sectors that are reshaping industrial competitiveness and geopolitical strategy. The emphasis on physical AI and hardtech deployment offers actionable insights into scaling breakthrough technologies in traditionally conservative industries now experiencing unprecedented disruption.
Timeline & Sources
May 28, 2026
WireAnnouncement of StrictlyVC Los Angeles 2026 event
Jun 18, 2026
WireStrictlyVC Los Angeles 2026 event held at The Aerospace Corporation Campus in El Segundo