Defense startup funding hits all-time record amid VC exit appetite
U.S. defense startups reached an all-time venture funding high as VCs increasingly position for exits in a sector benefiting from geopolitical demand and policy support. Anduril and peer companies saw investor appetite surge in the first half of 2026.
The trend reflects broader VC appetite for defensible, high-margin bets in national security and AI-powered autonomous systems, where regulatory barriers and government contracts create durable moats.