defense-innovation-unit
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Michael LaFramboise
Michael LaFramboise is the CEO and co-founder of Aurelius Systems, a San Francisco defense startup building autonomous, AI-guided laser turrets that detect and destroy drones at the speed of light for roughly pennies per shot. A Case Western engineer, Navy veteran, and ex-Coherent and Amazon Devices operator, he dropped out of a Columbia PhD in nano optical systems to build Archimedes, a low-cost directed-energy weapon. Aurelius raised a $10 million seed co-led by General Catalyst and Draper Associates in September 2025 and opened a U.S. manufacturing line for high-power fiber lasers in 2026, aiming to become America's domestic one-stop laser shop.
Matt Goldman
Matt Goldman is a General Partner at J2 Ventures, a Boston-based early-stage VC firm backing dual-use technologies at the intersection of commercial markets and U.S. national security. A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel with 22+ years of service, he served as the founding Chief Medical Officer of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), bridging commercial innovation with defense applications. Simultaneously, he is a practicing pediatric gastroenterologist and Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford Children's Health - an almost singular combination of MD, military officer, and venture capitalist. J2 Ventures has raised three funds totaling $468M+ and backed 35+ startups including two unicorns: Oura and Apex Space.
Ajay Amlani
Ajay Amlani is President and CEO of Aware, Inc., a Burlington, Massachusetts biometrics company. He co-founded the company that became CLEAR, founded YOU Technology (acquired by Kroger), helped launch the Defense Innovation Unit, served as a White House Fellow at the early Department of Homeland Security, and led the Americas for iProov before taking the top job at Aware in February 2025.