Expert conversations on “Dual-Use Tech in a New Era” with Laura Taylor-Kale, PhD, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy of the U.S. Department of Defense; Matt MacGregor Head of Strategic Growth at Anduril Industries; Peter Barrett, General Partner at Playground Global; Matt Goldman, Partner at J2 Ventures; Ahmed Zaeem, Chief of Staff of Atomic AI; and Nicholas Kelez, CEO & CTO of xLight Inc., moderated by Jacqueline Tame, Operating Partner at Playground Global, took place at Playground in a closed-door session attended by founders, investors, public sector professionals, and industry leaders.

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The speakers examined what it takes to build dual-use startups—companies operating at the intersection of national security and commercial opportunity. They explored the systems, strategies, and tradeoffs shaping this pivotal moment in deep tech innovation.

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