Brett Davis is a venture capital investor at New North Ventures who spent 34 years as a CIA Senior Executive and U.S. Navy Special Operations Officer, bringing direct national security and intelligence experience to his investment work. He focuses on dual-use technologies that serve both national security customers and commercial markets, particularly in deep tech areas like AI, robotics, cybersecurity, and space infrastructure, while advocating for streamlined government processes based on his CIA experience with urgent mission approvals.

• A specific focus on dual-use technology where commercial innovation overlaps with national security needs. He views economic security as inextricable from national security and actively looks for companies that can bridge the gap between private sector speed and government requirements. This is best illustrated by his frequent praise of HawkEye 360, a portfolio company he commends for serving the national interest with an innovative spirit.
• Strong advocacy for domestic semiconductor manufacturing and hardware independence. He frequently discusses the strategic necessity of reshoring chip production to maintain a competitive edge, celebrating legislative milestones like the CHIPS and Science Act. He also shows distinct enthusiasm for new paradigms in this space, such as open-source chip design, which he highlighted when discussing the company Efabless.
• Vigilance regarding geopolitical competition, specifically the economic rivalry between the US and China. He frames the protection of American intellectual property as a critical issue, warning against state-sponsored espionage and economic subterfuge. He has emphasized the need for cooperation between the government and technologists to prevent rival nations from investing in and compromising critical US interests.
• Appreciation for leadership traits rooted in empathy and resilience. He looks beyond the technology to the character of the founders, noting that specific soft skills are indicators of a healthy workplace culture. For example, he has suggested that leaders with a good sense of humor are often better executives because that humor signals high empathy and an ability to build inclusive teams.
• Deep respect for military service and patriotic values within the startup ecosystem. He regularly honors veterans and views the American entrepreneurial mindset as a unique competitive advantage. He connects these values to business by suggesting that the willingness of American founders to professionalize ideas that others might view as crazy is a key driver of the nation's innovation engine.