Larsen Jensen is a two-time Olympic medalist and former Navy SEAL who now runs Harpoon Ventures, where he helps commercial infrastructure, security, and AI companies expand into government markets—his portfolio companies have closed roughly $500 million in government deals. He built Harpoon around the early thesis that AI and deep tech would have "space-race-level" national security impact, positioning the firm as a hands-on partner that actively helps founders navigate government contracting rather than just providing capital.
What they've been talking about across their social media accounts

- Dedicated to funding critical technologies that strengthen the United States and its allies. Recently launched Harpoon Ventures Fund IV with 155 million dollars committed to this domestic-focused investing thesis and discussed the strategy during a financial television broadcast.
- Interested in advanced energy and complex hardware milestones. Proudly celebrated Aalo Atomics making history when their test reactor successfully achieved initial criticality at the Idaho National Laboratory under a Department of Energy pilot program.
- Admiration for relentless work ethic and high-momentum startup teams. Frequently shares public praise for founders who push through obstacles, expressing deep appreciation for teams that continually make progress and simply refuse to quit.
Video Interview
On keeping your initial outreach short and punchy
"If you're writing something that's literally more than four sentences, I think it's really hard to stand out. If you can't communicate why you're different and what's going on with you and your technology, your team and the market in four sentences, I'd go back to the drawing board because if it's four paragraphs... it looks like you're desperate."
On how quickly VCs know if they're interested
"You sort of know whether, not for sure if you're going to invest, but your level of interest in the first five to 10 minutes. These calls should be five to 10 minutes long... it doesn't take an hour, it doesn't take 30 minutes. All of that is just getting into the details to validate or invalidate that initial interest."
On the best way to get in front of a VC
"Coming in through an existing founder that we've invested in. Number one, everything else, very far second place, wide margin. Getting an intro through a founder that we've worked with before, that we have a really strong relationship, is the single best way to do it."
On choosing the right investor over the highest valuation
"If we all believe that this is going to be a multi-billion dollar outcome, optimizing for valuation within general ranges at an early stage is just not smart... it's almost like an indictment on your own confidence of how big this is going to get."
On reading a VC's real level of interest
"Actions talk, bullshit walks. You got to see what the actions are to validate interest. If they haven't heard from them, there's no engagement... it's like dating. Go back in time... if it's not being reciprocated, the chances of being a yes are rather low."
About their Fund
Sectors
Defense, Deeptech / Hardware, Energy, Climate, Cybersecurity, Materials, AI, Chips, Biotech, Robotics
Rounds
Pre-Seed - Series A
Avg Check Size
$100K - $5M
Notable Investments
Harpoon Ventures is led by Larsen Jensen, a former Navy SEAL and Olympic swimmer, who brings a "warrior ethos" to investing in what the firm calls the "Freedom Stack"—foundational technologies like AI, autonomy, cyber, space, and energy that are critical to American national security.
The firm specializes as a bridge between early-stage startups and complex government buyers, with a team of former national security operators and acquisition experts who help founders navigate procurement and dual-use commercialization beyond typical venture capital support.
Notable Fund
Investments
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