Scott Nolan is a Founders Fund partner who brings unusually deep hands-on engineering experience from leading early design and manufacturing work at SpaceX, including Merlin engine development and factory scaling, which he applies to evaluate complex technical companies. Beyond investing, he actively builds strategic infrastructure as CEO of General Matter, a company focused on reshoring U.S. uranium enrichment capabilities, reflecting his conviction in rebuilding critical American industrial capacity in sectors like nuclear energy.

• Strong preference for complex engineering challenges that resolve critical physical bottlenecks, particularly in energy and aerospace. He actively discusses companies solving infrastructure gaps, such as General Matter working to restore domestic nuclear fuel production to fix grid reliance on foreign sources, or Impulse Space developing vehicles for rapid orbital maneuvering to reduce opportunity costs in satellite deployment.
• Interest in aggressive biotechnology that aims to extend human life or cure systemic diseases through engineering-first approaches rather than traditional pharmaceuticals. He champions companies like Gordian Bio, which uses gene therapies to test treatments for age-related diseases, and Neuralink, which bridges the gap between biological and digital systems to help patients with neurological injuries.
• Appreciation for high-agency culture and physical locations known for hardcore hardware development. He frequently encourages builders to move to manufacturing hubs like El Segundo or Austin and looks for engineers with a roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic, as seen in his recruitment calls for the Boring Company where he compares the current opportunity to the early, high-risk days of SpaceX.
• Focus on restoring and maintaining American industrial leadership and power density. He views technology through a lens of national strategic advantage, arguing that high energy density is essential for civilization and supporting ventures that bring critical supply chains, like uranium enrichment or advanced manufacturing via companies like Freeform, back to the United States.
• Belief that founders must maintain strict control over vision and strategy rather than deferring to a board of directors. He posits that the most successful companies are led by founders who possess the moral authority to drive the mission, and he suggests that startup teams should prioritize an inspiring mission and belief in the product over immediate market-rate cash compensation.