An American venture capitalist, technology entrepreneur, co-founder & executive chairman of Anduril Industries, partner at Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund and an early employee at Palantir Technologies.
Born
•November 1983
Jew
•
Zionized
•Possibly.
•Devout christian (unknown variant)
•Doomsday fanatic.
Education
•Georgetown University
Occupation
•Chairman of Anduril Industries
Known for
•Co-founder of Anduril Industries
•Co-founder of Sol
•Interned in the office of Congressman Rob Portman
•Interned at the Embassy of Afghanistan in D.C.
•Worked as a computational linguist within the US Intelligence Community
•Joined Palantir (2008)
•Partner at Founders Fund
•Served on Trump’s 1st transition team, leading the DoD
Founder & Lead of Cornell University automous vehicle research program, has served on federal advisory councils, is a board member of several govt. tech companies, CEO & co-founder of Anduril Industries, former Palantir Director of Engineering & early hire who built Foundry.
Former principal at Mithril Capital Management LLC, served as advisor & board observer of Classy.org, co-founder of Cormell University AVR program, former Senior Consultant for DoD at Booz Allen Hamilton, early hire & forward development engineer at Palantir Technologies, co-founder & COO of Anduril Industries.
Under Matt Grimm's leadership, Anduril Industries has rapidly grown and established itself as a key player in the defense sector, achieving significant milestones in technology development and integration.
During his tenure at Anduril Industries, the organization has experienced substantial growth, with a reported 53% increase in headcount over a twelve-month period, demonstrating its expanding influence in the industry.
Prior to co-founding Anduril Industries, Matt Grimm served as an Advisor and Board Observer at Classy.org from May 2015 to August 2016, where insight was provided on strategic initiatives.
From December 2014 to August 2016, Matt held the position of Principal at Mithril Capital Management LLC, contributing to venture capital investments in technology startups.
Before these roles, Matt was a Forward Deployed Engineer at Palantir Technologies from May 2008 to December 2014, where technical solutions were tailored for complex data analysis challenges.
Matt's career also includes experience as a Senior Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton from May 2007 to May 2008, where consulting services were provided to various clients in strategic and operational improvement.
Anduril Industries, under Matt Grimm's guidance, champions the integration of artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, and other technological innovations to enhance national security.
Utilizing a significant understanding of both technology and operations, Matt Grimm has positioned Anduril Industries to effectively respond to evolving defense needs and challenges.
Chen served in U.S. Army National Guard, 1st Battalion (Airborne),143rd Infantry Regiment, was an early hire at Oculus VR, worked on augmented reality technologies at Epsom, and is a co-Founder of Anduril Industries.
ARPA-H (Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health), is a relatively new agency within the HSS (Department of Health and Human Services), which will invest in break-through technologies, broadly applicable platforms, capabilities, resources & solutions to transform medicine & health, and has partnered up with Palantir Technologies/Palantir Mafia.
Formed
•March 15, 2022
Jurisdiction
•Federal government of the U.S.
Agency executives
•Alastair Thompson Acting Director of data innovation
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has entered into a significant $19 million contract with Palantir Technologies to utilize its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) and Foundry software.
This partnership aims to bolster ARPA-H's data infrastructure and improve the tracking of its research programs over the next two years.
Palantir's tools will enable ARPA-H to efficiently collect, synthesize, analyze, and make informed decisions based on diverse data sources.
Alastair Thomson, the acting director of data innovation at ARPA-H, emphasized the agency's commitment to being data-driven, which is crucial for designing and monitoring its programs effectively.
The goal is to identify revolutionary advancements in health research, which necessitates a deep understanding of the current state of various fields.
As a relatively new agency established in 2022, ARPA-H is still developing its infrastructure.
The agency's initiatives include enhancing hospital defenses against cyber threats, innovating cancer treatment technologies, and creating a mobile health program using electric vehicles.
Thomson noted that Palantir's solutions are tailored to meet the unique needs of ARPA-H, particularly as the agency adopts a cloud-only infrastructure.
Palantir's software is designed to integrate existing data sources and provide a comprehensive view of operations, which is essential for effective research and development investments.
The AIP allows organizations to leverage large language models on their existing data, enhancing decision-making processes.
Thomson highlighted the importance of monitoring program metrics and being agile in decision-making, particularly when it comes to pivoting strategies that are not yielding results.
Moreover, ARPA-H intends to make some insights from these platforms publicly available, ensuring transparency and accountability in its operations.
The agency also plans to utilize AI to analyze scientific literature related to its programs, providing a broader perspective on relevant research.
In addition to software deployment, Palantir will offer training and data analytics support to ARPA-H staff, fostering a culture of data literacy within the agency.
Thomson stressed that understanding data is vital for becoming a learning organization, making training a key component of this initiative.
This partnership with Palantir represents a strategic move for ARPA-H to enhance its operational capabilities and drive innovative health research through data-driven decision-making.
DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is an R&D agency of the U.S. DoD (Department of Defense) directed towards developing advanced technologies for military weaponization.
Formed
•February 7, 1958 (as ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency)
Jurisdiction
•Federal government of the United States
Headquarters
•675 North Randolph St., Ballston, Virginia, U.S. (38.8788°N 77.1088°W)
•ARPA established, following the launch of Sputnik, President Eisenhower authorized the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) to expand technological frontiers beyond military needs.
•Initial funding was set at $520 million, with Roy Johnson appointed as the first director.
1959
•ARPA began to concentrate on high-risk, high-gain research projects;
•The agency played a role in the Transit satellite program, a precursor to GPS, developed in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
1960
•All civilian space programs were transferred to NASA.
•Allowing ARPA to focus on defense-related projects such as Project Defender (ballistic missile defense) and Project Vela (nuclear test detection).
1961
•Brigadier General Austin W. Betts resigned.
•Jack Ruina took over as director. Ruina, the first scientist to lead ARPA, increased the budget to $250 million and hired J.C.R. Licklider, who would oversee the Information Processing Techniques Office.
1962-1965
•ARPA expanded its research into computer processing, behavioral sciences, and materials sciences, laying the groundwork for future technologies in surveillance and directed energy.
1972
•ARPA renamed the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to reflect its broader mission, emphasizing direct energy programs and information processing technologies.
1973
•Mansfield Amendment limited appropriations for defense research to projects with direct military applications.
1976
•DARPA begins focusing on Tactical Technologies, prioritizing projects related to air, land, sea, and space technologies, including advancements in tactical armor and anti-armor programs.
1977
•DARPA invested in infrared sensing technologies for space-based surveillance, enhancing the military's ability to monitor and respond to threats from a distance.
1978
•High-Energy Laser Technology: Research into high-energy laser technology for missile defense systems gained momentum, laying the groundwork for future defense initiatives.
1979
•DARPA initiated projects focused on developing advanced cruise missiles, which would become a significant component of U.S. military strategy.
1980
•Many successful DARPA projects were transitioned to military services, including technologies for automatic target recognition and space-based sensing, which were foundational for the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO), which later evolved into the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
1981
•Engineers Robert McGhee and Kenneth Waldron began developing the ASV, a six-legged vehicle designed for cargo transport over difficult terrains.
1982-2003
•DARPA concentrated on advanced information processing and aircraft-related programs, including the National Aerospace Plane (NASP) and the Strategic Computing Program, which aimed to enhance processing and networking technologies.
2004
•DARPA terminated the LifeLog Project, which aimed to compile comprehensive data on individual activities, raising concerns about privacy and surveillance.
2009
•DARPA broke ground on a new facility in Arlington County, Virginia, enhancing its operational capabilities near The Pentagon.
2011
•DARPA hosted this symposium to encourage public discourse on interstellar travel, showcasing its commitment to long-term space exploration.
2014-2016
•DARPA initiated the first machine-to-machine computer security competition, bringing together experts to identify and fix security vulnerabilities automatically, promoting innovation in cybersecurity.
2016
•NASA and DARPA announced plans to develop new X-planes, aiming to create a series of experimental aircraft over the next decade.
2018
•DARPA showcased new technologies from the GXV-T program, aimed at developing a lightly armored combat vehicle capable of withstanding modern anti-tank weapons.
2020
•DARPA and the US Air Force announced readiness for free-flight tests of the HAWC, a significant advancement in hypersonic weaponry.
•Victoria Coleman became director of DARPA.
2020-present
•DARPA has increasingly outsourced core functions to private corporations, including physical security, program security, and IT services, indicating a shift towards privatization in defense operations.
Founding and Early Development
•Palantir was founded in 2003 by a group that included former PayPal employees, some of whom had connections to DARPA through their work in technology and security.
•Palantir's focus on data integration and analysis also aligns with DARPA's emphasis on advanced information processing.
Government Contracts
•Palantir has secured contracts with various government agencies, including the DoD, which has historical ties to DARPA.
•This relationship suggests a continuity of interest in leveraging advanced data analytics for national security purposes.
Technological Synergy
•Both DARPA & Palantir share a commitment to innovation in technology.
•DARPA's research in artificial intelligence and data processing has likely influenced Palantir's development of its software platforms, which are designed to analyze large datasets for intelligence and defense applications.
Collaborative Projects
•While specific projects directly linking DARPA and Palantir may not be publicly documented, the overlapping interests in national security and advanced technology suggest potential collaborations or shared objectives in various defense-related initiatives.
Accenture Federal Services & Palantir Technologies will initially focus on the co-development of three key offerings:
Enterprise-to-Edge Data Fusion
•Using Palantir’s ontology and AI platform to accelerate modernization of enterprise business systems to push critical data from the enterprise to the tactical edge.
Predictive Supply Chain Orchestration
•Combining Accenture’s federal and commercial logistics expertise with Palantir AI to help government agencies deliver optimized, autonomous and resilient supply chain workflows.
Operationalize Financial Intelligence
•Providing a 360-degree view of agency budgets and expenditures across numerous systems to enhance fiscal transparency and accountability.
A financial advisory and global consulting firm which was involved in the Bernie Madoff scandal and has advised on some of the largest Chapter 11 reorganizations including General Motors Co., Kmart & Enron Corp, and is also a strategic partner of Palantir Technologies/Palantir Mafia.
For over two decades, AAXIS has helped top manufacturers, distributors, retailers and telcos meet growing digital commerce & automation needs, and is now partnered with Palantir Technologies/Palantir Mafia to execute strategies and implement technologies leveraging data and AI.
An American business executive, one of Zuckerberg's original first fifteen engineers hired at Facebook/Facebook Mafia, chief technology officer at Meta/Meta Mafia, and one of the recently commissioned U.S. Army Reserve Detachment 201 lieutenant colonels.
Born
•January 7, 1982, Santa Clara County, California, U.S.
Jew
•
Zionized
•
Education
•Harvard University (BS)
Occupation
•Business executive
Known for
•Vice Chair on board of directors for Peninsula Open Space Trust
•2019 keynote speaker for the Burlingame/SFO Chamber of Commerce
•Alumni of nonprofit 4-H & received the Distinguished Alumni Medallion award
•Worked as a developer on Microsoft Visio
•Met Zuckerberg at Harvard (2004)
•Worked as an engineer at Facebook (since 2006)
•Wrote the memo circulated internally within Facebook titled "The Ugly", arguing that connecting people was a paramount goal for Facebook (2016)
•Vice-president of Facebook augmented reality & virtual reality (2017)
Co-founder & former developer of Diem & Novi and current VP of Facebook/Meta Calibra, former Planet Labs President of product & business, served as Twitter VP of product, Chief Product Officer (CPO) at OpenAI, member of Cisco board of directors and one of the recently commissioned U.S. Army Reserve Detachment 201 lieutenant colonels.
Jew
•
Zionized
•
Education
•Harvard (BS)
•Stanford (M)
Occupation
•CPO at OpenAI
•USAR lieutenant colonel
Known for
•Co-founder & developer of Diem & Novi (formerly Libra) cryptocurrencies for Facebook/Meta
•Vice President of Product for Facebook's blockchain initiative, Calibra.
•Former President of Product & Business at Planet Labs
•Served as VP of Product at Instagram
•Former SVP of Product at Twitter
•Involved with The Nature Conservancy
•Appointed to board of directors for Cisco (May 12, 2025)
•Operator in Residence at Scribble Ventures
•Serves on the board of Strava
•Serves on the board of Black Product Managers Network
•Previously worked for Cooliris
•Previously worked for Tropos Networks
•Previously worked for Microsoft Research
•Previously worked for the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
Former PayPal/PayPal Mafia, Palantir/Palantir Mafia & OpenAI engineer and one of the recently commissioned U.S. Army Reserve Detachment 201 lieutenant colonels.
Education
•Stanford University (BA)
Jew
•
Zionized
•
Occupation
•Advisor for Thinking Machines
•USAR Detachment 201 lieutenant colonel
Known for
•Worked as an intern at PayPal
•Worked as an engineer at Palantir
•Worked at OpenAI
1997-2001
•Bob McGrew attended Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science.
2001-2002
•After graduating, Bob joined PayPal as a cryptography engineer.
2003-2016
•Bob joined Palantir Technologies as one of the early employees, becoming the second engineer at the company. His work focused on developing software solutions for the intelligence community, which laid the groundwork for Palantir's future success. Over the next decade, Bob played a crucial role in building and shipping Palantir's first products. His leadership in engineering helped the company grow and adapt to the needs of its clients, particularly in defense and intelligence sectors.
2016
•Bob joined OpenAI part-time, where he was involved in groundbreaking research projects. One of the notable projects during this time was developing AI systems capable of playing complex games like Dota 2, which showcased the potential of AI in strategic thinking and problem-solving.
2017
•Bob transitioned to a full-time role at OpenAI, where he quickly made an impact. His contributions were instrumental in the development of various AI models, including the GPT series.
2018
•Bob was promoted to Vice President of Research, where he oversaw significant advancements in AI, including the development of GPT-3 and GPT-4. His leadership was pivotal in addressing challenges related to biases in AI responses and exploring the future of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence).
2018-2023
•Bob served as Chief Research Officer at OpenAI, where he continued to lead innovative projects. His work included overseeing the DALL-E project and addressing the complexities of AI integration into everyday applications.
2023
•Bob announced his departure from OpenAI, reflecting on his eight-year journey with the organization. He expressed gratitude for the experiences and the evolution of OpenAI from a small nonprofit to a leading research and deployment company in AI.
2024
•Following his exit from OpenAI, Bob joined the U.S. Army's Detachment 201 as a Lieutenant Colonel, where he was tasked with leading innovation initiatives within the military. This role allowed him to leverage his tech expertise to address complex challenges in defense.
2025
•As of now, Bob is actively involved in various AI startups, contributing to the burgeoning landscape of AI innovation. His experience at OpenAI has positioned him as a key figure in the industry, reminiscent of the "PayPal mafia" phenomenon, where former employees leverage their expertise to create competitive ventures.
Nigerian-American computer & electrical engineer, author, CTO & Executive VP of Palantir/Palantir Mafia and one of the recently commissioned U.S. Army Reserve Detachment 201 lieutenant colonels.
Education
•Cornell University (BA)
•Stanford University (MS)
Occupation
•Chief Technology Officer & Executive Vice President of Palantir Technologies
•Chairman of Gingko Bioworks
Known for
•Joining Palantir as employee #13
•Routinely leads strategic sessions with elected officials
•Has appeared before the House Select Committee and the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity
•Frequent guest on CNBC
•His work has been featured in numerous publications, including American Affairs, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post
•Launched the First Breakfast Initiative (2023)
•Appeared on podcast This Week in Startups and The Arsenal of Democracy
•Named as one of The Top 7 people in Defense Tech (2024)
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