Stanford Seminar - Silicon Valley & The U.S. Government: Lockheed Martin Ventures’ Chris Moran

Chris Moran, Executive Director and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures, discusses corporate venture capital, Lockheed's investment strategies, and navigating disruption in the defense industry. Lockheed Martin Ventures focuses on technologies aligned with the Department of Defense's critical tech areas, aiming to integrate venture companies into Lockheed's long-range plans. Moran emphasizes the importance of constant communication with business units to ensure relevance and alignment, using metrics like purchase order tracking to measure success. Examples like Firestorm, a modular drone company, and Terran Orbital, a small satellite manufacturer, illustrate investments made ahead of market realization and in response to evolving defense needs. Moran advises founders to thoroughly interview potential investors, especially corporate ones, to ensure strategic alignment.