Autonomous weapons, decentralized strategy, and startup speed — this isn’t the future of defense, it’s the now. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Ethan Thornton, CEO and founder of Mach Industries, steps onto the AI Stageto talk about how next-gen defense is being built from the ground up with AI at its core.
Inside the AI arms race — and the founder aiming to rewrite it
Ethan Thornton isn’t your typical defense industry leader. As the CEO and founder of Mach Industries, he launched the company out of MIT in 2023 with a bold mission: to build decentralized, next-generation defense technologies that can safeguard freedom on a global scale.
Now leading one of the most ambitious startups in the space, Thornton is bringing a fresh perspective to an industry dominated by legacy players. His work blends frontier hardware, software, and autonomy to rethink how nations defend themselves in a rapidly changing world.
From startup lab to battlefield impact
Mach Industries is part of a new wave of companies proving that AI-native startups can play a critical role in national defense. This session will unpack what that means in practice — from autonomous systems and edge computing to dual-use technologies that blur the lines between commercial innovation and military capability.
Hear from Thornton on navigating funding, regulation, and responsibility at the intersection of tech and geopolitics.
AI isn’t just powering chatbots — it’s redefining global power
With global tensions rising and investment in defense tech accelerating, this conversation offers an urgent and timely look at how artificial intelligence is reshaping security, strategy, and sovereignty. Register now to save up to $675before prices go up next week, and be in the room with 10,000+ startup and VC leaders shaping the next era of innovation.