8VC closes $1.5B fund to back AI startups in defense, healthcare and industrial sectors

Joe Lonsdale’s venture capital firm 8VC has closed a new $1.5 billion fund aimed at backing AI-focused startups working in defense, healthcare and industrial modernization.

The vehicle will concentrate on companies applying artificial intelligence to complex, regulated and infrastructure-heavy markets, where incumbents are often slow to adopt new technology. That includes defense tech platforms, medical and biotech tooling, and software for manufacturing and logistics.

The close adds to a growing pool of AI-dedicated capital as institutional investors continue to back managers with a specific thesis around machine learning and automation, even as broader venture fundraising remains challenging.

8VC has been an active investor across frontier and enterprise technology, and the new fund signals an intent to deepen its exposure to startups that pair AI with physical-world and mission-critical applications.