From zero to one, building technologies that matter
We invest in
founders
transforming foundational industries
Atalanta
Provably correct engineering for critical industries
Plix
AI-enabled bodycams for workplace safety
Galadyne
Liquid propelled defense systems
Method Security
Cyber resilience to the U.S. Government and critical enterprises
Matter
American contract manufacturer powered by autonomous factories
Senra Systems
Software-powered wire harness manufacturing
Chariot Defense
Energy systems for the battlefield
Northwood Space
Modern space infrastructure company connecting space and Earth
Radiant
Portable nuclear microreactors
Mariana Minerals
Software-first, vertically integrated minerals company
Standard Nuclear
Fueling America’s nuclear renaissance at industrial scale
Arbor
Advanced energy systems for clean, baseload power
Aalo
Mass manufactured nuclear plants
Cape
America's privacy-first mobile carrier
Nominal
Execute tests, analyze results in real time, collaborate across disciplines
Astro Mechanica
Supersonics for the new Jet Age
CX2
Autonomous drones for distributed electronic warfare
Throughout history, the concept of global stability has been defined by the dominance of leading powers through periods of "Pax". From Pax Romana, where Roman might forged centuries of peace, to Pax Britannica, when British naval and industrial supremacy shaped the world, and most recently, Pax Americana, the post-WWII era defined by U.S. military, diplomatic, and economic dominance.
However, an increasingly competitive multi-polar world is eroding Pax Americana, demanding the question: who will lead the next phase of global stability and prosperity, and how?
In the past few decades investors prioritized bits over atoms, yielding extraordinary leaps in communication and computation, but at the cost of resilient supply chains, energy abundance, military superiority, infrastructure, and critical technologies.
We believe the next phase of global leadership will be rooted in technical superiority of the physical world.
At Pax, we call this coming future the Pax Technica.
“We are still in the earliest stages, the beginning of the first act, of a revolution that will play out over years and decades.”
ceo palantir
Michelle Volz is the founder and Managing Partner of Pax VC. Previously, she was a partner on the American Dynamism team at Andreessen Horowitz, where she focused on the intersection of software and hardware and areas where government has a major role, such as defense, aerospace, energy, and our industrial supply base.
Michelle started her career at Palantir working on the government product and went on to work at several venture-backed startups across cybersecurity, real-estate tech, and dual use-technology in roles ranging from managing security programs to running a product team.
Michelle received an MBA from MIT Sloan where she co-founded the Defense Technology Club and worked with the Defense Innovation Unit, and a BS from the University of Minnesota, where she ran NCAA D1 cross country and track.
In her free time, she does marathons and ultramarathons and has completed a marathon on all 7 continents.