David Jeans (@DavidJeans2) / X

David Jeans

1,478 posts

David Jeans

@DavidJeans2

Reporter @Reuters covering defense, space and Silicon Valley. Co-author of WONDER BOY: shorturl.at/bjKMS [email protected]

New York, NY

Joined July 2011

Pinned
David Jeans
@DavidJeans2
Apr 23, 2024
The WONDER BOY paperback is here! We're excited to share the story of Zappos leader Tony Hsieh, whose rise and fall told the quintessential Silicon Valley tragedy. "Mandatory reading for anyone who is interested in big tech" - New Yorker On sale here: amazon.com/Wonder-Boy-Zap…
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David Jeans
@DavidJeans2
Apr 22, 2024
NEW: They pump iron, chew nicotine and build weapons. Beloved by a16z investors and inspired by Palmer Luckey, they call themselves the Gundo bros, "unapologetic" Americans building defense tech companies in LA. w/ @SarahNEmerson forbes.com/sites/davidjea…
410K
David Jeans
@DavidJeans2
Aug 20, 2024
New: 8VC, the VC firm that backs defense contractors like Palantir and Anduril, employs 2 children of sanctioned Russian oligarchs — highlighting foreign ties to Silicon Valley. 8VC's Joe Lonsdale says it has a "strict compliance and legal framework."
A Major U.S. Defense Investor Has Links To Sanctioned Russian Oligarchs
From forbes.com
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David Jeans
@DavidJeans2
Feb 24, 2024
Exclusive: Rep. Mike Gallagher sent a letter to Elon Musk today claiming that SpaceX and StarShield are withholding internet access to US troops in Taiwan — and could be in breach of its “contractual obligations with the U.S. government.” forbes.com/sites/davidjea…
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David Jeans
@DavidJeans2
Jul 20, 2022
Chris Kirchner lives like a billionaire CEO: mansions, a private jet, a Ferrari Superfast, and a bid to buy English football team Derby County. But the glitzy facade has crumbled recently amid mounting lawsuits and claims of "fraudulent behavior."
Golf Tournaments, A Private Jet And A Red Ferrari: A Tech CEO Lived Large While His Employees Went...
From forbes.com
David Jeans
@DavidJeans2
Feb 10, 2025
New: El Segundo is getting its own military tech accelerator, with eyes on Y Combinator. a16z, Point72, Lux + others have backed a stream of companies emerging from Disciplus Ventures in the past year (it's led by a 21-yo who has raised his own fund)
Silicon Valley’s ‘Gundo’ Bros Are Building A Y Combinator For Military Tech
From forbes.com
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David Jeans
@DavidJeans2
Jul 20, 2020
Last month a startup called Scalefactor approached me with an exclusive: its CEO would tell @Forbes how Covid-19 had killed its business, despite raising $100M in 12 months. It was a convenient explanation for a company with much bigger issues.
ScaleFactor Raised $100 Million In A Year Then Blamed Covid-19 For Its Demise. Employees Say It Had...
From forbes.com
David Jeans
@DavidJeans2
Dec 4, 2020
Over the summer, the singer Jewel went to visit Tony Hsieh, the visionary business leader and CEO of Zappos, in Utah. What she saw unsettled her, and she wrote him a letter: “I need to tell you that I don’t think you are well and in your right mind." forbes.com/sites/angelauy…
David Jeans
@DavidJeans2
Jul 21, 2023
Binance had fled Malta and failed to set up in the U.K. when it set up a $7B payments business in Lithuania. Now its leading executives are being accused of fraud. forbes.com/sites/davidjea…
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David Jeans
@DavidJeans2
Jul 21, 2025
Update: Excited to share that I've joined Reuters as a space and defense correspondent. I'll be reporting on weapons, national security and Silicon Valley, focusing on major arms, space companies, and venture-backed startups. Send tips / say hi: [email protected]
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David Jeans
@DavidJeans2
Apr 16, 2025
New- Pentagon leaders are calling for thousands of drones to face China. But they face an uncomfortable reality: Silicon Valley drone companies rely on Chinese components.
Silicon Valley’s Military Drone Companies Have A Serious ‘Made In China’ Problem
From forbes.com
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David Jeans
@DavidJeans2
Jul 25, 2022
Chris Kirchner has been suspended as CEO of Goldman Sachs-backed tech startup Slync. It follows a @Forbes report last week that detailed claims he provided inflated revenue figures to the board. forbes.com/sites/davidjea…
David Jeans
@DavidJeans2
Jan 6, 2025
New: VC firm 1789 Capital — where Donald Trump Jr is a partner — made its first defense tech bet, and will lead a $60M series C funding round in 3D-printed rockets startup Firehawk.
VC Firm Tied To Trump Jr. Leads New Defense Investment In 3D-Printed Rocket Propellant Startup
From forbes.com
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David Jeans
@DavidJeans2
Sep 11, 2020
Exclusive: Just months after raising $100M, a startup that says it prevents fraud all-but-shuts down amid an SEC fraud investigation. forbes.com/sites/davidjea…