Jonathan Slater, MBA (HBS)

Aerospace and defence are moving faster than ever. From AI autonomy to hypersonic aircraft that can outrun today’s defences, the technology shaping the future is here now. Proud to work with leaders in this space, including Hypersonix Launch Systems Ltd, and share our latest North Ridge Partners Tech Round-Up.

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Rare Earth Elements: How Ramaco and M2i Global Aim to End U.S. Reliance on China -( $METC $MTWO ) https://lnkd.in/gtrzR7bG The U.S. rare earth and critical minerals sector is rapidly transforming, led by Ramaco’s Brook Mine in Wyoming and M2i Global’s sustainability initiatives. #RareEarth #CriticalMinerals #Ramaco #M2iGlobal #BrookMine #METC #MTWO #USMining #CleanEnergy #SupplyChain #NationalSecurity #MagnetMetals #GreenTech #Innovation #SustainableMining #StrategicStockpile #Wyoming #China #IndustrialPolicy #AmericanManufacturing #TechLeadership #EnergyIndependence #DefenseSupplyChain #ResourceSecurity #MineRemediation #AdvancedMaterials #BatteryMetals #Semiconductors #CircularEconomy. These developments underscore a strategic push to boost U.S. production, secure domestic supply chains, and reduce reliance on China, with a spotlight on responsible extraction, state-of-the-art recycling, and the creation of a national mineral reserve.

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Excited to share that Alpine Vertical will be attending the upcoming Washington Aviation Conference, February 21-22, 2026, and is looking forward to connecting with institutional and strategic aviation investors. Alpine Vertical is raising $20MM of equity to scale production of THE ARGON, a hybrid VTOL aircraft designed for near-term commercialization — not a 2035 air taxi concept. - Hybrid hVTOL platform leveraging an existing certified aircraft base - Experimental Amateur-Built pathway enabling accelerated time-to-revenue (2026–2028 kit sales) - Targeting high-utility, cash-pay segments: EMS, pilot training, rural access, private owners - 605 lb useful load | 330 NM range | 140 mph cruise - Path to Part 23 / Part 135 engagement post-revenue - Projected profitability by 2028 based on phased commercialization plan* While much of the capital in the space is pursuing long-duration air taxi models, Alpine is focused on a capital-efficient, revenue-first strategy with defensible IP and experienced aerospace leadership. If you are an institutional investor, aviation OEM, defense contractor, or strategic partner evaluating scalable VTOL platforms, DM Stephen Tibbitts to schedule time during the conference. Limited meeting availability. More information here: https://lnkd.in/envSExmd See comments for important risk disclosures.   #VTOL #aerospace #castleplacement #privateequity

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We are initiating coverage of Varda Space Industries for the America2030 Portfolio at IPO CLUB, strategically focused on investments in Space and Dual-Use technology innovation. Investment Thesis: Varda operates at the forefront of in-space manufacturing, a paradigm-shifting sector set to unlock new commercial possibilities and optimize the production of high-value materials that cannot be manufactured on Earth. By leveraging microgravity environments, Varda aims to deliver products with superior properties for pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and advanced materials industries, while also catering to the unique requirements of defense and government stakeholders. Key Drivers: • Emerging Markets: Rapidly growing interest in microgravity-enabled products, with increasing demand from both commercial and defense sectors. • First Mover Advantage: Proprietary return-to-Earth capabilities position Varda as an early leader in the commercialization of in-space manufacturing. • Dual-Use Readiness: Technologies developed are inherently dual-use, appealing to both private sector innovators and government agencies seeking strategic materials and manufacturing capacities. Risks & Considerations: The in-space manufacturing industry is still in its formative stages, with considerable technological, regulatory, and market adoption risks. Successful execution of return missions and long-term contract acquisition will be pivotal for Varda’s growth trajectory. We see Varda as a high-potential addition to our America 2030 Portfolio, reflecting our conviction in Space and Dual-Use technologies as next-generation growth engines. Latest Update: Varda - In June 2025, Varda launched its fourth W-series mission, debuting its fully in-house satellite bus, heat shield, and a solution-based pharmaceutical processing module—all developed at its El Segundo HQ. This flight marked the first commercial missions under its new FAA re-entry vehicle operator license (Part 450), granting re-entry permissions through 2029.  In July 2025, Varda secured $187 million in Series C funding, led by Natural Capital andShrug Capitall with participation fromFounders Fundd, Peter Thiel,Khosla Venturess,Lux Capitall,Caffeinated Capitall, andAlso Capitall—bringing total funding to approximately $329 million. This round will accelerate its flight cadence and build out expanded pharmaceutical labs, including a 10,000 sq ft facility in El Segundo staffed with structural biologists and crystallization scientists. More on the deal 👉 www.ipo.club/deals/varda #InvestmentResearch #IPOClub #America2030 #SpaceTech #InSpaceManufacturing #DualUse #Innovation

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I had the pleasure of attending the NACD New England Chapter event on September 17 in Boston, “Leading Minds of Governance & Tech” for Board members. A big thank you to Ellen Richstone and the organizers for putting together such an insightful event. The CEO panel featured incredible perspectives from CEOs like Tamara Lundgren from Radius Recycling, Sean Keohane from Cabot Corporation, Greg Smith from Teradyne, and Gary Cohen from iRobot. The discussions were rich and thought-provoking. Corporations must be nimble and think long term but be prepared to react promptly in a high frequency environment. Routine jobs are at risk. People are excited about Ai to replace someone else’s job.  Discussion of "New Collar jobs". As manufacturing jobs try to make a comeback in the US, many of them are going to be New Collar Jobs instead of the traditional blue-collar jobs. US companies will have to be competitive with their cost structure, so the New Collar Jobs will be created in reimagined manufacturing settings.  New-collar jobs will require advanced technical and soft skills for emerging tech fields like AI, cloud computing, and data science, but do not always necessitate a four-year degree. These roles combine the hands-on approach of blue-collar work with the higher earning potential and stability of white-collar jobs, emphasizing practical training, apprenticeships, certifications, and continuous upskilling rather than traditional degrees. The concept of new collar jobs, mentioned by the panel, was coined by former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty, based on the rise of new technologies like AI, cloud computing, and data science, which create jobs demanding different skill sets.  There was another great panel discussion moderated by Ellen Richstone on the Governance Expert Panel consisting of Robyn Bew  Richard J. Bannister, Jr. Elyssa (Emsellem) Kutner and Matt Talcoff  Key takeaways from the panel – is your company ready for new international trade; Boards need to be agile to manage the human capital and technology tradeoff. Boards should be prepared to consider more scenarios (short and longer term) to manage their risks. Many institutional investors are getting quiet about what they expect from companies especially in the context of ESG. The 2026 proxy season will be quite different  Also a great discussion between Rich Lesser from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Richard Fields from Russell Reynolds Associates. Boards should be factoring Ai, geopolitics and resilience in their discussions.  The world is evolving from “Just in Time” to “Just in Case” Four steps for resilience: prepare, absorb, adapt and reimagine.  Deborah Rosenthal Larissa Ravetto Jim Dodge Sharon Rossi Bryan McCorry Ozge Kurtoglu  #Governance #TechLeadership #NewCollarJobs #AI #BoardMembers #CorporateAgility #ESG #Resilience #ContinuousLearning https://lnkd.in/eQhYT6vd

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We’re proud to have backed Vulcan Elements early in its mission to manufacture rare earth magnets in the U.S. 🇺🇸 This Series A is a major step toward full commercial production — securing a critical supply chain for one of the technologies that will define the 21st century. John Maslin, Piotr Kulik, Jake Bowles and the Vulcan team are exactly the right people for the job🚀, bringing experience from the U.S. military, SpaceX, Ursa Major, NASA, and the Department of Defense. They saw the rising demand for U.S.-made critical materials early — and the opportunity to produce them faster and cheaper through advanced manufacturing and next-generation automation. We’re excited to continue partnering  🤝 with Team Vulcan and to welcome Altimeter and One Investment Management for the next stage of the mission!

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