I wish someone had told me sooner that it’s okay to chart a non-linear path—and that hybrid expertise is a strength, not a detour.
For years, Ally LaTourelle Whitney operated in spaces that didn’t quite “fit” together: law, investment, government and science. But over time, she realised that the ability to translate across silos—legal, technical, financial and political—was not just useful, but essential for unlocking capital and influence for emerging industries.
Today, Ally is the Founder of the Government Affairs Accelerator and sits on the Advisory Board for AI Infrastructure at America 2030, a $50 million growth-stage fund launched by IPO CLUB. Its investment thesis is bold and sharply relevant: backing late-stage companies developing dual-use technologies across defence, climate, AI and infrastructure—particularly those strengthening national security while advancing environmental resilience.
Early in her career, Ally recognised that innovative technologies often struggled not because they lacked technical merit, but because they couldn’t access the right capital or navigate complex regulatory landscapes.
I wanted to bridge that gap—leveraging public policy and strategic finance to accelerate climate solutions and help transformative ideas scale in real-world markets.
Is defence spending beginning to pull capital away from climate tech?
Green techpreneurs are now building against a backdrop of global rearmament. In 2023, the U.S. passed a record-setting $858 billion defence budget. Germany pledged €500 billion to overhaul its military and infrastructure. Japan approved the largest defence budget in its postwar history. Meanwhile, NATO members are collectively increasing spending, with many redirecting industrial capacity toward security and technological sovereignty.
That has raised alarms in climate circles. Are investors pivoting from green to guns? Is defence sucking oxygen—and capital—out of climate tech?
Ally doesn’t buy the zero-sum thinking.
While defence tech is gaining momentum, I don’t believe it’s cannibalising climate tech funding. What we’re seeing is more of a diversification of portfolios, not full redirection.
In fact, she believes that many dual-use technologies born from defence R&D—such as advanced battery systems, energy-efficient power storage, lightweight biobased materials and biofuels—have clear applications in climate tech and could reach commercial scale faster through government defence demand.
Lightweight composites, autonomous systems, low-emission fuels—these aren’t just military technologies. They’re also the building blocks of sustainable infrastructure.
Do you think we will see a redirection of funds from climate to defence?
Ally believes the two sectors can coexist.
Defence technologies are increasingly lighter, electric, reusable and dual-use when compared with legacy systems. Many defence innovations now overlap directly with climate-positive outcomes.
She points to field-deployable solar panels and autonomous drones designed to reduce fuel-heavy operations as examples of technologies that are defence-first but climate-supportive.
There’s also growing awareness that national security now includes climate resilience, energy efficiency, biobased materials, drone technologies for medical transport and even wounded warrior retrieval.
We’re seeing convergence, not competition.
What role do climate tech investors have in ensuring momentum isn’t lost?
Even if defence comes first on many political agendas right now, Ally believes climate tech investors have a responsibility to stay engaged and continue framing climate as both a national and global security issue.
She also believes investors can advocate for policies that encourage dual-benefit technologies while backing startups bridging both sectors—such as energy efficiency tools, advanced materials and clean mobility. The investment thesis at America 2030 allows investors to diversify portfolios into these dual-use technologies.
Some companies currently within the fund’s broader pipeline include:
- Base Power — grid modernisation for renewables
- Form Energy — multi-day energy storage systems
- Redwood Materials — battery circular economy
- Radiant — small nuclear reactors
Could the shift toward defence indirectly benefit climate tech?
Defence investments in lightweight composites and durable energy storage could accelerate breakthroughs in grid resilience, clean transportation and sustainable infrastructure.
As defence technology becomes increasingly sustainability-conscious, climate considerations are also gaining legitimacy within historically conservative procurement systems.
Are investors beginning to prioritise sustainability alongside national security?
Ally says a new generation of investors no longer sees sustainability and security as separate categories.
Investors are now thinking more holistically—about how technology reduces global conflict risk, resource dependence and geopolitical instability.
This is helping fuel interest in what some are calling “peace tech.”
What policy trends are driving this shift?
The war in Ukraine, supply chain vulnerabilities and growing emphasis on technological sovereignty have accelerated defence funding across the U.S., Europe and Asia. At the same time, governments are introducing greener mandates across military logistics, infrastructure and procurement. These dual pressures are steadily pulling the sectors closer together.
What are the long-term implications for climate tech startups?
Startups may increasingly need to demonstrate cross-sector relevance. Being green alone may not be enough. Climate technologies have always needed to compete on cost and performance to achieve widespread adoption.
Companies aligned with energy security, infrastructure resilience or sovereign innovation may be better positioned for future funding rounds. Ally also believes there’s room to reposition some climate solutions as contributors to strategic stability—not just environmentalism.
How should climate founders position themselves in this environment?
Ally advises founders to map their technologies against defence-adjacent applications such as remote energy access, reduced material logistics and intelligence support. Engaging with organisations such as DARPA, NATO’s DIANA initiative or dual-use accelerator programmes could create unexpected opportunities.
She highlights growing momentum around energy-efficient infrastructure, low-footprint data centres, sustainable supply chains, autonomous systems, advanced materials and energy storage. One company America 2030 is currently tracking is Crusoe, which captures waste gas from oil fields and converts it into energy for data centres—reducing emissions while supporting edge computing applications.
Are institutional investors behaving differently from venture investors?
Institutional investors tend to follow broader macro trends and have generally been slower—but more consistent—in climate funding.
Early-stage venture investors, meanwhile, are often more reactive to hype cycles, some of which have recently shifted toward defence. However, Ally believes institutional capital is increasingly recognising climate security as a long-term investment thesis.
Which climate sub-sectors are most vulnerable?
Pure-play consumer green technologies could feel pressure, especially if they lack connections to resilience or infrastructure. Capital-intensive businesses with weak monetisation models may also struggle in the current environment.
What’s your advice to climate startups fundraising today?
Ally encourages founders to reframe their pitch around strategic value.
Can your technology reduce dependency on foreign materials? Can it operate off-grid or under extreme conditions? Think about resilience, not just reduction.
She also encourages founders to build relationships beyond traditional venture capital—particularly with public-private partnerships, defence innovation hubs and strategic corporates.
What types of startups are you looking to hear from?
America 2030 is particularly interested in climate technologies addressing energy security, local electricity generation, transmission and storage, as well as reduced dependence on rare commodities.
One major focus area is the decarbonisation of IT infrastructure, particularly power-efficient hardware for AI infrastructure and data centres. The fund primarily invests from Series B onward, though the team often begins tracking startups at seed stage.
Outside of work, what keeps you motivated?
Ally says she’s deeply motivated by the idea that society can build durable, advanced and energy-efficient systems that simultaneously address environmental issues while creating economic opportunity.
Outside of work, she finds inspiration in music and the natural world. Coming from an arts background, she says creativity helps her think expansively about innovation. She’s also passionate about coaching young women leaders across multiple sectors.
