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How Silicon Valley’s “Warlord” Steven Simoni Took AI Weapons From Meme to Military Contracts

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At a film premiere in New York’s East Village, tech entrepreneur Steven Simoni, dressed in a designer Celine tracksuit and wearing a silver chain, laughed as he introduced himself:

“I’m a warlord now, bitch.”

The remark, half-joking and half-serious, summed up Simoni’s latest transformation — from Silicon Valley startup founder to defense-tech provocateur.

Simoni, who once sold his QR-code payment company Bbot to DoorDash for $125 million, is now co-founder of Allen Control Systems, a startup that builds AI-powered autonomous machine guns designed to shoot drones out of the sky. Its flagship product, called the Bullfrog, combines advanced targeting systems with AI algorithms capable of identifying and destroying unmanned aerial vehicles.

“The future is basically Skynet,” Simoni quipped, referencing the self-aware AI from The Terminator. “I want to supply those products to the government so they can use them.”

The 39-year-old Navy veteran has raised $40 million for his new venture — including a round led by Craft Ventures, the firm co-founded by David Sacks, now the Trump administration’s AI czar. Allen Control Systems has also secured prototype testing contracts with the U.S. Army and Special Operations Forces, marking a dramatic pivot from Simoni’s previous life in hospitality tech.

A Silicon Valley Shift Toward War Tech

Simoni is part of a growing movement in Silicon Valley where entrepreneurs and venture capitalists are redirecting their focus from consumer apps to military technology. Inspired by companies like Anduril (founded by Oculus creator Palmer Luckey) and Palantir, this new generation of startups is developing autonomous defense systems, drone swarms, and battlefield AI for the Pentagon.

“I hate war, but war is always going to happen anyway,” Simoni said. “So, someone’s going to make this product at some point.”

He has embraced the “warlord” persona, using it as both satire and branding. His brash approach has earned him appearances on Fox News, invitations to defense summits, and meetings with high-ranking military officials.

During a podcast episode of The Drone Ultimatum, General James Rainey, head of Army Futures Command, said the Pentagon is working to “get fiscal agility to go out to great U.S. tech companies” like Simoni’s and put technology in the hands of warfighters faster.

The U.S. Army confirmed it is in the process of awarding Allen Control Systems a contract to evaluate whether the Bullfrog can integrate with existing Army platforms.

From QR Codes to Combat

Simoni and co-founder Luke Allen met in the U.S. Navy while working on nuclear reactors. After several failed startups, they found success in hospitality tech, creating a QR ordering platform that exploded in popularity during the pandemic. But when Russia invaded Ukraine shortly after selling Bbot, they turned their engineering focus to defense.

Allen began prototyping the Bullfrog in 2023, while Simoni provided funding and eventually took over as CEO. “Every company needs a front man,” Simoni said.

Their product — a turret-mounted AI gun priced around $350,000 — can rotate 400 degrees in under a second. In demos, it has successfully shot drones from the sky, though occasional malfunctions persist. “It’s in its post-adolescent stage,” Simoni joked.

Prototype units bear playful names like Eminem and Bob Ross, and internal circuit boards are printed with caricatures of Simoni and Allen. “If Russia or China recover one of these, they’ll see our faces,” Simoni said. “We’re laughing at them.”

Politics, Parties, and Pentagon Access

Simoni has leveraged both charisma and connections. He has hosted fundraisers for Republican lawmakers and appeared alongside influential figures at Executive Branch, the elite private club founded by Donald Trump Jr., which caters to defense investors and political insiders.

His relationships with venture capitalists like Sacks have also brought him close to the heart of Washington’s defense-tech network. “The generals love me,” Simoni said after attending karaoke nights with military officials.

But not everyone is impressed. Critics within the tech community have mocked his transition from software to AI-powered weaponry. One software engineer publicly rejected his recruitment email with the caption:

“Imagine selling a $125M startup and deciding building AI guns is your life mission.”

Simoni responded by posting a photo of himself wearing a T-shirt printed with her post, grinning. “I don’t have to imagine it,” he wrote.

The Next Arms Dealer?

Allen Control Systems is already expanding its portfolio, developing laser dazzlers to blind drones and an aerial system called Scourge. Simoni plans to take the company public via a SPAC merger as early as 2025, betting that retail investors will embrace a “real-life Terminator company.”

“Whenever I go on Fox News, my inbox is filled with thousands of messages: What’s the ticker?” Simoni said.

Whether Silicon Valley’s new “warlord” becomes the next Palmer Luckey or the next cautionary tale depends on how fast he can turn hype into battlefield-ready hardware.

As one defense anthropologist put it:

“When it comes to weapons systems, failure isn’t just a bad demo — it can be catastrophic.”

China’s Satellite Megaprojects Challenge Elon Musk’s Starlink

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China is aggressively pursuing satellite megaprojects to rival SpaceX’s Starlink, which has already established a formidable presence in low Earth orbit (LEO) with nearly 7,000 satellites. Starlink provides high-speed internet to millions in remote and underserved regions, with plans to expand its constellation to 42,000 satellites. However, China is aiming to launch a similar-scale network with around 38,000 satellites through its Qianfan, Guo Wang, and Honghu-3 projects.

While companies like Eutelsat OneWeb and Amazon’s Project Kuiper are also entering the satellite internet arena, China’s interest in these megaconstellations goes beyond just competition. Experts believe China’s motivations are partly driven by concerns over the potential influence of Starlink’s uncensored internet service, especially in regions under its geopolitical influence.

Steve Feldstein, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, suggests that Starlink could undermine China’s strict internet censorship policies by providing uncensored access to websites and apps. As a result, China views this satellite-based connectivity as a potential threat to its control over information within its borders and in allied countries. To counter this, China is investing in its own satellite network that could offer a censored alternative to Starlink.

Blaine Curcio, founder of Orbital Gateway Consulting, adds that China’s satellite service could appeal to countries interested in a more controlled internet experience. While China may not prioritize Western markets like the U.S. or Europe, it sees opportunities in regions where Starlink has limited coverage, including Russia, Afghanistan, Syria, and parts of Africa.

In Africa, where Huawei already plays a dominant role in 4G infrastructure, China’s satellite service could further strengthen its influence. The Chinese satellite constellation might be seen as an extension of its technological and geopolitical presence, especially in regions where internet access is limited or censored.

National security is another crucial factor behind China’s satellite ambitions. Starlink’s role in providing satellite-based communication for military purposes, particularly in conflict zones like Ukraine, has demonstrated the strategic value of satellite internet. The ability to maintain internet connectivity during war, especially for military operations such as drone warfare, makes satellite constellations a key component of national security. China recognizes this, making its satellite internet projects a strategic necessity.

In conclusion, while China’s satellite services may not directly compete with Starlink in Western markets, they represent a significant geopolitical and security challenge. As China expands its satellite capabilities, it will likely target regions where Starlink has limited coverage, furthering its influence and maintaining control over digital infrastructures.

 

1,000 Days of War in Ukraine Spurs Unprecedented Automation Boom

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Battlefield Challenges Drive Technological Innovation

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its 1,000th day, the conflict has evolved into a “war of robots,” with both sides heavily investing in automation, drones, and artificial intelligence to reduce human risk and increase battlefield efficiency.

The turning point came after Ukraine’s summer 2023 counteroffensive struggled against Russia’s extensive drone operations, fortified positions, and landmines. This spurred a surge in demand for advanced technologies like drone signal jammers and unmanned systems.

  • Drone Production: Ukraine and Russia are on track to produce approximately 1.5 million drones each in 2024. These are mostly low-cost, first-person-view drones used for reconnaissance and direct attacks.
  • Electronic Warfare (EW): Ukrainian companies, including startups like Unwave, now manufacture thousands of systems monthly to disrupt drone communications and counter Russian aerial dominance.

Shift Toward Automation

The exhaustion of human resources has pushed both Ukraine and Russia to rely increasingly on unmanned systems. Ukrainian innovation is leading the charge:

  • Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs): Over 160 Ukrainian firms now produce UGVs for supply delivery, casualty evacuation, and remote combat.
  • Automated Weapons: Frontline units are employing remotely operated machine guns, allowing operators to strike from safer, remote locations.
  • AI and Remote Warfare: Automation and AI integration are becoming central to Ukraine’s defense strategy. Herman Smetanin, Ukraine’s arms minister, described this shift as the foundation for a future “war of robots.”

Economic and Industrial Transformation

Ukraine’s defense sector has undergone rapid expansion, with over 800 companies—mostly founded post-2022—emerging to meet wartime demands.

  • Investment and Growth: The government has poured $1.5 billion into upgrading defense manufacturing, growing the sector’s capacity from $1 billion in 2022 to $20 billion in 2024.
  • Challenges: Despite this growth, Ukraine can afford to utilize only half of its defense manufacturing output due to funding constraints. Additionally, strict profit margin limits, insufficient long-term procurement contracts, and a ban on arms exports hinder further expansion.

The Future of Warfare and Defense

As automation reshapes the battlefield, Ukraine hopes its defense innovations will fuel economic recovery post-conflict. However, significant challenges remain:

  • Workforce Shortages: A lack of qualified staff has led some companies to consider relocating operations abroad.
  • Export Restrictions: Wartime bans on arms exports prevent companies from generating capital, despite growing international demand.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has acknowledged these issues and promised reforms to address industry concerns.

Conclusion

The war in Ukraine has become a proving ground for rapid technological advancement, with automation and drones playing pivotal roles. While these innovations protect lives and enhance combat capabilities, they also highlight the evolving nature of modern warfare, where machines increasingly replace humans on the frontlines.