Op-ed: Why Hadrian’s Move to Arizona Is Bigger for Startups Than TSMC

A defense tech rocket ship backed by top VCs is planting roots in Mesa—and that matters more than you think.

In this video, I break down why Hadrian’s expansion to Mesa is a massive win for our ecosystem—arguably more relevant to founders than even the $65B+ TSMC investment.

Hadrian isn’t just another defense contractor. They’re a rocket ship startup building parts for rockets, satellites, and submarines—backed by Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, and Lux Capital. And now they’re putting their largest site in Arizona.

This move doesn’t just bring jobs and capital. It brings energy. It brings elite engineers, operator DNA, and people who’ve seen hypergrowth from the inside. These are the people who start new companies, fund new ventures, and show up to community events.

TSMC is great for Arizona’s economy. But Hadrian? Hadrian is great for our startup culture.

Let’s talk about why this could be a turning point. Watch the video below:

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