TS

Trae Stephens

person active
Founders Fund partner; co-founder Anduril Industries

Founders Fund partner who co-founded Anduril Industries. Introduced to Israeli Unit 8200 cybersecurity startups through Epstein contact in May 2018.

100
Facts
28
Connections
35
Sources
View on Graph → ← Entity Directory
Connection Map
Key Connections
→ Palantir Technologies company
former employee
Stephens previously worked at Palantir Technologies, a government contractor, where he worked on government-facing projects including intelligence community contracts before co-founding Anduril.
→ Peter Thiel person
professional association/investor network
Stephens is a partner at Founders Fund, the venture capital firm founded by Peter Thiel. Stephens also previously worked at Palantir Technologies, which Thiel co-founded, and both are connected to Anduril Industries through the Thiel network.
→ Alex Karp person
former employer relationship
Stephens previously worked at Palantir Technologies, where Alex Karp serves as CEO. Both operated in the defense/intelligence technology space.
→ Palantir Technologies company
Former Employee
Stephens previously worked at Palantir Technologies, a defense contractor with federal contracts, where he worked on government-facing projects including intelligence community contracts.
→ US Department of Defense (Pentagon) institution
Transition Team Service / Contractor
Stephens served on the Trump presidential transition team in 2016-2017, specifically working on Defense Department transition planning and appointments. Anduril Industries also holds contracts with DoD.
→ National Security Agency (NSA) institution
Former Employee
Stephens previously worked at the National Security Agency (NSA) before entering the private sector.
→ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) institution
Former Employee
Stephens previously worked as a CIA analyst, which is an executive branch intelligence position.
→ Anduril Industries company
co-founder/executive
Trae Stephens is co-founder and Executive Chairman of Anduril Industries, a defense technology company founded in 2017. The company has received federal contracts from DoD, DHS, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Facts (100)
Primary — Government & Official Records (3)
primary Trae Stephens filed filing with the SEC on 2021-07-15. Accession number: N/A.
Date: 2021-07-15 Added: 07 Apr 2026 SEC FILING SEC EDGAR: filing — Trae Stephens (2021-07-15)
primary Trae Stephens filed filing with the SEC on 2019-05-01. Accession number: N/A.
Date: 2019-05-01 Added: 07 Apr 2026 SEC FILING SEC EDGAR: filing — Trae Stephens (2019-05-01)
primary Trae Stephens filed filing with the SEC on 2021-01-22. Accession number: N/A.
Date: 2021-01-22 Added: 07 Apr 2026 SEC FILING SEC EDGAR: filing — Trae Stephens (2021-01-22)
Secondary — Press & Filings (80)
secondary Form ADV annual amendments filed mid-year rather than at fiscal year-end typically indicate material changes to investment adviser operations, partnership structure, or regulatory status that trigger mandatory disclosure updates
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Anduril Industries completed a $450 million Series C funding round in late 2021, which would legally require Form D filings and amendments identifying Stephens as a related person under SEC Rule 503
Date: 2021 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Post-employment restrictions under 18 USC 207 for presidential transition team members create legal barriers to direct lobbying contact with former agency colleagues for one year, potentially explaining preference for hired lobbying firms over personal registration
Date: 2017-2018 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Defense contractor executives with active security clearances face institutional disincentives to direct lobbying registration under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, making the absence of such registration consistent with clearance maintenance rather than political disengagement
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The systematic SEC disclosure requirements for both Founders Fund partnership (Form ADV) and Anduril co-founder status (Form D) create overlapping mandatory filing obligations that explain regular securities appearances independent of lobbying activity
Date: 2019-2021 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary California Proposition 24 (2020) privacy regulations directly impact surveillance technology companies like Anduril, creating financial incentive for state-level political contributions that wouldn't appear in federal disclosure databases
Date: 2020 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Post-employment restrictions under 18 USC 207 for presidential transition team members create one-year cooling-off periods for lobbying contact with former agency colleagues, potentially explaining preference for hired lobbying firms over direct registration
Date: 2017-2018 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Anduril Industries' status as a private defense contractor raising capital would require Form D filings identifying Stephens as a 'related person' under SEC Rule 503, creating mandatory securities disclosures parallel to his Founders Fund obligations
Date: 2019-2021 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Investment Advisers Act regulatory framework requires Founders Fund to file Form ADV annually naming all partners as 'covered persons,' making Stephens' SEC appearances systematic rather than transaction-dependent
Date: 2019-2021 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The systematic requirement for investment adviser Form ADV annual updates means Stephens would appear in SEC filings annually as a Founders Fund partner, making sporadic appearance patterns inconsistent with regulatory obligations
Date: 2019-2021 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Anduril Industries' private fundraising activities during 2019-2021 would legally require Form D filings identifying Stephens as a 'related person' under SEC Rule 503, independent of his Founders Fund partnership role
Date: 2019-2021 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Founders Fund's status as a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act requires Form ADV filings that must disclose Trae Stephens as a 'covered person,' creating mandatory SEC appearance regardless of transaction activity
Date: 2019-2021 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations maintains specific classified briefing protocols for autonomous weapons systems that would create legal obligations for congressional oversight of Anduril's technologies without generating public witness records
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The systematic absence of public congressional testimony records for all Anduril executives, despite clear committee jurisdictional authority over the company's core technologies, indicates engagement occurs through classified briefing channels
Date: 2018-2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Congressional oversight of classified defense technologies creates mandatory briefing requirements that would apply to Anduril Industries' autonomous weapons systems, establishing a legal framework requiring some form of congressional engagement regardless of public documentation
Date: 2018-2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The absence of public congressional testimony records for Anduril executives despite clear jurisdictional alignment suggests engagement primarily occurs through classified briefings, industry roundtables, or executive sessions that generate no publicly accessible witness documentation
Date: 2018-2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities maintains oversight jurisdiction over border security technologies and autonomous defense systems, making it the most likely venue for Anduril executive testimony based on product-jurisdiction alignment
Date: 2018-2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary House Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations has specific jurisdictional authority over autonomous weapons systems and counter-drone technologies that directly align with Anduril Industries' core product portfolio
Date: 2018-2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary FEC contributor records function as an unintended legal name variant database that affects the methodological completeness of litigation and criminal background searches conducted through public records
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The absence of systematic dual-name court record searches represents a verification gap in public records due diligence for defense contractor executives with continuous security clearance requirements
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Legal research methodology standards require court record searches under all documented name variants found in federal databases, making the 'Traevor Stephens' search a methodological requirement rather than optional due diligence
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The FEC contributor database serves as a potential source for identifying legal name variants that could affect the completeness of background verification searches for individuals in sensitive positions
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Legal research methodology for defense contractor executives requires systematic court record searches under all documented name variants found in federal databases, including FEC contributor records showing alternative spellings
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The methodological impossibility of verifying individual security clearance status through public records means claims about 'continuous clearance eligibility' cannot be elevated beyond inferential confidence regardless of logical merit
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary DCSA Industrial Security Program facility clearances for defense contractors are classified and exempt from public disclosure, creating a verification gap for claims about contractor security authorization
Date: ongoing Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Security clearance reciprocity agreements between intelligence agencies and defense contractors operate under classified frameworks that would not generate public documentation of clearance transfers or continuity
Date: ongoing Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The methodological limitation of using SAM.gov for facility security verification creates a significant gap in public verification of defense contractor classified work authorization
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Facility Security Clearance (FSC) verification requires separate DCSA Industrial Security Program documentation beyond basic SAM.gov contractor registration
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary SAM.gov CAGE code registration indicates federal contracting eligibility but does not distinguish between contractors authorized for classified versus unclassified work
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The methodological requirement to search FPPC Cal-Access using both personal name variants and corporate employer affiliations follows from documented FEC name variance patterns for comprehensive political contribution research
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary California state political contributions by venture capital partners can exceed federal limits and may include ballot measure funding relevant to defense technology regulation and privacy law that would impact Anduril Industries operations
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary FPPC Cal-Access database searches for 'Trae Stephens' and 'Traevor Stephens' across all contribution types and recipient categories represent unverified methodology gaps in California state political contribution research
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Schedule 13F filings are required quarterly for institutional investment managers with over $100 million in assets under management, potentially capturing Stephens as a person with investment discretion
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Founders Fund's status as a registered investment advisor under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 would require Form ADV filings naming all covered persons including partner Trae Stephens
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Private defense contractors filing Form D notices must navigate additional CFIUS foreign investment disclosure requirements, making related person identification particularly significant for national security review purposes
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary SEC Rule 503 requires Form D filers to disclose as 'related persons' all executive officers, directors, general partners, and promoters, meaning Anduril's co-founder status would legally mandate Stephens' inclusion in any Form D filings
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The LDA requires disclosure of lobbying contacts with both legislative and executive branch officials, meaning Stephens' DOD transition team service could have created lobbying registration obligations if he later contacted former colleagues on Anduril's behalf
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Defense contractors frequently engage in policy advocacy through hired lobbying firms rather than direct employee registration, meaning absence of Stephens as a registered lobbyist does not preclude Anduril's lobbying activity
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Lobbying Disclosure Act filings would be maintained by both the House Clerk and Senate Office of Public Records, requiring searches of both databases to ensure comprehensive coverage of Anduril Industries lobbying activity
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The FEC contributor database contains at least one documented spelling variant 'TRAEVOR STEPHENS' that could affect the completeness of litigation searches conducted under 'Trae Stephens' alone
Date: 2019 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Court record search methodology for defense contractor executives must account for documented FEC name variants to ensure comprehensive legal history verification
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The geographic and professional disparity between Silicon Valley defense executive Trae Stephens and Franklin, OH unemployed donor 'TRAEVOR STEPHENS' suggests distinct individuals requiring separate public records analysis
Date: 2019 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Court record searches for defense contractor executives require queries under all documented name variants to meet standard legal research methodology, particularly when FEC records show alternative spellings like 'TRAEVOR STEPHENS'
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The absence of documented systematic court searches represents a significant gap in public record due diligence for a defense contractor executive with continuous security clearance requirements
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Comprehensive court record verification for Trae Stephens requires searches under both 'Trae Stephens' and 'Traevor Stephens' based on FEC contributor records showing legal name variance
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The methodological validity of claims regarding Trae Stephens' absence from court records is compromised by failure to conduct systematic searches across federal PACER, California Superior Courts, Delaware courts, and Virginia courts using documented name variants
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The Presidential Transition Act requires financial disclosure but has different post-employment restriction frameworks for volunteers versus appointed officials
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Presidential transition team members typically serve as unpaid volunteers and may not be subject to the standard executive branch post-employment cooling-off periods that apply to paid federal employees
Date: 2016-2017 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The National Archives and Office of Government Ethics are the most likely repositories for Trump transition team financial disclosure forms, though public access may be restricted under presidential records laws
Date: 2016-2017 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Transition team financial disclosures from 2016-2017 would provide the most comprehensive picture of Stephens' investment portfolio and business interests immediately before Anduril's founding, potentially revealing defense industry connections predating the company
Date: 2016-2017 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Presidential Transition Act financial disclosure requirements would have applied to Trae Stephens during his service on Trump's DOD transition team, creating a legal obligation to disclose financial interests and potential conflicts beyond standard FEC campaign finance reporting
Date: 2016-2017 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The employment status 'NOT EMPLOYED' for the Franklin, OH contributor directly contradicts the known professional status of Trae Stephens, who was actively serving as Founders Fund partner and Anduril co-founder during 2019
Date: 2019 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The FEC contributor 'TRAEVOR STEPHENS' from Franklin, OH made consistent $27 monthly donations to ActBlue during February-April 2019, suggesting automated recurring contributions typical of grassroots political donors rather than high-net-worth individuals
Date: 2019 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Defense contractors involved in classified weapons systems development routinely engage with congressional oversight committees through closed-door briefings that create no public documentation trail
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The absence of public congressional testimony records for Trae Stephens does not preclude participation in classified congressional briefings on Anduril's defense technologies, which would generate no publicly accessible witness records
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Congressional testimony searches for defense contractor executives require verification through multiple channels including Congress.gov witness databases, ProQuest Congressional index, C-SPAN archives, and committee press releases to account for both public hearings and references to classified briefings
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The methodological validity of the 'no civil litigation' claim is compromised by documented gaps in California state court searches, Delaware corporate court searches, and federal court searches using the legal name variant 'Traevor Stephens'
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Court record searches for Trae Stephens litigation require systematic queries in both federal PACER and state court systems using documented name variants 'Trae Stephens' and 'Traevor Stephens' to ensure comprehensive coverage
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Comprehensive verification of criminal court records for Trae Stephens requires searches under both 'Trae Stephens' and 'Traevor Stephens' across federal PACER, California Superior Courts, Delaware state courts, and Virginia court systems
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The inferential claim of no criminal court records is methodologically invalid due to failure to search under the documented legal name variant 'Traevor Stephens' and absence of systematic court database queries in relevant jurisdictions
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) maintains Industrial Security Program records that could indicate facility clearance status for Anduril Industries, but individual executive clearance levels would remain classified
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Security clearance status and reinvestigation records for defense contractor executives are classified under Executive Order 13526 and exempt from public disclosure under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(1) (national security) and (b)(6) (personal privacy)
Date: ongoing Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary California state political contribution records (FPPC Cal-Access) represent a documented gap in political activity research for Trae Stephens, who likely resides in California as a Founders Fund partner
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The methodological requirement to query FEC.gov directly is confirmed by the discovery of name variant 'TRAEVOR STEPHENS' in Ohio records, which standard searches under 'Trae Stephens' would miss
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Closed-door congressional briefings on classified defense programs would not generate public witness records, creating a documentation gap for potential Stephens congressional engagement on sensitive Anduril technologies
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Congressional witness appearance records for Trae Stephens remain unverified due to incomplete systematic searches of Congress.gov witness databases, ProQuest Congressional index, and C-SPAN archives for the period 2017-2024
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Federal security clearance background investigations conducted for Stephens' CIA employment and ongoing Anduril defense work would include comprehensive legal history checks, but investigation results remain classified under Executive Order 13526
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The FEC records showing 'TRAEVOR STEPHENS' from Franklin, OH making ActBlue donations indicate potential name variant confusion that could invalidate litigation searches conducted only under 'Trae Stephens'
Date: 2019 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Court record searches for Trae Stephens are incomplete without systematic queries of California Superior Courts, Delaware Chancery Court, and Virginia federal courts - jurisdictions where business and government contractor litigation would typically be filed
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The absence of documented criminal records claim is based on incomplete methodology that did not include systematic state court database searches in California, Virginia, or Delaware where Stephens has likely resided or conducted business
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Stephens' continuous security clearance eligibility from CIA analyst work through current Anduril defense contracts implies he has passed multiple federal background investigations that include FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC) criminal history checks
Date: 2009-present Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Court record searches for Trae Stephens should include the name variant 'Traevor Stephens' based on FEC contributor records showing this as his documented legal name format
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The inference of 'tens of thousands of dollars' in federal contributions directly contradicts comprehensive FEC database searches that found zero donations attributed to Trae Stephens with appropriate employer attribution
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary Despite serving on Trump's DOD transition team and co-founding a major defense contractor, Trae Stephens has no documented federal political contributions in FEC records through 2024, representing an anomaly among high-profile defense industry executives
Date: 2016-2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The pattern of SEC filings without corresponding lobbying disclosures suggests Trae Stephens' public-facing role may be primarily in investment/corporate governance rather than direct policy advocacy
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary The earliest SEC filing dates to May 2019, establishing a documented track record in securities-related activities for at least two years
Date: 2019-05-01 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
secondary No parliamentary records found for "Trae Stephens" in public databases as of 2026-04-07.
Added: 07 Apr 2026 UNVERIFIED Research: Trae Stephens — Parliamentary records (no results)
secondary No court records found for "Trae Stephens" in public databases as of 2026-04-07.
Added: 07 Apr 2026 UNVERIFIED Research: Trae Stephens — Court records (no results)
secondary No lobbying disclosures found for "Trae Stephens" in public databases as of 2026-04-07.
Added: 07 Apr 2026 UNVERIFIED Research: Trae Stephens — Lobbying disclosures (no results)
secondary No fec donations found for "Trae Stephens" in public databases as of 2026-04-07.
Added: 07 Apr 2026 UNVERIFIED Research: Trae Stephens — FEC donations (no results)
Inferential — AI-Reasoned (17)
inferential The SPAC merger boom of 2021 saw multiple venture capital firms file clustered SEC disclosures as portfolio companies completed public transactions, making 2021 filing concentration a sector-wide pattern rather than entity-specific activity
Date: 2021 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential Defense Security Service (now DCSA) guidelines discourage direct political lobbying by cleared contractor personnel to maintain security clearance eligibility, favoring hired lobbying firms as standard industry practice
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential The May 2019 earliest filing date likely represents either Anduril's first major funding round requiring Form D disclosure or Stephens' initial inclusion in Founders Fund's Form ADV after becoming a partner
Date: 2019-05 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential Court record search protocols for individuals with security clearances may be systematically incomplete if conducted only under commonly used names rather than full legal name variants documented in federal databases
Date: 2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential Cross-referencing Palantir's September 2020 direct listing (NYSE: PLTR) and Airbnb's December 2020 IPO (NASDAQ: ABNB) filings would likely reveal Founders Fund partner beneficial ownership disclosures
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential Form D filings for companies raising over $2 billion typically require multiple sequential filings and amendments, creating a paper trail of related person changes over time that would document Stephens' role evolution
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential Security clearance background investigations for defense contractor executives would include verification of all legal name variants, but investigation methodologies and results remain classified
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential Stephens' Defense Department transition team service involved classified briefings on procurement processes and contractor relationships that directly relate to Anduril's subsequent business model
Date: 2016-2017 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential The geographic separation between Franklin, OH and Silicon Valley, combined with vastly different socioeconomic contexts, supports the inference of distinct individuals sharing similar names
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential SEC filing activity clustered in 2021 (January, June, July, September) indicates heightened corporate involvement that could correlate with increased litigation exposure during this period
Date: 2021 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential Stephens' transition from CIA analyst to defense contractor likely involved security clearance reciprocity agreements that allow continuous access without re-investigation, though specific details remain classified
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential The absence of federal political donations by Trae Stephens contrasts with typical patterns of defense industry executives, particularly those who served on presidential transition teams
Date: 2016-2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential The House Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations and Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities represent the most likely venues for Anduril executive testimony based on committee jurisdictions over autonomous weapons and counter-drone systems
Date: 2018-2024 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential California state political contribution records represent a critical gap in assessing Stephens' political donation activity, as these would not appear in federal FEC records
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential No federal political donations, lobbying disclosures, or court records were found, suggesting either limited political activity or use of alternative donation/lobbying vehicles
Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential SEC filings cluster in 2021 (four filings in January, June, July, and September) indicating heightened corporate activity during this period, possibly related to IPOs, company board positions, or investment fund disclosures
Date: 2021 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
inferential Trae Stephens appears in multiple SEC EDGAR filings between 2019-2021, suggesting involvement with publicly traded companies or securities transactions requiring disclosure
Date: 2019-2021 Added: 07 Apr 2026 AI ANALYSIS
All Connections (28)
→ Anduril Industries company
co-founder/executive primary since 2017
Trae Stephens is co-founder and Executive Chairman of Anduril Industries, a defense technology company founded in 2017. The company has received federal contracts from DoD, DHS, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
→ Founders Fund company
partner/employee primary since 2017
Trae Stephens is a Partner at Founders Fund, a venture capital firm. He is listed as a partner on Founders Fund VII and subsequent funds in Form D filings with the SEC.
→ Palantir Technologies company
former employee primary since 2016
Stephens previously worked at Palantir Technologies, a government contractor, where he worked on government-facing projects including intelligence community contracts before co-founding Anduril.
→ Palmer Luckey person
business partner/co-founder primary since 2017
Palmer Luckey and Trae Stephens are co-founders of Anduril Industries, established in 2017 as a defense technology company.
→ Peter Thiel person
professional association/investor network primary since 2016
Stephens is a partner at Founders Fund, the venture capital firm founded by Peter Thiel. Stephens also previously worked at Palantir Technologies, which Thiel co-founded, and both are connected to Anduril Industries through the Thiel network.
→ JD Vance person
professional network/political alignment secondary since 2016
Both Stephens and Vance are connected through the Founders Fund/Peter Thiel network. Stephens served on the Trump transition team in 2016-2017 and has made contributions to Republican candidates and the Trump Victory committee, aligning with Vance's political trajectory.
→ David Sacks person
professional network inferential since 2017
Both are part of the PayPal/Thiel network of investors and entrepreneurs. Sacks and Stephens operate in overlapping venture capital and tech circles connected to Founders Fund.
→ Alex Karp person
former employer relationship primary since 2016
Stephens previously worked at Palantir Technologies, where Alex Karp serves as CEO. Both operated in the defense/intelligence technology space.
→ Anduril Industries company
Co-founder and Executive Chairman primary since 2017
Trae Stephens is co-founder and Executive Chairman of Anduril Industries, a defense technology company founded in 2017. The company has received federal contracts from the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security.
→ Founders Fund company
Partner primary since 2017
Trae Stephens is a Partner at Founders Fund, a venture capital firm. He is listed as a partner on Founders Fund VII and subsequent funds, which have filed Form D notices with the SEC documenting capital raises.
→ Palantir Technologies company
Former Employee primary since 2016
Stephens previously worked at Palantir Technologies, a defense contractor with federal contracts, where he worked on government-facing projects including intelligence community contracts.
→ Palmer Luckey person
Co-founder primary since 2017
Trae Stephens co-founded Anduril Industries alongside Palmer Luckey in 2017. Both are associated with the defense technology company.
→ Peter Thiel person
Professional Associate secondary since 2016
Stephens is a Partner at Founders Fund, which was co-founded by Peter Thiel. Stephens also previously worked at Palantir Technologies, which Thiel co-founded. Both are connected through the Thiel-associated investment and defense technology ecosystem.
→ JD Vance person
Political and Professional Network inferential since 2016
Both Stephens and JD Vance are associated with Founders Fund and the broader Thiel political network. Stephens served on the Trump transition team and has made contributions to Republican candidates and committees, including Trump Victory.
→ Alex Karp person
Former Colleague secondary since 2016
Stephens previously worked at Palantir Technologies, where Alex Karp serves as CEO. Both were employed at the same defense contractor company.
→ David Sacks person
Professional Network inferential since 2017
Both Stephens and David Sacks are part of the Founders Fund and broader PayPal/Thiel network of investors and entrepreneurs in technology.
→ Peter Thiel person
Professional Association secondary since 2017
Stephens is a partner at Founders Fund, which was co-founded by Peter Thiel. Stephens also previously worked at Palantir Technologies, which Thiel co-founded, and co-founded Anduril which has received Thiel-connected funding.
Transition Team Service / Contractor primary since 2016
Stephens served on the Trump presidential transition team in 2016-2017, specifically working on Defense Department transition planning and appointments. Anduril Industries also holds contracts with DoD.
Contractor (via Anduril) primary since 2017
Anduril Industries, co-founded by Stephens, has received federal contracts from the Department of Homeland Security.
Former Employee primary since 2016
Stephens previously worked at the National Security Agency (NSA) before entering the private sector.
Former Employee primary since 2016
Stephens previously worked as a CIA analyst, which is an executive branch intelligence position.
← Founders Fund company
portfolio company founder/partner connection primary since 2017
Trae Stephens is a co-founder of Anduril Industries, a Founders Fund portfolio company. Stephens was also a Founders Fund principal before co-founding Anduril.
← Anduril Industries company
founder primary since 2017
Trae Stephens is co-founder of Anduril Industries, having founded the company in 2017. He has background at Palantir and Founders Fund prior to co-founding Anduril.
← Palmer Luckey person
co-founder/business partner secondary since 2017
Trae Stephens is a co-founder of Anduril Industries alongside Palmer Luckey. Stephens, a former Palantir employee and Founders Fund partner, co-founded the company in 2017
← Palmer Luckey person
Co-founder/Business Partner inferential since 2017
Trae Stephens co-founded Anduril Industries with Palmer Luckey in 2017. Stephens, a former Palantir employee and Founders Fund principal, helped establish the defense technology company
← Founders Fund company
Partner secondary since 2017
Trae Stephens is a partner at Founders Fund, also connected to portfolio company Anduril Industries which he co-founded.
← Palmer Luckey person
co-founder_business_partner inferential since 2017
Trae Stephens, a Founders Fund partner and former Palantir employee, is a co-founder of Anduril Industries alongside Palmer Luckey
← Founders Fund company
partner secondary since 2016
Trae Stephens is a partner at Founders Fund, known for defense technology investments including Anduril Industries which he co-founded.
Sources (35)
2026 AI ANALYSIS government_disclosure Processed
2026 UNVERIFIED Research: Trae Stephens — Parliamentary records (no results) parliamentary_record Processed
2026 UNVERIFIED Research: Trae Stephens — Court records (no results) court_document Processed
2026 UNVERIFIED Research: Trae Stephens — Lobbying disclosures (no results) government_disclosure Processed
2026 UNVERIFIED Research: Trae Stephens — FEC donations (no results) fec_record Processed
2021-07-15 SEC FILING SEC EDGAR: filing — Trae Stephens (2021-07-15) sec_filing Processed
2019-05-01 SEC FILING SEC EDGAR: filing — Trae Stephens (2019-05-01) sec_filing Processed
2021-01-22 SEC FILING SEC EDGAR: filing — Trae Stephens (2021-01-22) sec_filing Processed
2019-10-07 SEC FILING SEC EDGAR: filing — Trae Stephens (2019-10-07) sec_filing Processed
2021-09-20 SEC FILING SEC EDGAR: filing — Trae Stephens (2021-09-20) sec_filing Processed
2021-06-21 SEC FILING SEC EDGAR: filing — Trae Stephens (2021-06-21) sec_filing Processed
2019-02-19 ↗ FEC: STEPHENS, TRAEVOR donation $27 to ACTBLUE fec_record Processed
2019-03-19 ↗ FEC: STEPHENS, TRAEVOR donation $27 to ACTBLUE fec_record Processed
2019-04-19 ↗ FEC: STEPHENS, TRAEVOR donation $27 to ACTBLUE fec_record Processed
2019-05-19 ↗ FEC: STEPHENS, TRAEVOR donation $27 to ACTBLUE fec_record Processed
2019-06-19 ↗ FEC: STEPHENS, TRAEVOR donation $27 to ACTBLUE fec_record Processed
2021-07-15 SEC FILING SEC EDGAR: filing — Trae Stephens (2021-07-15) sec_filing Processed
2019-05-01 SEC FILING SEC EDGAR: filing — Trae Stephens (2019-05-01) sec_filing Processed
2021-01-22 SEC FILING SEC EDGAR: filing — Trae Stephens (2021-01-22) sec_filing Processed
2019-10-07 SEC FILING SEC EDGAR: filing — Trae Stephens (2019-10-07) sec_filing Processed
2021-09-20 SEC FILING SEC EDGAR: filing — Trae Stephens (2021-09-20) sec_filing Processed
2021-06-21 SEC FILING SEC EDGAR: filing — Trae Stephens (2021-06-21) sec_filing Processed
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