Meridian Ventures’ cofounders Devon Gethers and Karlton Haney recently sat for a Forbes interview to talk about the role of artificial intelligence in venture capital and how their young firm is trying to carve out a different kind of playbook. Their conversation is a clear signal that the next generation of investors understands AI is reshaping deal flow, but Americans should be wary of the hype that too often replaces hard work and clear returns.
The firm itself is not some back-alley operation — Meridian launched in 2023 and built a portfolio by backing MBA-trained founders from top programs, deploying institutional dollars while the founders were still students. They’ve said their second $25 million vehicle is already being put to work, and their portfolio has dozens of early-stage stakes in B2B software and AI infrastructure companies, a reminder that venture capital still funnels risk capital into productive innovation when done right.
What stands out from their remarks and reporting is a practical, not purely romantic, take on AI: they’re backing companies that use AI to solve real business problems — things like cloud optimization, AI agents and back-office automation — rather than chasing fashionable buzzwords. That focus should comfort taxpayers and investors alike who see too much capital chasing flashy press rather than sustainable business models.
Still, conservatives should keep a skeptical eye on the AI gold rush. Government subsidies, regulatory experiments, and the social-engineering instincts of coastal elites can tilt markets and reward ideology over merit. America’s strength comes from entrepreneurs taking risks and building real businesses, not from a bubble of grant-fueled start-ups that exist mainly to validate the next headline.
Meridian’s model — betting on MBA-trained founders and small, targeted checks — is a reminder that discipline matters in investing. Our country needs investors who demand product-market fit, unit economics, and reproducible value creation, not just scale-for-scale’s-sake or an obsession with amassing users at any cost. That kind of rigor protects ordinary savers and pensioners who ultimately shoulder the risk when venture returns disappoint.
There’s also a national-security angle conservatives can’t ignore: AI investments should strengthen American companies and supply chains, not hollow them out or hand core capabilities to hostile actors. Private capital must be patriotic capital — supporting innovations that keep supply chains, cloud infrastructure, and advanced tools rooted here at home while resisting the siren calls of easy foreign exits or virtue-signaling mandates.
Hardworking Americans who build and hire deserve an investment ecosystem that rewards toughness, not trendy talking points. If Meridian Ventures’ interview shows anything, it’s that young investors are learning lessons the old guard sometimes forgets: prioritize businesses that produce real value, hold founders accountable, and let free enterprise, not bureaucrats, decide which technologies win. That’s the conservative prescription for an AI future that benefits the country, not just the coastal elites who sell the narrative.
