Katie Harper

I'm a builder, operator, and connector. What I love most: finding great builders, supporting the operations that turn early-stage chaos into sustainable growth, and connecting them to the people and capital they need.

These days, my focus is primarily USAF-focused defense. Previously, I was COO at Kard (built the cardholder network to 45M+; hired and managed initial teams across finance, HR, marketing, product, engineering, compliance, and account management) and Head of Operations at Upwave (employee #8, scaling from seed through Series B).

I studied computer science and Russian at Duke, where I stay involved as a mentor and volunteer (currently serving as the NW Florida Alumni Admissions Chair). After growing up in North Carolina then living in both San Francisco and New York City, I currently call Florida home.

Working On

Investing & Advising — Working with early-stage founders building American strength in the areas I love: defense, aerospace, and operational infrastructure (with soft spots for two-sided marketplaces, security, and fintech)

• ArcheanX — Aircraft maintenance inspection AI (also an advisor)
• Arka — AI airlift load & movement optimization
• Bloom — Vetted supply chain network for hardware companies
• Bright Silicon Technologies — LDA chip for optical comms
• Erebor — Banking infrastructure purpose-built for the defense industrial base
• The Fintech Fund — Pre-seed/Seed fund
• No Logo — Empowering creators to launch ideas
• Swarm Aero — Redefining air power with autonomous drone systems
• Tarly — Ex-DOGE founder; streamlining federal acquisition

VP of Product & Partnerships at SBCC — Building the tech and relationships that bring innovation to the warfighter faster

Writing

Tactical startup advice

• EOY Checklist
• Setting an Operational Cadence
• Avoiding Delegation Downfalls
• Writing a User Guide
• Employee Appreciation Done Well
• Evaluating Startup Offers
• Creating Company Culture

Other life thoughts

• Rebranding Oneself
• Life Needs More Dinner Parties
• Times I Tried Too Hard
• Scott Gorlick: Uber Employee #99
• Permanent Packing List
• Adam Lawrence: The Playbook Guy
• Patrick Comer: Louisiana's First Unicorn

Recommendations

• Your Life is Driven by Network Effects
• The Trap of Ambitious Goals
• Good to Great
• The Untethered Soul
• The Small Group
• Wes Kao
• How to Avoid Half-Heartedness
• The Fountainhead
• Penelope Trunk
• The Update, The Vent, and The Disaster
• Some Practical Thoughts on Suicide
• The Courage to Be Disliked

Connect

I live on the Emerald Coast and can be found flying, diving, playing tennis, lifting heavy, and fan-girling fighter jets. If you're visiting the area and like those things too, reach out.