Lucien Zeigler

Lucien Zeigler
Born (1985-02-18) February 18, 1985[1]
CitizenshipAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Virginia
OccupationsEntrepreneur, Investor
Known forMASNA, REDSALT, The Twenty30 Podcast

Lucien Zeigler (born 1985) is an American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and defense industry executive. He is co-founder and General Partner of Mansa Ventures, Saudi Arabia's first defense-focused venture capital firm,[2][3] and chief executive officer of Redsalt Defense, a U.S.–Saudi defense technology and industrial acceleration platform.[4] He is also the creator and co-host of The Twenty30 Podcast.[5][6]

Career

Prior to focusing on defense technology, Zeigler led Middle East and North Africa expansion efforts at California-based venture firm Pilatus Capital.[3]

REDSALT Defense and SR2

He currently serves as chief executive officer and partner of Redsalt Defense, where he focuses on localizing advanced U.S. and allied defense systems into Saudi Arabia through joint ventures and industrial partnerships.

Through Redsalt Defense, he is an executive at SR Advanced Strategic Systems (SR2), a U.S.–Saudi joint venture designed to integrate American defense platforms into Saudi manufacturing and operational ecosystems.[7] In May 2026, Zeigler confirmed to Semafor (website) that one of the projects is SKYWASP, the first one-way attack drone to be manufactured in Saudi Arabia, capable of hitting targets up to 1,500 km (930 miles) away.[8][9]

Masna Ventures

In 2026, Zeigler co-founded Mansa Ventures with investor Nehal Farooqui. The firm launched with a target of approximately $100 million for its first fund, backing early-stage defense and dual-use technologies (including drone systems, precision-guided munitions, and AI[10]) while supporting localization of manufacturing in Saudi Arabia.[3]

In comments to AGBI, Zeigler described the fund as structured to align venture investment with Saudi Arabia’s defense industrial policy, noting that Saudization requirements are reshaping how foreign defense technology companies approach the Kingdom’s market.[11]

In comments to EnterpriseAM regarding the 2026 Iran War, Zeigler said, "In the region, I think the demand signal won’t just be, ‘sell us counter-drone systems.’ It will be, ‘help us build, sustain, and eventually export this capability ourselves.'"[2]

Masna will be backing SKYWASP and its Riyadh factory. [12]

Media and Public Engagement

Zeigler is the creator and co-host of The Twenty30 Podcast, an English-language program launched in April 2024 that focuses on Saudi Vision 2030 reforms, Saudi Arabia's investment climate, and strategic sectors including defense and advanced technology. The program publishes long form interviews with Saudi "change makers," including business and industry executives, cultural leaders, athletes, and others.[5][6]

He is a frequent public speaker in Saudi Arabia, participating in economic forums, defense industry summits, and investment conferences where he discusses defense localization, venture capital, and cross-border industrial strategy.[6][13]

References

  1. ↑ "Politico Playbook February 18". Politico. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Iranian drone attacks show GCC needs to rethink air defense". Semafor. 4 March 2026. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Martin, Matthew (6 February 2026). "US investor aims to raise $100M for Saudi defense VC fund". Semafor. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  4. ↑ "REDSALT Defense | Partners". redsaltdefense.com. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  5. 1 2 "thetwenty30.com". thetwenty30. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 "Speaker Bio: Lucien Zeigler". The Human Capability Initiative. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  7. ↑ Fulco, Matthew (9 February 2026). "First Saudi Arabian Defense VC Fund Launched". Aviation Week. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  8. ↑ Martin, Matthew (25 May 2026). "US-Saudi venture to build Shahed drone clones in Riyadh". Semafor (website). Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  9. ↑ Issa, Tala Michel (26 May 2026). "Saudi Arabia to build attack drones capable of striking Iran". Arabian Business. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "SignalPulse". The Tech Buzz. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  11. ↑ Gibbon, Gavin (13 February 2026). "Saudi VC fund to localise defence manufacturing". AGBI Arabian Gulf Business Insight. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  12. ↑ Dewey, Barratt (26 May 2026). "Vector-SR2 Team Unveils a Saudi-built Shahed Drone Clone". Tectonic Defense. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Diriyah Company Participates in Inaugural PIF Private Sector Partnership Forum". Saudi Press Agency. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
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