John Backus

John Backus is a venture capital investor at the PROOF Fund - a big, new idea in Venture Capital.

[John Backus @jcbackus]

Such an amazing company with some of the coolest technology out there!

[hiddenlevel @hiddenlevelinc]

Hidden Level was proud to join the U.S. Army community at #AUSA2025—alongside leaders, innovators & warfighters driving the Army’s future.

Our passive sensing tech helps forces detect, track & respond to airborne threats (Groups 1–5+ UAS) without emitting or adding complexity.

Big thanks to:

🔹 Ultra I&C—for showcasing our AMS data in layered air defense demos
🔹 Global Ordnance—for featuring our Surge sensor on the Scorpion vehicle

The future of airspace awareness is here—and operational.

#AUSA #DefenseTech #Innovation #DroneDetection

[John Backus @jcbackus]

@ElonMuskNews47 100% yes

[John Backus @jcbackus]

What is going on in boston?

[John Backus @jcbackus]

UA1648 right now. @united worst gate agent experience ever in Aruba. Family of 4 on paid tix. 2 paid 1st and 2 paid economy. 2 of us are global services. I’m 3M miler. Seat 1B broken (arm rest wobbled literally). Seat 2B and 3B also broken. Gate agent let the two 15 year olds board but would not let the two adults on paid 1st tix board. Did not ask for volunteers. Would not talk to global services desk that I had on the phone. We were only able to board when another family De-planed because they would have been separated.

[John Backus @jcbackus]

@PROOFVC @overtime What a fun company to be an investor in. Congratulations @overtime

[John Backus @jcbackus]

I love our fintech portfolio. But @CNBC you totally missed out on including @DailyPay , @cartainc and @GreenlightCard Better check them out. $10B of EV between them!

[PROOF @PROOFVC]

Big moment for fintech 🏆

Shoutout to FIVE Proof-backed companies named to CNBC’s 2025 Top Fintech list:
@KIN
@MiKueski
@talamobile
@VaroBank
Candex
Proud to back the builders redefining global finance.
#PROOF #venturecapital #fintech #CNBCFintech
https://t.co/sNju02xge4

[John Backus @jcbackus]

What a terrific (and obvious in the rear view mirror) technological improvement over the use of…the ears!

[PROOF @PROOFVC]

We backed Eko Health because their tech saves lives — and now the NHS is proving it. Early heart failure detection, fewer emergency visits, and £100M in potential savings. This is what meaningful innovation looks like. Proud to be investors in a company reshaping cardiac care.
#PortfolioNews #venturecaptial #PROOF #healthcare

[John Backus @jcbackus]

@scottmcnealy I fixed it for you.

"When you earn a dollar, your employer is taxed $.08 for paying you (payroll tax).

"You are then taxed before it hits your bank account (income tax). In California, your dollar is now worth $.48.

"When you spend that $.48, it is taxed again (sales tax). Your $.48 buys $.40 in the store.

"If you decide to invest that dollar, you are taxed (capital gains tax). If you turn that $.48 into a dollar, you only have $.87 after tax for the investment risk you took.

"Even when you save that dollar—in your bank account or in your piggy bank—it is continually devalued (inflation tax) by Congress’s spending, borrowing, and money-printing addiction. At 5% annual inflation, after 10 years your $.48 is worth $.29”

[Scott McNealy @scottmcnealy]

And when you die it is taxed. And dont dare try to leave the USA, as they tax you bigtime on the way out. You are in tax jail. However, if you break the law by not paying your taxes, you can get free room and board.

[John Backus @jcbackus]

Well I guess that @Sec_Noem has already started this process. https://t.co/jwArFJShrQ

[John Backus @jcbackus]

One overreaction deserves another. Let’s stop issuing student visas. 300,000 students are here on student visas from China alone. That is $30B per year going to the universities. From China. Shut off that spigot and the universities will lean on the judges overnight

[John Backus @jcbackus]

One overreaction deserves another. Let’s stop issuing student visas. 300,000 students are here on student visas from China alone. That is $30B per year going to the universities. From China. Shut off that spigot and the universities will lean on the judges overnight

[Bill Melugin @BillMelugin_]

BREAKING: A federal judge in California has issued a nationwide injunction that will block the Trump administration from ending legal status for foreign students attending schools in the US while the underlying case is being litigated. Judge Jeffrey White says the government cannot arrest or imprison "any of the named Plaintiffs in these cases and similarly situated individuals nationwide pending resolution of these proceedings..."

[John Backus @jcbackus]

Congratulations to everyone at Captiv8 on their acquisition by @PublicisGroupe - from a happy early @PROOFVC investor

[Publicis Groupe @PublicisGroupe]

Publicis Groupe announces the acquisition of Captiv8, the largest influencer technology marketing platform in the world, covering 95% of influencers with 5000+ followers.

https://t.co/FE2BxKD8vq

[John Backus @jcbackus]

Defunding is a start. but we also need to create a "do not fund" list so that they get no new federal dollars for the next 4 years.

Oh, and let's not forget about taxing university endowment income!

And while we are at it, why not let the universities backstop any student debt that their students default on.

[Scott McNealy @scottmcnealy]

And no one or organization on campus should be taking money from said government, nor should they get a tax break from the citizens who are taxed to pay that “private” institution. Defund Harvard.

[John Backus @jcbackus]

We believed in Keller’s vision back in 2016 when we first invested. This is the future. THIS is the way.

[Keller Cliffton @Keller]

Today, Zipline launched in Dallas, our first major metro in the US. We’re seeing the dawn of a new era of robotic instant logistics that is going to become an indispensable part of our lives. After 4 years and hundreds of thousands of test flights, teleportation is finally here.

[John Backus @jcbackus]

+1 from a 2 Jeep and 1 Tesla household.

[Scott McNealy @scottmcnealy]

I always wonder why wealthy folks don’t buy American cars. My family drives all @ford. They work great. Is it really better spend more to import Land Rovers, Mercedes, Lexuses, etc. and drive the equivalent of a Gucci purse? It is in our best interest to keep US workers working. I understand folks who are struggling to make ends meet buying a cheaper car from Korea. But the rich? Nope.

[John Backus @jcbackus]

@VivekNewsX Yes. And please investigate the fake book deals and speeches that pave the way for the grifters when some NGO or other group buys tens of thousands of books that no one ever reads or overpays a speaker for a canned stump speech.

[John Backus @jcbackus]

Apparently MAGA is a disallowed term in Apple "Intelligence." Do better @Apple

[John Backus @jcbackus]

I love this idea. It channels my inner Milton Friedman. Let the free markets rule! Along a similar vein can we also auction to the highest bidder the spectrum currently given to legacy broadcast tv media?

[Scott McNealy @scottmcnealy]

Send all of em back. Auction off citizenship/Visas to highest bidder. Google can bring in engineers. Charitable donors can bring in asylum seekers. Government can't buy any. Cap number to be sold at say 750,000 per year. If you sponsor an immigrant and pay for their Visa/citizenship, you are also financially responsible for any liabilities, damages, govt subsidies incurred by this new resident for say 10 years. Immigration becomes a profit center, sponsors are invested and liable, gang members and criminals will not be let in. True asylum seekers can be let in by charitable folks. Market for VISAs insures the most worthy or productive get in. Thoughts?

[John Backus @jcbackus]

Scott, I think you need to work for the new DOGE - Department of Government Efficiency. I’ll join you!

[Scott McNealy @scottmcnealy]

De-scope the feds, send 80% of the scope and workers to the states. Cut the fed tax rate so the states can tax locally for what they need in their state. Dissolve most cabinet portions and eliminate the department. Start with the fbi

[John Backus @jcbackus]

Is this an IQ test? Of course!

[John Backus @jcbackus]

@leftcoastbabe Ridiculous!