During the world depression most funds were invested in ultra conservative funds. This meant limited investment new untried industries
World War 2 helped reduce unemployment rate in the US to below 10%. This was driven by Government spending in procurement of war time machines.
US Industries like car manufacturing in Detroit were either not willing or had a hard time keeping up with demands. Preferring initially to cater to consumer demands.
The Depression was a great opportunity for Doriot as he was hired for many directorship positions to oversee many ailing companies in different industries giving him a very wide and diverse portfolio of experience
World War 2 triggered the rise of venture capital in the military which was later spun off into the private sector
The breach in paradigm between not seeing human as a fighting machine as the default versus seeing human as a fighting machine that needs to be well equipped was where venture capital first flourished in world war 2