The Startup Defense

Expeditionary Power, Software-Defined Energy, and BKPK with Sascha Dainat

How intelligent, modular power enables defense and emergency-response missions at the edge Guest: Sascha Dainat – Chief Revenue Officer, BKPK Power Power is rarely the mission, but nearly every modern mission depends on it. Sascha Dainat joins Callye Keen to explain how BKPK is turning disconnected generators and batteries into an intelligent, modular system that teams can plan, monitor, scale, and adapt in real time. Topics Expeditionary power as mission infrastructure Modular power for vehicles, camps, emergency response, and fixed sites Software, AI, and mission-level power orchestration Battery safety, transport compliance, and UN 38.3 certification Partnerships, cybersecurity, field validation, and production scale Takeaways Better power infrastructure extends missions, reduces logistics burdens, and enables critical equipment at the edge. A modular platform can support a mobile team, scale into a forward camp, or provide backup power at a fixed site. Software-defined power gives operators a common picture of demand, capacity, priority loads, connected equipment, and system health. Compliance must shape the product from the beginning. BKPK designed around lithium transport limits, manageable pack weight, LFP chemistry, and certification. Power usually enables another system, making partnerships central to defense go-to-market. Power data can reveal equipment use and unauthorized devices, creating value for operational awareness and cybersecurity. Complex hardware should be designed for repeatable production before field demand reaches hundreds or thousands of units. Timestamped Highlights [00:01] - Expeditionary and software-defined power [02:43] - Why power is boring until it isn’t [03:30] - Fragmented power at a counter-UAS exercise [05:08] - Treating deployed power as a system [06:43] - Portability, output, modularity, and scale [08:45] - Engineering and compliance barriers [09:46] - Focus in defense and emergency response [10:25] - Designing a transportable 4 kWh pack [11:20] - UN 38.3 certification and LFP safety [12:22] - Partnerships as a go-to-market strategy [14:48] - Where AI fits into power systems [16:30] - Planning missions with Orchestrator [17:46] - Monitoring and analyzing power use [19:15] - Connected-device visibility and security [20:12] - Protecting physical and digital interfaces [23:04] - Designing for mass production [24:05] - Field validation with firefighters and defense partners Resources & Links BKPK Power BKPK deployed-power technology BKPK on LinkedIn The Startup Defense Connect Guest: Sascha Dainat Host: Callye Keen “Power is boring until it isn’t.” Subscribe to The Startup Defense for candid conversations with the founders, operators, and builders turning emerging technology into fieldable defense capabilities.

• Transcript

Mission Integrity, Financial Gravity, and Lean to Incorruptible with Eric Ries

Why good companies drift from their founding purpose and how leaders can build organizations that resist corruption Guest: Eric Ries - Author of Incorruptible, creator of The Lean Startup, and founder of the Long-Term Stock Exchange Eric Ries returns to the fundamental problem behind company building: creating an organization that can remain worthy of its original mission after it becomes successful. He joins Callye Keen to explain financial gravity, mission mortality, governance risk, and the practical steps founders can take to protect their companies from short-term pressure, acquisition, and internal drift. Topics The evolution from The Lean Startup to Incorruptible How financial gravity changes organizational behavior Mission statements fail without management and business model alignment Protecting founders and companies through governance Dual-use technology, acquisitions, and mission risk Building companies aligned with human flourishing Takeaways Financial gravity is the pressure to align with whoever controls money, status, or power. Repeated behavior eventually becomes culture, even when it contradicts the original mission. Founders must document the principles they will not sacrifice for financial gain. Mission integrity requires purpose, aligned incentives, culture, and structural protection. Founder control alone cannot prevent a board, investor, or acquirer from redirecting a company. The next generation can build durable companies and civic institutions designed around long-term value. Timestamped Highlights [00:00] - Eric Ries on restoring human agency [02:16] - From The Lean Startup to Incorruptible [07:22] - How financial gravity reshapes companies [10:10] - The force no one controls but everyone obeys [15:56] - How behavior becomes organizational culture [16:22] - Inoculating a company against mission drift [18:37] - Defining fiduciary commitments beyond profit [22:01] - Purpose, business model, culture, and structural integrity [24:45] - Dual-use technology and unintended consequences [29:48] - Acquisitions, founder control, and value destruction [31:15] - Building companies aligned with human flourishing Resources & Links Incorruptible - Why good companies go bad and how great companies stay great Official publisher page Long-Term Stock Exchange Lean Startup Co. Connect Guest: Eric Ries on LinkedIn Host: Callye Keen on LinkedIn “The more successful an organization becomes, the more valuable it will be to somebody else to take it over.” Subscribe to The Startup Defense for conversations with the founders, investors, operators, and leaders building technology and institutions for national security.

• Transcript

Defense Acquisition Reform, Building Relationships, and MIM Ventures with Noam Oz

How operator-led startups, rapid acquisition pathways, and relationship-driven execution are reshaping defense innovation Guest: Noam Oz - Co-Founder & Managing Partner, MIM Ventures; Former Director for Innovation Operations, NavalX Defense acquisition is changing, but new authorities only matter when they produce results for the warfighter. Noam Oz returns to The Startup Defense to discuss commercial-first acquisition, operator-led startups, mission engineering, CSOs, acquisition culture, AI assurance, and the relationships required to move technology from mission need to fielded capability. Topics and Takeaways Operational experience cannot be replicated through coursework alone. A demand signal requires a validated need, funding, and a viable contracting pathway. Acquisition reform must be measured through changed behavior and fielded results. Startups build credibility by placing prototypes in users’ hands, collecting evidence, and iterating. Technical exchanges create value through visibility, partnerships, and customer access, even without an immediate contract. Relationships compound over time and often become decisive when the right opportunity appears. AI assurance must advance alongside AI adoption. Clear government priorities and acquisition pathways improve investor confidence. Timestamped Highlights [00:04] - Noam Oz returns to The Startup Defense [01:09] - Keeping the warfighter involved [05:13] - MEIA and clearer capability demand signals [07:50] - End-to-end capability delivery [09:11] - CSOs, OTAs, and production follow-ons [14:17] - Building credibility through prototypes and results [15:39] - SOF Week, Vulcan, and ecosystem access [17:14] - Why relationships and continued action create opportunity [19:48] - Technical exchanges as partner environments [20:44] - Relationships over transactions [21:54] - AI assurance, TEVV, safety, and security [24:02] - New capital models for defense hard tech Resources & Links MIM Ventures - https://mim.ventures/ Mission Engineering and Integration Activity - https://www.cto.mil/meia/ Asymmetris - https://asymmetris.com/ Optica Labs - https://opticalabs.ai/ Connect Guest: Noam Oz - https://www.linkedin.com/in/noamoz Host: Callye Keen - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callyekeen/ “Don’t go after it for the transaction. Go after it for the relationship.” Subscribe to The Startup Defense and share this episode with a founder, operator, investor, or acquisition professional working to move commercial technology into operational use. For support developing, integrating, manufacturing, and scaling defense hardware, visit Kform at https://www.kform.com/.

• Transcript

Software-Defined Manufacturing, Reindustrialization, and Machina Labs with Edward Mehr

How robotic manufacturing, AI, and flexible factories could reshape American industrial power Guest: Edward Mehr - Machina Labs Edward Mehr joins The Startup Defense to discuss why America does not have a design problem, it has a factory problem. Callye and Edward explore software-defined manufacturing, robotic sheet forming, defense readiness, and why the future of industrial advantage may come from factories that can rapidly switch from cars to missiles to aircraft panels. Topics Software-defined manufacturing and the future of flexible factories Why manufacturing is the gate that turns ideas into real capability Robotic forming, trimming, QC, heat treatment, forging, welding, and assembly Reindustrialization, defense readiness, and supply chain deterrence Why 3D printing opened the imagination but is only one tool in the manufacturing stack Founder lessons for building capital-intensive industrial startups Takeaways America’s advantage depends less on ideas alone and more on the ability to convert ideas into physical products quickly, repeatedly, and affordably. Flexible manufacturing creates strategic optionality. A factory that can shift from commercial parts to defense components gives the country more responsive industrial capacity. Defense agility is increasingly tied to manufacturing agility. The ability to respond to new battlefield systems quickly can become a decisive advantage. The future factory will not be just additive manufacturing. It will combine robotics, machining, forming, 3D printing, welding, QC, software, and AI into a coordinated production system. Industrial founders need more than venture capital. They should understand customer-funded development, government support, debt financing, and how to finance capital equipment intelligently. Timestamped Highlights [00:00] - Why reindustrialization and advanced manufacturing matter now [00:37] - Edward Mehr on being a builder and why robotics plus AI are entering the physical world [03:22] - The Machina Labs vision: a factory that can rapidly turn designs into final products [04:13] - Sheet forming without product-specific tooling [05:32] - Expanding from forming into trimming, QC, heat treatment, forging, welding, and assembly [06:49] - “America doesn’t have a design problem. We have a factory problem.” [08:30] - Manufacturing as the gate that focuses and creates innovation [12:58] - Flexible manufacturing as a defense readiness advantage [14:15] - Why the factory itself may become a strategic weapon [16:25] - What 3D printing promised, what it missed, and what the next manufacturing toolchain looks like [19:05] - Why additive manufacturing is one tool, not the whole factory [20:05] - Combining roboforming, machining, 3D printing, and robotic welding into a software-defined factory [21:24] - Advice for founders building in defense, manufacturing, and other capital-intensive markets Resources & Links Machina Labs - https://machinalabs.ai/ Kform - https://www.kform.com Connect Edward Mehr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-mehr/ Callye Keen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callyekeen/ “The factory is the weapon.”

• Transcript

Non-Dilutive Funding, Defense Tech Fundraising, Mission Cultivate with Mollie Jahner

How founders can use grants, contracts, teaming, and acquisition pathways to fund hard tech without giving up equity too early Guest: Mollie Jahner - Mission Cultivate, formerly Spring and Forge Non-dilutive funding can be a major advantage for defense startups, but winning it requires more than filling out grant applications. Mollie Jahner about how founders should think about grants, government contracts, teaming, SBIRs, state funding, acquisition pathways, and why the best proposals are written for the reviewer, not the founder. Topics Why non-dilutive capital is powerful but still difficult to win How defense startups should treat grants like part of the product roadmap Why teaming, past performance, and partner strategy matter How private capital is learning to follow government demand signals Why TRL can be misleading in defense innovation How Mission Cultivate is expanding access to funding intelligence and grant support Takeaways Non-dilutive funding is not “easy money.” Founders need a targeted strategy, agency understanding, and clear reviewer-focused writing. Grant and contract pursuit should be routine. Mollie recommends founders apply to two or three aligned opportunities every quarter. Teaming is an underrated growth mechanism. Startups can strengthen larger proposals by partnering with organizations that already have past performance. Government interest can strengthen investor conversations. A credible demand signal from a program office, command, or acquisition stakeholder can help unlock private capital. TRL is often too blunt for defense tech. Commercially mature technology may still be immature in a new mission context. Founder-problem fit matters. Founders who have personally experienced the mission problem often understand the market, user, and operational gap more deeply. AI and software can democratize access to funding opportunities, helping smaller teams compete with organizations that have dedicated capture resources. Highlights [00:33] - Mollie’s current focus: helping founders raise non-dilutive capital [01:46] - Lessons from closing more than $800 million in grants and government contracts [02:00] - Why founders need to understand the agency, reviewer, and funding mechanism [04:25] - Treating grants like a product roadmap, not a one-time event [05:00] - Teaming as a practical way for startups to access larger funding opportunities [07:06] - Why program manager conversations can sharpen proposals [09:07] - How VCs are getting smarter about government funding signals [10:50] - SBIRs as an entry point, not always a complete acquisition pathway [13:24] - What makes a founder ready to pursue non-dilutive funding [14:48] - Why TRL can fail to explain real defense innovation maturity [16:13] - Innovation as a human terrain and orchestration problem [17:33] - Drone fatigue and the challenge of differentiation in crowded markets [19:01] - Spring and Forge’s acquisition by Mission Cultivate [21:44] - Why government funding is almost a second language for new founders [22:30] - SBIR mills, repeat winners, and the challenge of access for new entrants Connect Guest: Mollie Jahner on LinkedIn Email: Mollie at Mission Cultivate “Grant funding should be part of your product roadmap.” Subscribe to The Startup Defense for more conversations with founders, investors, builders, and defense leaders working to move technology from idea to fielded capability.

• Transcript

Accelerate Decisions, Dominate Operations, and Dunedain with Mack Ohlinger

Why accelerating decision-making—not just building models—is the real frontier of defense AI Guest: Mack Ohlinger – CEO, Dunedain Most AI conversations in defense focus on models, data, or compute. This one does not. Mack Ohlinger, CEO of Dunedain, is building agent-based systems designed to compress military planning and decision-making timelines from days to seconds. This episode breaks down what actually matters: architecture, user interaction, and the hard reality of getting AI from demo to production. Topics Building agent-based AI systems for military planning workflows (MDMP/MCPP) Why most AI companies fail between demo and production The role of architecture, testing, and user interaction in mission-grade AI Takeaways The core constraint in defense is decision speed, not access to data or models. AI systems that succeed mirror existing cognitive workflows and compress them, rather than replacing them outright. The gap between demo and production is driven by integration, edge cases, and real user behavior—not model performance. High-quality data is necessary but insufficient; systems must continuously learn from users in real environments. Modular, MOSA-aligned architectures introduce integration complexity that must be actively managed. Timestamped Highlights [00:00] – Intro and mission: accelerating decision-making in defense [02:30] – From operator experience to startup: identifying the planning bottleneck [07:00] – Why most AI demos fail to survive contact with real users [10:30] – The challenge of testing stochastic, multi-agent systems [18:00] – How to frame AI capability for defense customers (KPPs, outcomes, trust) [26:00] – Decision-making under changing requirements and dynamic missions [28:30] – The future: AI-enabled planning from the CoCom level to the individual operator Resources & Links Mack Ohlinger — https://www.linkedin.com/in/mack2 Dunedain — https://dunedainsystems.com/ “The hardest part is not building the system. It’s getting from 99% to 100%—from demo to production.”

• Transcript

Sensor Fusion, Startup Scaling, Digital Force Technologies with Justin MacLaurin

How operator trust, patient capital, and integrated platforms turn defense technology into fielded capability Guest: Justin MacLaurin - Founder & CEO, Digital Force Technologies Justin MacLaurin has built, sold, bought back, and scaled a defense technology company focused on real operator needs. In this episode, Justin and Callye discuss sensor fusion, edge compute, counter-UAS, SOCOM acquisition speed, and why defense startups must build complete capabilities, not isolated widgets. Topics The convergence of technology and military operations DFT’s origin story with Naval Special Warfare Sensor fusion, edge processing, and battlefield awareness Selling to BBN, moving under Raytheon, and buying the company back Patient capital versus traditional VC expectations in defense hardware Partnership, ruggedization, cyber, and integration for startups Counter-UAS, drone scale, and manufacturability Building operator trust before scaling to larger services Takeaways Defense technology only matters when it works in operational context. Startups win by staying close to the mission and moving faster than traditional acquisition cycles. The government buys capabilities, not components, so integration and deployability matter. Patient capital can fit defense hardware better than constant fundraising cycles. Partnerships help startups avoid wasting runway on non-core work. Operator trust is the first contract. Without it, formal acquisition does not matter. Timestamped Highlights [00:00] - Introducing Justin MacLaurin and DFT [00:44] - Technology and military operations as the core passion [01:20] - Why sensor fusion is reaching an inflection point [04:00] - From video surveillance to edge compute and battlefield data [06:42] - Translating operator needs at Naval Special Warfare [08:00] - The unmet need for rapid tactical technology development [09:00] - Building DFT around mission relevance [10:12] - Selling to BBN and crossing the Valley of Death internally [11:20] - Raytheon integration and the shift from startup speed [12:35] - Buying DFT back and rebooting the company [16:28] - Choosing scale over a lifestyle business [17:30] - Partnering with DC Capital Partners [18:52] - Moving from SOCOM to larger service programs [19:39] - Patient capital and defense market realities [23:29] - Startup culture as a mentality, not a size [24:00] - Helping startups wrap technology for military use [25:30] - Drone manufacturing, scale, and solving the right problem [26:30] - The Seraphim platform and rapid sensor integration [28:27] - Avoiding overinvestment in non-core technology [31:47] - Marketing, OPSEC, and the modern defense tech noise floor [33:30] - Building a trust contract with operators [34:27] - Closing thoughts on fielded capability Connect Justin MacLaurin | LinkedIn Callye Keen | LinkedIn Advanced Sensing Technology | Digital Force Technologies

• Transcript

Rapid Acquisition, Venture Speed, and DCODE with Meagan Metzger

Why defense innovation still stalls, how to fix the operating model, and what it takes to get commercial technology into warfighters’ hands at mission speed Guest: Meagan Metzger – Founder + Chief Executive Officer, Dcode What actually keeps great commercial technology from reaching the Department of Defense is rarely the technology itself. In this episode, Meagan Metzger joins Callye Keen to break down the real blockers: incentive misalignment, slow operating models, rigid budgeting, and the persistent gap between prototyping and scale. Together they dig into how defense teams can move from admiring the problem to building an acquisition system that rewards outcomes, fast feedback, and rapid fielding. Topics Why the Department needs a new operating model to move at the speed of relevance How incentive structures shape acquisition behavior and startup outcomes Why the “valley of death” is a solvable transition problem, not an unavoidable law of nature How rapid capability can go from need to fielded feedback in under 90 days Why outcome-based requirements and budgeting create better paths for commercial technology adoption Takeaways Speed in defense innovation requires changing the operating model, not just asking teams to work harder inside the same system. Startups need fast clarity, not long maybes. A fast no is often more valuable than prolonged engagement without a buying path. Portfolio and mission-outcome thinking can align budgets, acquisition decisions, and fielding efforts around real capability instead of fragmented technology buys. Timestamped Highlights [00:05 - 01:51] Why this moment feels different for defense innovation and commercial tech adoption [03:52 - 06:31] The Department needs a new operating model, not just more urgency [08:43 - 10:43] Incentives, startup reality, and why a fast no beats a long maybe [12:03 - 14:30] Reframing the valley of death and building a rapid acquisition integration cell [15:10 - 19:29] Capability portfolios, mission outcomes, and what portfolio leaders should actually measure [22:12 - 25:14] Why outcome-based requirements and budgeting matter for commercial technology adoption [27:51 - 30:16] From zero to warfighter feedback in under 90 days and why that loop matters [30:42 - 32:41] Where to learn more about DCODE and why this work is possible now Resources & Links DCODE official website Dcode leadership and company background “Act Like a CEO” by Meagan Metzger on portfolio leadership and operating models Kform and The Startup Defense Connect Guest: Meagan Metzger on LinkedIn Host: Callye Keen on LinkedIn

• Transcript

Data at Mission Speed, Resilient Pipelines, and Grist Mill Exchange with Jen Obernier

How government teams can buy, trust, and operationalize commercial data faster for mission-critical decisions Guest: Jen Obernier | CEO, Grist Mill Exchange What does it take to get the exact commercial data a mission team needs before the decision window closes? In this episode, Jen Obernier joins Callye Keen to explain why speed in defense data is not just a technology problem. It is an acquisition, trust, and integration problem, and the teams that solve it will have a major advantage in decision-making, AI adoption, and mission execution. Topics Why coherent data matters more than raw collection volume How Grist Mill Exchange helps governments discover, license, and deliver commercial data faster Why successful AI efforts start with the decision and required data, not just the model How resilient data pipelines reduce risk when providers, business models, or mission needs change Why the next defense advantage may belong to teams that can integrate and move data where decisions happen Takeaways Speed comes from coherence: the right data, in the right place, at the right moment Many mission data bottlenecks are business model and procurement problems before they are technical problems AI programs are far more effective when teams identify the decision first, then align the data strategy to support it Trusted, flexible access to commercial data is becoming part of the defense data supply chain The future power brokers inside government may be the people who can integrate, route, and operationalize data across systems Timestamped Highlights [00:04 - 01:22] Jen explains her core passion: enabling better mission decisions with the specific data needed, exactly when and where it is needed [03:10 - 05:25] From neuroscientist to Pentagon executive to CEO, Jen shares the career path that led her to Grist Mill Exchange [05:25 - 07:47] Why 9 to 18 month acquisition timelines make mission-relevant data useless by the time it arrives [07:51 - 10:58] Callye connects mission data assurance to supply chain resilience and the risks of depending on fragile commercial inputs [10:58 - 13:20] Jen breaks down why commercial data access is as much a business model problem as a technology problem [14:29 - 16:16] Subscription access, one-time historical purchases, and metered APIs as flexible ways to buy only the data needed [17:00 - 18:55] Real-world use cases from policy analysis to supply chain intelligence and mission operations [20:39 - 22:23] Why AI pilots succeed when they are built around a real decision and the data required to support it [25:16 - 26:58] Jen’s prediction for the next three to five years: data integrators and infrastructure builders become the new power brokers Resources & Links Grist Mill Exchange: Official website “Speed comes from coherence.” Follow The Startup Defense for more conversations at the intersection of commercial technology and defense innovation. If this episode was useful, share it with a founder, operator, or acquisition leader working on mission data, AI, or defense modernization.

• Transcript

Next-Generation Munitions, Defense Manufacturing, and WAR Inc. with Jon Williams

From warfighter need to fielded effect: building a partner-led “ordnance nexus” that collapses the munition lifecycle (materials → manufacturing → security → delivery) into a faster, more survivable path to the fight. Guest: Jon Williams – President & CEO, WAR Inc. This episode is a candid, operator-informed look at why defense innovation stalls between prototype and deployment, and what it takes to close the gap. Jon breaks down WAR Inc.’s “portfolio + partners” approach, spanning munitions, counter-UAS, encrypted comms, and manufacturing strategy, with a clear thesis: speed comes from integrated capability, not isolated widgets. (War.inc) Topics WAR Inc.’s origin story: returning to defense to close the “delay gap” for the warfighter Project ONI and the “Ordnance Nexus” concept: munitions + weapon systems + secure data/IP + manufacturing Base materials and process advantage (including cryogenic processing) as a force-multiplier across platforms and tooling Why geographic manufacturing strategy (US + Europe proximity) is a product feature, not an ops detail Industrial-park logic for defense: proximity, talent flywheels, and orchestration over bureaucracy Designing for real near-term users (Ukraine/Poland/Baltics/INDOPACOM) and iterating fast enough to survive adoption Takeaways Warfighter-first means time-to-field, not just performance. If you cannot get it delivered, secured, and sustained, it is not capability. Manufacturing is strategy. Where and how you build can determine adoption, scale, and even whether the program is feasible. Integration beats novelty. The “portfolio + partners” model can outpace single-tech plays by collapsing logistics, handoffs, and approvals. Timestamped Highlights [00:00] - Warfighter-first: “get them the tech they need and deserve” [02:19] - Why Jon founded WAR Inc.: from Marine Corps to defense, to back again [05:38] - Project ONI and the “Ordnance Nexus” (munitions + systems + security + manufacturing) [07:34] - Going all the way back to base materials to move faster end-to-end [09:08] - Cryogenic processing as an “infinite use” advantage (product + tooling + fleet sustainment) [13:14] - The industrial-park model: proximity and orchestration as the real unlock [17:50] - Build for near-term users first; the US warfighter may get version five [19:51] - Why startups fail at scale: prototype is easy, production reality is not [21:22] - The overlooked constraint: raw material availability and supply chain physics Resources & Links WAR Inc. — https://war.inc/ Connect Jon Williams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwilliamsofficial/ Callye Keen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callyekeen/ “If your product doesn’t ship with a Ukrainian instruction manual, you’re doing something wrong.” Support the show: Subscribe, share with a builder in defense, and send one person this episode who needs a clearer view of how to go from prototype to production at speed.

AI Gun Detection, Mission-driven Culture, and ZeroEyes with Sam Alaimo

Stopping threats before shots are fired: how ZeroEyes pairs computer vision with a 24/7 human verification layer to deliver actionable intelligence to responders in seconds. Guest: Sam Alaimo – Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer, ZeroEyes ZeroEyes was founded to tackle a real, urgent problem with a pragmatic solution: detect a brandished firearm through existing cameras, verify it fast, and dispatch real-time alerts. In this episode, Sam breaks down how the tech + operations model works, why dual-use (K-12, commercial, and DoD) made the product stronger, and what it takes to build a mission-first culture that scales. Topics Why ZeroEyes was founded after Parkland—and why cameras had been “forensic only” before (ZeroEyes) The ZeroEyes Operations Center (ZOC): human verification as the trust and assurance layer (ZeroEyes) Dual-use execution: how DoD work expanded capabilities (mobile cameras, new detection modalities) Fundraising lessons: why “team dynamics” can be the deciding factor in venture-scale capital Partnerships and integration strategy (e.g., Picogrid) (PR Newswire) Takeaways High-stakes AI needs an assurance model. Human verification isn’t a bolt-on—it’s core to operational trust and speed. Dual-use can be a product advantage. Diverse environments drive better data, stronger models, and broader applicability. Investors often underwrite the team, not just the tech. Cohesion, humility, and mission alignment can be a decisive differentiator. Timestamped Highlights [00:00] - The mission: doing something practical about mass shootings [01:35] - The founding story: Parkland, cameras, and “left of bang” [04:44] - The hard truth: selling into schools vs. DoD (and staying mission-aligned) [07:28] - Building a market that didn’t exist (and finding budget for it) [07:54] - Inside the ZOC: human verification, dispatch, and actionable intel [12:24] - Hiring as strategy: creating a mission-driven transition path for veterans [16:08] - Raising venture-scale capital: what investors actually respond to [22:15] - What’s next: expanding beyond firearms into new analytics (including knives) [23:10] - Partnerships as force-multipliers (and why not to “reinvent the wheel”) Resources & Links ZeroEyes (company) (ZeroEyes) Connect Guest: Sam Alaimo Host: Callye Keen If this episode sparked ideas, share The Startup Defense with one operator or founder in your network—and if you’re building or scaling a defense tech product, reach out to Kform for support.

Defense Startups, Crossing the Valley, and Steam Studios with Noah Sheinbaum

Startups can’t afford to be wrong on an 18-month cycle—and neither can the services or the acquisition system that supports them. Callye and Noah deconstruct the so-called “valley of death,” separating structural reality from self-inflicted pain and inexperience. They dig into how narrative, incentives, and tighter demo cycles can compress risk and get real capability into the hands of operators faster. Topics Why the “valley of death” is often more mirage than destiny—and where it’s brutally real How information, narrative, and media shape behavior in defense and critical industries Kform’s evolution from a third-generation machine shop to a commercialization partner for defense startups Competition-based drone events and what they reveal about the future of acquisition Using rapid demos and shared customers to shrink timelines from years to weeks Takeaways The valley of death isn’t an inescapable trap; it’s a series of predictable transitions that punish inexperience, poor capital efficiency, and lack of customer focus. In defense, you may only get one meaningful shot every 12–18 months, so choices around SBIRs, sponsors, and end users are not “free”—they are existential. Tight feedback loops—design, build, demo, adjust—run on weeks instead of years can derisk programs, align incentives, and help both startups and the government “be slightly wrong and get less wrong” much faster. Timestamped Highlights [00:00] - Why startups (and DoD) can’t afford 18-month mistakes [02:34] - Rethinking the “valley of death” and reclaiming agency [05:24] - A contrarian view: the valley as mirage and self-inflicted pain [09:02] - “SBIR is not free money” and the cost of choosing the wrong sponsor [11:54] - Defense tech jobs, new attention, and why this moment matters [17:33] - Kform’s roots: from Navy machinist and Circle K to Kform [23:55] - Building Kform’s playbook: the “team behind your team” [26:29] - Steam Studios and competition-based drones as a new acquisition pattern [31:20] - Tight demo loops: slightly wrong every two weeks vs. catastrophically wrong in 18 months [36:57] - Policy shifts, acquisition reform, and closing reflections Resources & Links Kform — https://kform.com Crossing the Valley (podcast) — https://www.frontdoordefense.com/podcast Front Door Defense Jobs — https://www.frontdoordefense.com Steam Studios — https://www.steamstudio.io U.S. National Drone Association — https://www.usnda.org “We can’t afford to be wrong in 18 months. We can afford to be slightly wrong—and getting less wrong—every two weeks.” To partner with Kform, explore collaboration, or bring a product from prototype to field faster, visit kform.com and reach out to the team. If this episode resonates, share it with a founder, operator, or investor who cares about actually fielding capability—not just talking about it.

Heads Down Building, Battlefield Autonomy, and Chaos Industries with Will Hurd

Will Hurd – Chief Strategy Officer, Chaos Industries - former CIA officer, Member of Congress, and cybersecurity founder Chaos Industries is quietly shipping modern radar and autonomy tools into some of the hardest environments on earth—from Ukraine to the Middle East—while most of the market is still talking. Will Hurd joins Callye to break down why giving warfighters time is the real advantage, why “volume beats exquisiteness,” and how Chaos went heads-down to build radar that sees farther, sets up faster, and costs a fraction of legacy systems. Topics Why autonomy and sensing at the edge are reshaping domain awareness and air superiority How Chaos Industries approached building a new class of expeditionary radar (Vanquish) instead of iterating on 1970s concepts The deliberate choice to stay quiet, build first, and market later—and why over-promising kills credibility in defense Operating in Ukraine and other high-end environments as a proving ground for hardware, networking, and EW resilience Why partnerships (e.g., Forterra) and culture-matched sprint cycles are critical for turning point tech into real capability Takeaways Time is the real currency on the battlefield. Moving from seconds of warning to minutes fundamentally changes what warfighters can do with the systems they already have. Defense hype without working hardware is a dead end. In a world where radars designed in the 1970s are still in service, the bar is not slogans—it’s reliable, repeatable performance in the field. Partnerships and speed win. Companies that can integrate, iterate on two-week cycles, and plug into existing platforms and contracts will outpace those trying to boil the ocean alone. Timestamped Highlights [00:00] - Why Will joined Chaos and the autonomy problem [02:12] - Systems vs point solutions on the battlefield [03:19] - Chaos’ stealth phase and real-world deployments [05:17] - Updating 1970s radar for modern threats [07:44] - Build first, talk later: Chaos’ GTM philosophy [12:22] - Speed, OODA loops, and 10x building over marketing [13:36] - Hype vs reality when your widget is tested [15:05] - Partnering with Forterra on autonomous ground vehicles [19:30] - Outcome over widgets and culture-fit partnerships [20:37] - Looking ahead to maritime autonomy and closing remarks Resources & Links Chaos Industries — https://www.chaosinc.com Forterra — https://www.forterra.com/ Connect Will Hurd — https://www.linkedin.com/in/wbhurd/ Callye Keen — https://www.linkedin.com/in/callyekeen/ “In today’s battlefield, the winner isn’t the biggest—it’s the fastest. If you can’t upgrade at the edge and iterate in weeks instead of years, you’re already behind.” To explore how Kform helps defense innovators move from idea to fielded capability, visit kform.com. If this episode was useful, share it with a builder, operator, or investor who needs to hear a no-nonsense view of defense autonomy and sensing.

Distributed Space Edge Computing, On-orbit Autonomy, and Aethero with Edward Ge

Bringing modern compute, edge AI, and hard-tech investing into orbit Guest: Edward Ge – Founder & CEO, Aether Most spacecraft still fly computers comparable to late-1990s desktops while our phones race ahead with Moore’s Law. In this episode, Edward Ge explains how Aethero is building radiation-tolerant, long-life computing for space and enabling distributed AI at the edge in orbit. We also dig into why hard tech rarely “goes to zero,” and how space + defense will shape the next generation of infrastructure and talent. Topics Why space missions still run on decades-old processors and what must change Building reliable, radiation-tolerant compute and distributed systems for multi-year space missions Hard-tech fundraising, human capital, and defense as the launch customer for orbital compute Takeaways Modern compute in space is constrained by reliability and radiation, not just performance and power. Hard-tech investments compound via infrastructure and talent, even when individual startups fail. Real orbital data centers will likely emerge from defense-driven, distributed edge compute in space. Timestamped Highlights [00:00] - Ed’s background, Athero intro, why space, autonomy, and AI matter now [00:38] - Astrobiology, Mars biosignatures, and why life may exist in our backyard [02:16] - Moore’s Law on Earth vs. space; Perseverance’s 1990s-class flight computer [04:04] - Reliability over 5–15 years and why “it cannot break” dominates design [06:18] - Raising capital for space; why top funds are pivoting into hard tech [08:36] - Hard tech, human capital, and the halo effect of companies like SpaceX [15:03] - New satellites, defense missions, and Athero’s distributed computing in orbit [17:40] - “Only telecom and defense” as the core space business models today [20:44] - Dropout advice, conviction, and being direct with investors and partners Resources & Links Aethero — https://www.aethero.com Kform — https://kform.com Connect Guest: Edward Ge — https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardge9/ Host: Callye Keen — https://www.linkedin.com/in/callyekeen/ “In space, your computer can’t just reboot. It has to not break for 5, 10, 15 years.” Support The Startup Defense by sharing this episode with a founder, engineer, or investor in space, autonomy, or defense tech—and visit kform.com to learn how we help hard-tech teams go from prototype to production

Connecting with Purpose, Defense Manufacturing, and Sustainment with Bret Boyd

Callye Keen and Bret Boyd discuss the challenges and opportunities in the manufacturing sector, particularly in relation to supply chain management and defense manufacturing. They explore the importance of connecting small manufacturers, the role of technology and AI in procurement, and the need for a robust ecosystem to support manufacturing growth. Boyd shares insights from his experience in the military and how it informs his approach to building Sustainment, a company focused on improving supplier discovery and connectivity in the manufacturing space. The discussion also touches on compliance challenges and the future of defense manufacturing in the U.S. Takeaways People and mission excite us. Building teams and solving problems is essential. Manufacturing is a long tail of small businesses. Finding U.S. manufacturers can be frustratingly hard. The military's logistics and sustainment groups face supplier challenges. AI can help identify manufacturing suppliers. Ecosystem development is crucial for manufacturing growth. Compliance costs can be prohibitive for small manufacturers. National strength is tied to industrial strength. A manufacturing ready reserve could enhance defense capabilities. Chapters 00:00 Connecting People and Purpose 04:27 The Challenge of Supply Chain Management 10:04 Navigating Manufacturing Complexities 15:43 Building Manufacturing Ecosystems 21:35 The Cost of Compliance in Defense Manufacturing 26:46 Bridging the Gap Between Innovation and Tradition

Decision Dominance, Team Culture, and Smack Technologies with Andy Markoff

Andy Markoff joins Callye to unpack why he left uniformed service to build Smack Technologies—and how his team is pursuing “decision dominance”: fusing multi‑modal data and using reinforcement learning to turn analysis into actions faster than adversaries. Andy explains where Smack sits in the modern “kill web,” why teaming beats rip‑and‑replace, and the biggest mistake he sees new defense founders make (hint: losing touch with the end user). The conversation closes with an honest look at culture—how to let scientists and engineers coexist under a shared mission without blowing deadlines or technical rigor. Key Takeaways Mission → Company: Andy’s service in Iraq and Afghanistan—and the pain of running the “kill chain in Office 365”—pushed him to build technology outside the wire and bring it back in. Where Smack fits: Not a data‑integration shop. Smack focuses on the model/reasoning layer (reinforcement learning) and the application layer that surfaces decisions—designed to plug into others’ data layers and UI/briefing tools (think Palantir for integration, OneBrief for CONOPS visualization). Teaming > Turf: Modern defense delivery splits across four components: data integration, model/reasoning, application, and an operating layer. No single vendor wins everywhere—learn to team or walk away. Don’t forget the user: The pendulum swung from “only talk to end users” to “only sell to program offices/Congress.” You must work all three—user, program office, and appropriators—or you’ll ship tech that gets funded but never used. Iterate in the field: Replace “perfect‑then‑procure” with rapid fielding, frequent touchpoints, and continuous deployment—even for HW/SW systems supporting AI at the edge. Comms in contested environments: A future fight breaks our assumption of fat pipes. Andy highlights secure 5G efforts (e.g., Cape) and calls for autonomous communications relay as an under‑served, solvable gap. Power is a feature: Edge systems die without expeditionary power—solve it early, not after the ruck weighs 200 lbs in batteries. Culture that ships: Balance “what’s right” (scientists minimizing tech debt) with “ship it” (engineers hitting milestones). Mission alignment is the glue. Chapters & Timestamps 00:00 — Cold open & intro 00:23 — What Andy’s passionate about now: service, purpose, and the national‑defense mission 01:14 — Marine Corps to Marine Raider: finding purpose, then deciding to build from the outside 03:22 — 2016 Iraq: running the kill chain in Office 365 & the moment of founder clarity 05:56 — From PowerPoint and whiteboards to decision dominance 07:41 — The “four components” of defense decision tech & where Smack sits 10:46 — Teaming with Palantir/Anduril/OneBrief vs. competing with them 12:23 — What new entrants get wrong: forgetting end users (or only courting PMOs) 14:38 — Rapid fielding mindset: iterate with real users, not just SBIR slides 16:22 — Hardware as the house where AI lives; why iteration matters 18:18 — Startups to watch & the comms relay gap; secure 5G in the mix 20:32 — Moving data ≈ asking better questions; legacy links won’t carry modern fusion 22:19 — Power at the edge & unsexy problems that win fights 24:37 — Golden nugget: build cultures where scientists and engineers both thrive About Andy Markoff Andrew brings more than a decade of leadership in the U.S. Marine Corps, including roles as a Marine Special Operations Officer, Fires Instructor at MAWTS-1, and Special Operations Forces J3 during the Battle of Mosul. His experience spans four combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as leading operations and strategy at Palantir. Andrew holds a BA in Political Science from Princeton University.

Collaborative Innovation, Dark Corners, and Mission Cultivate with Robert Fehlen

Callye Keen interviews Robert Fehlen about his work with Mission Cultivate and Dark Corner Solutions. They discuss the importance of community and networking in the defense innovation space, the challenges of duplication of efforts within military projects, and the need for a centralized platform to connect industry capabilities with military needs. Robert shares insights on the significance of teaming in defense contracts and the future plans for Mission Cultivate, which aims to create a more effective ecosystem for defense innovation. Takeaways Robert Fehlen's passion is rooted in his family's military background. Dark Corner Solutions focuses on uncovering overlooked stories in defense. Networking is crucial for success in the defense industry. Duplication of efforts in military projects is a significant issue. Mission Cultivate aims to connect industry capabilities with military needs. Building a community is essential for fostering innovation. Teaming is the only way to succeed in defense contracts. The defense marketplace is complex and requires strategic navigation. Quality over quantity is a key principle for Mission Cultivate. Human connections are vital in the defense contracting space. About Robert Fehlen Website: https://www.missioncultivate.com/

Rapid Innovation, Manufacturing Transparency, and Authentise with Andre Wegner

Andre Wegner believes the biggest choke-point in defense manufacturing isn’t hardware—it’s the months (or years) lost inside data-starved black boxes. He and host Callye Keen unpack how capturing every shred of context across design, engineering, and shop-floor workflows—then feeding it to AI—can turn a decade-long program into a months-long sprint. If you care about rebuilding U.S. industrial agility, hit play. Topics We Cover Why “idea → part” speed is now a national-security metric The cost of invisible data: 16k+ parts “too expensive to reverse engineer” Creating a new category Key Takeaways Transparency beats paperwork. Drawings alone can’t scale or automate production; live context must flow from concept through machining. AI makes the unsexy sexy. Large language models can surface risks and bottlenecks instantly—if the data exhaust is captured. Own the ability to build. You don’t truly own IP when the know-how to make it sits outside your walls. Chapters 00:00 | Welcome & guest intro 02:58 | The Authentise journey—from secure print streaming to DoD prime 05:12 | Obsessing over months-not-years product cycles 10:18 | The “blind-men & elephant” parable of fragmented manufacturing data 17:21 | Why the golden-thread metaphor fails in a multidimensional world 23:40 | Naming a new category: Continuous Engineering Operations 26:17 | $700 pocket sculptures & reframing value 31:58 | Cheap drones, culture change, and AI-enabled transparency 34:48 | Closing thoughts & future collaboration Resources & Links Authentise — https://authentise.com Kform — https://kform.com Connect Andre: LinkedIn / X / Authentise Callye: LinkedIn / X / Kform “You don’t really own your IP if you can’t make it.” — Callye Keen Enjoyed the episode? Follow The StartupDefense and share it with a fellow builder. Powered by Kform—defense tech transformation from concept to production.

Kinetic Autonomous Counter UAS, Serial Entrepreneurship, and Allen Control Systems with Steve Simoni

Callye Keen and Steve Simone discuss the evolving landscape of defense technology, particularly in countering unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Steve shares his passion for building businesses in this sector, the challenges of developing effective counter-drone solutions, and the importance of private capital in fostering innovation. They explore the dynamics of the defense market, the acquisition processes, and the need for startups to anticipate future requirements rather than react to current demands. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Defense Tech and Passion for Building 01:38 The Shift to Counter UAS and Drone Warfare 03:58 Challenges in Developing Kinetic Solutions 06:17 Navigating the Defense Startup Landscape 09:27 Funding and Innovation in Defense Tech 11:10 Overcoming Challenges in Defense Startups 15:09 Market Changes and Acquisition Processes 18:16 Future Opportunities in Defense Tech About Steve Simoni Steve is a Navy veteran and a nuclear engineer who worked on instrumentation and control systems for Navy nuclear reactors. He previously was CEO and co-founder of Bbot, a software and robotics restaurant technology startup which was acquired by DoorDash. He’s also held sales, product and engineering roles in marketing technology. Links Website: https://www.allencontrolsystems.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevensimoni/

Speed of Relevance, Maritime Autonomy, and Defense Acquisition with Noam Oz

Callye Keen interviews Noam Oz, a former director of innovation operations at Naval X, discussing his extensive background in defense and technology innovation. They explore the challenges of navigating the defense acquisition landscape, the importance of iterative development, and the need for effective communication between operators and solution providers. Noam emphasizes the significance of understanding risk and readiness in defense technology, as well as the potential of new acquisition pathways like SBIRs and OTAs. The discussion also touches on future trends in defense technology, particularly the need for modularity and adaptability in solutions. Takeaways Noam Oz has a rich background in defense and technology innovation. 90% of success in defense innovation is about managing personalities. Iterative development and user feedback are crucial for effective solutions. Embedding operators in the innovation process enhances relevance. New acquisition pathways like CSOs and OTAs are changing the landscape. Understanding risk and readiness is essential for defense tech. The operator community often feels neglected in the acquisition process. Modularity in defense technology can enhance operational effectiveness. Startups should focus on how their products can be easily deployed in the field. There is a growing opportunity for additive manufacturing in defense. About Noam Oz Defense Acquisition Expert & Former Director for Innovation Operations at NavalX, Office of Naval Research Noam Oz is the former Director for Innovation Operations at NavalX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, where he led efforts to quickly equip Sailors and Marines with needed capabilities and coordinated efforts with innovation cells across the armed services. In addition to his corporate experience at Lockheed Martin and Noblis, Mr. Oz has dedicated more than 16 years as a DoD civilian serving in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development & Acquisition), and Naval Sea Systems Command.