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The Dual-Use Founder: Vets Now Building For America
@ a16z
04/21/25
Takeaways
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
As taxpayers, veterans, and founders, we should want a competitive environment in defense contracting to address challenges faster and effectively.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
The stakes are clear, and it's important to engage in meaningful work that addresses modern warfare challenges.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
I joined the Air Force to pay for my education at MIT, and my experience there focused on innovating within the Air Force to rapidly deliver new systems to the warfighter.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
I have a family history of service and joined the Army after completing my education at Cornell, later returning to active service to work in technology organizations.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
I felt a strong call to service after the invasion of Iraq in 2003, which led me to enlist in the Army as a Green Beret.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
While serving in the Air Force, I noticed many acquisition programs were outdated, which inspired me to innovate from the outside after leaving the military.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
I initially pursued a career in investment banking after leaving the military, which helped me build a toolkit of knowledge before starting my own company.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
At Rune, we focus on enabling military logistics across services, particularly for the Army and Marine Corps, to improve field logistics.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
During my time in the Air Force, I witnessed the early stages of drone technology and its potential impact on modern warfare.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
The conflict in Ukraine has changed the paradigm for military technology, highlighting the importance of adapting to new threats.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
At Cape, we prioritize understanding what technology the Ukrainians need and how to prepare Taiwan for potential threats.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
Transitioning from military service to entrepreneurship can be done at any point in your career, but experiences in companies like Palantir can provide valuable insights.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
Having experience in a successful company can help founders understand the culture and mechanics of operating an innovative organization.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
The military instills a mission-driven focus that is invaluable in the startup world, emphasizing the importance of making a difference.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
Creating a culture that accepts failure and encourages risk-taking is crucial for fostering innovation in a startup environment.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
There are common threads of initiative and drive across military service, finance, and startup experiences that contribute to success.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
Our companies are not just focused on military applications; we also address challenges faced by critical infrastructure sectors like oil and gas.
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a16z Cast
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@ a16z
We need to balance a mission-driven culture with a customer-driven approach to effectively address the needs of various organizations.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
We consider ourselves dual-use companies, as the threats we address in national airspace cut across various sectors, and drones can be utilized for beneficial purposes, such as inspecting infrastructure and logistics, rather than just for malicious activities.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
It's crucial to build a company culture that understands the serious nature of the work, especially when dealing with critical issues like military support.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
To attract technology talent from the commercial sector to defense, it's important to emphasize the meaningful impact of their work.
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a16z Cast
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@ a16z
At Cape, we focus on dual-use technology that serves both defense and consumer needs, similar to how Signal is used for privacy and security.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
Our mission is to provide technology that keeps special operations personnel safe while allowing them to access commercial cellular networks without compromising security.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
The key to recruiting at Cape is finding individuals who embrace both defense and consumer missions, which leads to a strong and motivated team.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
We have not divided our business into commercial and defense sectors; instead, we focus on a unified engineering team that serves all customers.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
There's a significant gap in scaling successful government programs from small contracts to larger ones, which is essential for effective military operations.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
The military's trust and cohesion can be instilled in companies by fostering teamwork and a shared understanding of mission importance.
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a16z Cast
04/21/25
@ a16z
Celebrating successes and recognizing real-world impacts of our work is vital for building a strong company culture and cohesion.
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a16z Cast
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@ a16z
Having the authority and ability to make impactful decisions is crucial for anyone considering a return to military service in an innovation role.