America Builds

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**America Builds**

The America Builds podcast sits at the nexus of national security, technology, and venture capital. We highlight the brilliant operators and investors pushing the boundaries of frontier technology.

Latest Episodes:

019: Rosa Hathaway, Aerospace Engineer and Investor at Atento Capital Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

Rosa Hathaway is an aerospace engineer and investor at Atento Capital.

018: Ian Cinnamon, CEO and Co-Founder of Apex Oct 08, 2023

Show notes

Ian Cinnamon is the founder and CEO of Apex, a spacecraft manufacturing company based in Los Angeles.

017: Season 1 Highlights Sep 10, 2023

Show notes

Thank you for tuning in for Season 1 of the America Builds Podcast (now the Launch Pad Podcast). We have exciting plans for Season 2, coming soon. In the meantime, please enjoy some highlights from this season.

016: Sam Gray, Executive Director of Silicon Valley Defense Group Sep 03, 2023

Show notes

Sam Gray is the Executive Director of the Silicon Valley Defense Group, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering connections among people, technology, and capital to secure the US and its allies' technological edge. Sam is a retired Naval Officer, and as a fighter pilot, he deployed 7 times in the Pacific and Middle East. Sam co-founded NavalX, the Navy and Marine Corps innovation office, where he spearheaded its growth from a single office to 15 across the US and UK. His prior roles include managing aerospace procurement for the Under Secretary of Defense, strategic planning focused on China at Pacific Command, and serving as the commanding officer of an F/A-18 squadron based in Japan. Sam has a degree in history from The Ohio State University and a Master's in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College.

015: Michael Palank, General Partner at MaC Venture Capital Aug 27, 2023

Show notes

Michael Palank has been General Partner at MaC Venture Capital since its inception in January 2019. Michael focuses on seed-stage consumer and enterprise startup investing across a number of sectors, including aerospace.

014: Ben Kohlmann, Early-Stage Defense & Energy Investor at Cubit Capital Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

As an early-stage defense and energy investor, Ben supports courageous founders tackling substantial problems. Formerly a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet pilot, Ben founded the Chief of Naval Operations Rapid Innovation Cell. His entrepreneurial spirit also led him to co-found the non-profit Defense Entrepreneurs Forum, which now boasts over 2,500 members. As the CEO of a startup called Farcast, he used technology to deliver critical supplies to complex geographies, and during his time at McKinsey, he drove transformation within the energy and public sectors. Ben's passion also extends to podcasting, where he hosts "Texas Rising," exploring the growth within the Lone Star State, and the prior show "A Random Walk with Ben Kohlmann."

013: Lior Susan, Founder and Managing Partner at Eclipse Ventures Aug 13, 2023

Show notes

Lior Susan, the Founder and Managing Partner of Eclipse Ventures, has dedicated his career to rearchitecting industries crucial to our lives and economies. Growing up on a kibbutz and serving in the Israeli Special Forces, Lior is an unlikely venture capitalist. From building Intucell, which was acquired by Cisco, to leading Flex's hardware investment platform, his diverse background has shaped his commitment to digital transformation. With Eclipse, Lior partners with entrepreneurs reshaping industries, and serves on the boards of companies like Bright Machines, Augury, and Owlet. A relentless optimist, Lior sees the need for a new economy and is devoted to building it.

012: Will Gray, Managing Partner at Atento Capital Aug 06, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, we talk with Will Gray, a Tulsa-born tennis enthusiast who combined his love for the sport with a keen business acumen to build a thriving career. From his early days on the tennis courts to his academic pursuits at the University of Tulsa, and his subsequent career in venture capital, Will's story is one of ambition, hard work, and community involvement.

011: Jake Leventhal, Ecommerce and SpaceX Jul 29, 2023

Show notes

Jake Leventhal is currently the CTO of Rip Technologies. Previously, he worked at SpaceX for 4 years, and founded his own ecommerce company. Jake has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California.

010: Michael Moreno, Deep Tech VC and Former CIA Jul 23, 2023

Show notes

Michael Moreno's background in deep tech startups and national security makes him the perfect person for a conversation about global security and resilience. Mike has over a decade of service with the US government in roles within the CIA, DOD, and Department of State. Currently, he works on Space and National Security on the Worldwide Public Sector VC and Startups team and AWS. He's also a founding board member of Sound Off, a pro bono mental health platform for veterans. Mike has an MBA from Berkeley and a Master's in International Affairs from Columbia University.

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