Stay ConnectedFew companies make it from pilot to production in the defense market. Those who do often change the industry in the process.
How do they do it? What lessons can startups take from their trials, successes, and failures? Crossing the Valley tells the stories of the trailblazers who are forging a new path for America’s defense.
Copyright: © Noah Sheinbaum
In this week’s Crossing the Valley, Noah sits down with Hank Holland, CEO of Amaero International, a modern manufacturing company that’s increasingly involved in modernizing America’s industrial base.
In this episode of Crossing the Valley Noah sits down with Greer Carper, the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy at Fortem Technologies.
Timestamps:
00:00-03:59: A Journey through Defense Technology Development
03:59-07:04: Moving from Investing to Operating in a Growing Company
07:55-08:47: Navigating Strategy Roles in Startups
10:00-12:38: From Commercial Markets to the Defense Space
18:45-22:02: Leveraging RDTE Funding
22:50-24:23: Navigating the Trade-offs in Counter-UAS Systems
26:10-27:00: International Expansion
27:30-28:45: Next Steps in Defense Contracts and Counter-UAS Innovations
In this episode of Crossing the Valley, I had the pleasure of speaking with Misha Govshteyn, the CEO of Macrofab, a Texas-based cloud manufacturing company that is working to revitalize American manufacturing. With a network of over 100 factories across the United States and Mexico, Macrofab supplies defense contractors and helps them produce goods quickly, cost-effectively, and at a higher quality, all while keeping production closer to home.
About Vannevar Labs
Vannevar Labs is building the next-generation “non-kinetic defense prime.”
Today, they're mentioned in the same breath as defense behemoths like Anduril and Palantir. Since founding the company in their Stanford dorm room in 2019, CEO Brett Granberg and President Nini Hamrick have grown the company dramatically. From $3.5 million in annual contract value in 2021, they did $25 million in 2022, before growing to $49 million last year.
What's even more crazy is, unlike most of their peers, they're already profitable. Brett and Nini know that defense modernization is not a fight that's going to be won by one company alone.
Check us out at ValleyCrossers.com and frontdoor.substack.com for the full writeup!
Timestamps
00:00:00-00:00:34 - Introduction to Vannevar Labs
00:00:34-00:01:50 - Founding Story
00:04:22-00:05:55 - Reactions to Starting a Defense Tech Company
00:09:29-00:11:55 - Building Trust with Customers
00:13:17-00:17:41 - Selecting and Working with Champions
00:26:30-00:28:51 - Transitioning to Larger Programs
00:36:30-00:39:58 - Future Plans and Growth of Vannevar Labs
00:40:09-00:45:50 - Talent and Hiring at Vannevar Labs
In this episode of Crossing the Valley, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jade Baranski, the founder and CEO of Mobilize. Mobilize is a company that connects end users within the federal government to the companies that provide the capabilities they need.
Jade shares the story of how VISION came to be, starting with their participation in an Air Force pitch competition, with twists turns and pivots along the way. The end result is Vision, a data platform, has changed the way data is used in the defense “innovation” and acquisition communities to match buyers and sellers.
For more on the Mobilize team, check out mobilizevision.com
CTV Subscribers,
I’m excited to bring you this timely episode of "Crossing the Valley." I had the opportunity to sit down with Kara Kramer, the Director of Business Development at AeroVironment, and winner of the first Replicator award!
In this episode, Kara spills the beans on AeroVironment's recent win, and goes in depth on the Switchblade loitering munition. We dive into the details of the program, the future of autonomy in the defense industry, and AeroVironment itself.
Kara shares valuable insights on the importance of focusing on customer requirements, the benefits of working with both startups and large companies, and the significance of scalability in defense innovation.
If you're interested in learning more about AeroVironment, their role in the Replicator initiative, and the future of autonomy in defense, this episode is a must-listen.
If you’d like to learn more about AeroVironment, or to join the team, check out avinc.com!
GoTenna is a great example of a company that built legit tech, found its niche in the federal market, and fought to survive long enough to generate the kind of traction that will allow it to be a smash hit. CEO Ari Schuler joined us to share his candid takes on the company, the journey, and the market. The company supports over 350 agencies in mission-critical operations around the world today.
Michael Grochol is a fascinating example of when a Silicon Valley-raised problem solver-come-national security expert. His approach to starting a company was long, methodical, and principled. And it led him to the helm of one of the nation’s fastest growing defense services companies.
Unlike many founders, Michael actually turned down the first opportunity he had to start a company.
Why?
He felt he wasn’t prepared.
So he focused on acquiring the skills and experiences he knew he would need, to be able to succeed when he finally stepped into the role.
Fair to say, that bet is paying off!
For more on IronEagleX: https://ironeaglex.com/
For more on Michael Grochol: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-grochol/
For more Crossing the Valley: https://www.youtube.com/@FrontdoorDefense
Overview
Marc Frankel is one of the few people on earth to have worked at not one but TWO successful defense tech companies: Palantir, and Expanse. Now he's taking on the problem of software supply chain vulnerabilities with his new venture, Manifest Cyber. In this conversation we dive into what he's applying from past experience, what he's learning fresh for the first time, and what the future holds.
For more on Manifest:
Website: Manifestcyber.com
BOM Working Group Slack: info@manifestcyber.com
YouTube: @manifest-cyber
Will Edwards, CEO and Co-founder of Firehawk Aerospace joins us to talk 3D printed rocket propellant, Congressional appropriations, and how the team is revolutionizing the propulsion market.
For more on Firehawk Aerospace, check out: https://firehawkaerospace.com/
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