Amanda Foxton, PMP on LinkedIn: More ex-military officials are becoming VCs as defense tech investment… (2024)

Read this article 🚀🔥Venture Capital led innovation in national security is a huge win (‘peace thru superior fire power’ as we used to say in the Army) 🏛️Excellent article on VC investments in national security, e.g., Anduril Industries🪖Pentagon has struggled to integrate AI into military operations, this development helps.🧾government has more dollar-for-dollar clout as a buyer than as an investor (Brose, Anduril Industries👾The military needs more AI technology, faster — which means first getting out of its own way (POLITICO 06/27/2023).Army Futures CommandCenter for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)The United States Army War CollegeStrategic Studies Institute and US Army War College PressThe Brookings Institution

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Interesting summary of a real trend. But are 'revolving doors' always a problem? In this case, do we prefer U.S. startups be uninformed by #nationalsecurity? And isn't more diverse #military & #defense #business competition generally good?One could argue we actually need more, not less, revolving doors. What do you think?#inclusivenationalsecurity

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Discipline. Perseverance. Respect. Words that resonate in healthcare startup companies.Traits that are second nature in those who have served our country.I've witnessed the transformative impact military veterans have on healthcare ventures and startups. Their steadfast dedication and ability to see a mission through to completion are not just admirable traits but key ingredients of innovation and success.When a veteran joins a startup, they bring more than skills – they bring a presence that increases a company’s brand recognition and loyalty.It's in no small part a reflection of the public's respect for their dedication and service.Military veterans are adept at navigating the chain of command, yet versatile enough to wear multiple hats at once in the dynamic startup environment. Here's to the veterans enriching our important pursuit of an improved healthcare system – a system that is focused on access, convenience, affordability, and novel technological products and solutions.It’s an honor to have you on our team.

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Military leaders talk incessantly about innovation. Why don’t they buy more of it?: Published reports detail how little DoD actually spends on new or start-up companies, even ones that have what the military says its looking for.The post Military leaders talk incessantly about innovation. Why don’t they buy more of it? first appeared on Federal News Network. @Poseidon-US #FederalNewsRadio #Innovation

Military leaders talk incessantly about innovation. Why don’t they buy more of it?: Published reports detail how little DoD actually spends on new or start-up companies, even ones that have what the military says its looking for.The post Military leaders talk incessantly about innovation. Why don’t they buy more of it? first appeared on Federal News Network. @Poseidon-US #FedearlNewsRadio #News

Military leaders talk incessantly about innovation. Why don’t they buy more of it?: Published reports detail how little DoD actually spends on new or start-up companies, even ones that have what the military says its looking for.The post Military leaders talk incessantly about innovation. Why don’t they buy more of it? first appeared on Federal News Network. #FederalNewsRadio #IDefense

Here's how small manufacturers in #Kansas will have opportunities to solve challenges for the U.S. Defense Department. FirePoint Innovations Center at Wichita State University secures new designation. #innovation #defenseindustry #defense #manufacturing #defensecontracting

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The potential returns on investment in the military and defence sector are significant: governments worldwide allocate substantial budgets towards defence and security, providing a stable customer base and they are often associated with long-term revenue streams and contracts that span anywhere from several years to decades, offering a reliable source of income. But working with the government isn’t as rosy as it sounds.If we take the US as an example, the sector has been dominated by the Big Five for decades. Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics have monopolised the industry making it notoriously difficult to enter and compete as a new supplier.Defence startups, for example Anduril, represent a shift in this traditional approach: while the U.S. military has historically prioritised hardware over software, Anduril places software at the heart of its defence philosophy. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision, Anduril pioneers the use of software-driven solutions in the evolving landscape of warfare.

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As an European defense startup that continues to grow and innovate, we face both opportunities and challenges. Also, we can’t deny the need for advanced military technology, which positions us to drive innovation and exceed expectations. We would like to thank Sifted for including us in their tech market map on defense and dual-use technologies for 2024. We’re well-positioned to drive innovation and develop cutting-edge technologies that can save lives. The collaboration between startups and governments holds the potential to transform the defense sector, making significant contributions to both national security and the well-being of military personnel.Read more in our blog: https://lnkd.in/dFxSj2wB#DefenseIndustry #Innovation #MilitaryTech #Startups #Europe

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I hate to be critical of a well-intended effort at innovation in the #defenseindustry but I believe Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)'s $1 billion budget would be better spent on low-interest loans to existing defense industrial base small businesses to expand production, make capital investments, and hire & train workers.Doug Beck is clearly very driven & talented, with a compelling mix of military (US Navy) and private sector (Apple) experience. He also seems to understand the fundamental problems of 1) awarding prototype contracts fast and 2) transitioning those early wins to long term programs of record. It's just much less clear what DIU can do about it simply with more funding. An early sign of weakness in Beck's plan: "The additional money will allow DIU to nearly double its staff... The DIU is also requesting 50 more military and civilian staffers..." No comment."DIU says it strives to award prototype contracts within 60 to 90 days... but in 2023 it took 197 days on average."In 2023 the DIU awarded 90 contracts for pilot projects worth an average $3.3M..." but of these "just 10 went on to win a deal with the military." "Since its inception, the DIU has helped 20 projects obtain a program of record." That is only 20 companies since 2015, nearly 10 years (!).So far, this doesn't seem like an organization we should give $1B to expand its mission. However, Beck has outlined some strong strategic priorities:1. "He wants the DIU to grant technology pilots only when there is already confirmed demand for a contract from the Pentagon." Forget about how difficult this will be to accomplish -- this alone would be a huge step forward.2. DIU will use its "increased budget to grant production contracts to startups waiting for other parts of the military to get their own funding to come through..." which Beck says could shave 1-3 years (!) off the time it takes to go from prototype to a production contract. Hoping for the best for this effort. Definitely some challenges, and I still say the effort would be better directed at supporting the existing defense industrial base rather than trying to force technology startups into the DIB.#defenseindustry #defensetech #defenseinnovation https://lnkd.in/eEhDktrG

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