Sean Lane

𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 In the first half of 2024, defense tech startups raised $9.1 billion, with Anduril Industries securing recently $1.5B round, valued at $14B. 𝘈𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘭’𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘈𝘐-𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦: 𝘗𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘢𝘳: An AI-powered jammer system designed to quickly identify and counter warfare threats. 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳: A jet-powered, AI-driven VTOL drone developed to intercept and neutralize high-speed aerial threats, also can be reused for multiple missions. 𝘈𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘭-1: Constructing of a 5-million-square-foot facility focused on producing AI-driven autonomous systems across air, land, sea and space. CB Insights has mapped the AI in defense tech landscape, covering 21 technology markets and 247 companies transforming military operations with AI, covering from unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to geospatial intelligence (GEOINT). AI in Defence tech market map (behind paywall): https://lnkd.in/gbFnxBUJ Anduril Home: https://www.anduril.com/ #AI #GenAI #MLLM #VLM #ComputerVision #DefenseTech #AI #AutonomousSystems #Startups #DeepLearning

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Space Guard and Reserve? There seems to be support from governors, so the question is how much those components contribute to the mission. There is significant cost savings compared to Active components, and it gives vets who go into the Space industry a chance to continue their Service, which provides truly unique networking opportunities compared to other services.

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📣 Usul (YC S24) helps defense contractors increase their PWin! Here's a case study on how we turn your 5 hour workflows to 5 seconds: 1) Find all recent DoD programs for your capability 2) Identify how much budget is allocated from DoD funding lines 3) Contact relevant PEOs to shape requirements before they hit SAM.gov If you struggle navigating government data or have to Ctrl + F around tens of tabs to identify DoD opportunities, we'd love to to help you out!! #defensetech #govtech #govcon #ai #dod

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Garrett Smith would have you believe he's "a head in the clouds, visionary CEO who's not grounded in reality." But Reveal Technology's story proves otherwise. While some defense tech startups chase headlines and trade show sponsorships, Garrett and his team have quietly become the first commercial software solution certified on the Army's mobile network. Today on #CrossingtheValley, I sat down with Garrett and Dave Caudle, the company's VP of Defense, to unpack how a small team is revolutionizing tactical edge operations. This episode just might change how you think about defense tech. We cover: 🎯 The Power of Tactical Truth While others pitched PowerPoints to generals, Reveal spent time on ranges with sergeants and lieutenants, building capabilities they wished they had in combat. Result? When they finally met program leadership, the grassroots demand was undeniable. 💡 The Integration Revelation Most founders obsess over technology readiness (TRL). Reveal discovered early that integration readiness (IRL) is the real kingmaker. It's not enough to build great software – it has to seamlessly integrate into the warfighter's complex ecosystem. 🤝 The Platform Play What started as an edge mapping solution is morphing into something much bigger. With a recent acquisition and a $33.6M STRATFI award, Reveal is positioning to become the standard platform for AI-enabled operations at the tactical edge. Full episode available now at ValleyCrossers (dot) Com. Whether you're a founder, investor, or acquisition professional, you don't want to miss this. #DefenseTech #Military #Innovation #Leadership

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Today, the House Armed Services Committee Republicans held a hearing on Fielding Technology and Innovation: Industry Views on Department Of Defense Acquisition. If you stand anywhere near the arena of defense technology innovation, just the opening comments are a sufficient call to action. While emerging tech companies like Skydio, Shield AI, Saildrone, Applied Intuition, and Palantir Technologies spoke, they represented startups of all stages in an illuminating discourse about the change needed. While the services may have all the authorities they need, the authorities they have will lead to status quo solutions. Based on their statements, here are five solutions to real problems in the defense innovation ecosystem. 1. Surge American Small Drones to Ukraine and Scale Across U.S. Military: Provide small, dual-use drones to Ukraine to aid their defense and enhance U.S. military preparedness through real-world battlefield feedback. Additionally, drone procurement should be significantly scaled across all military levels to ensure mass availability in great-power conflicts. Leverage a real operating environment to rapidly iterate solutions that provide warfighting advantage. 2. Adopt Flexible, Portfolio-Based Acquisition to Keep Pace with Innovation: Shift to a portfolio-based acquisition model, allowing for faster integration and removal of technologies while using faster procurement pathways like Defense Logistics Agency’s Tailored Logistics Support (TLS) to acquire emerging capabilities quickly. 3. Create a Problem-Based Acquisition System with Flexible Budgeting:  Implement a problem-based acquisition system centered on solving real defense challenges with flexible resourcing, ensuring the Department of Defense can rapidly adapt to evolving threats and technologies. This can offset traditional acquisition systems focus on rigid requirements, which stifles innovation and delays meeting urgent needs. 4. Establish a Bridge Fund for Rapid Technology Deployment:  Create a dedicated "bridge fund" to immediately scale proven technologies from programs like the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), enabling deployment before formal budget appropriations are secured.  It is a long, fragile bridge across the Second Valley of Death between validating innovative technologies and deploying them at scale. 5. Streamline the Accreditation Process for Faster Adoption of Commercial Solutions: Simplify and standardize the Authority to Operate (ATO) process across the DoD, allowing faster integration of commercial technologies while reducing the burden on non-traditional defense companies.  Lower bureaucratic barriers that delay access to cutting-edge technologies. Congress and the DoD need to set the conditions that allow defense acquisition to match the speed and scale of industry innovation instead of throttling it, lest we end up with the X-15 Cruise Basselope, a solution that does not fit the problem despite being written to meet the "requirement".

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If you think you have a business that meets these needs apply here! "What is Thunderstorm 24-4? In partnership with the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab and other DoD partners, Thunderstorm 24-4 will focus on exploring emerging solutions for navigating and detecting threats in unfamiliar and potentially contested environments, enabling continued communications with far forward deployed forces, and ensuring deployed forces can access key supplies. Whether it's making supply delivery more resilient or providing the ability to generate and maintain critical resources like food, power, and parts at the point of need, this showcase is where innovation meets critical operational needs."

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Regardless of who wins tomorrow, we at Space VC are prepared to work with either administration. As a country, we have much to do over the next 4 years: ✅ Rebuild our defense & manufacturing industrial base ✅ Reform the legacy DoD procurement process that favors Defense Primes ✅ Modernize national space policies & strategy ✅ Advocate & accelerate investments in emerging energy & storage solutions ✅ Embrace AI tools within Government agencies to drive efficiency ✅ Support any American who wants to start a small business or company ✅ Invest in new solutions & optionality for families within education, healthcare & social benefits ✅ Measuring & monitoring the physical world, both for climate & security ✅ Embrace high-impact immigration, aim to recruit the best & brightest around the world ✅ Encourage growth, investment and M&A for the capital markets ✅ Create a fair, easy to predict corporate & personal tax structure ✅ And much, much more Our country’s to-do list is too long to wait for “one team” to take power. We will work with anyone willing to advance these causes for the U.S 🇺🇸

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Y Combinator recently put out multiple requests for government and defense startups...with the caveat that selling to the government is archaic and quite unintuitive to traditional builders. The harsh reality in defense contracting is that most contracts are awarded before the contract exists. Meaning, if you simply submit a contract proposal and expect fair competition, you're sadly mistaken. This is our first stab at bringing companies the insights they need to identify government pursuits that they can actually win. We are so pumped for this next iteration of Usul (YC S24) and aren't slowing down anytime soon. Book a demo here: https://lnkd.in/etBxswj8 Steve Blank, Jacqueline Tame, Jack Shanahan, Peter Newell , Jeff Decker, Steve Weinstein, Joe Felter, Eric Volmar, Jack Faherty, Justin Fanelli, Michael A. Brown, Gustaf Alströmer 🇺🇦, Keith W. Gibson, CFCM, SCPM, Benjamin F., Jim Rabuck, Matt MacGregor, Noah Sheinbaum

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BIGGEST PRODUCT UPDATE YET!!! Over the past 6 months of the journey, our users have continually been asking for this one golden question: How much money is there for X? Up until now, you still had to piece the full picture together on our platform. No more. Create market sizings in minutes with competitors, funding offices and key stakeholders at your fingertips. We are so pumped for this next iteration of Usul and aren't slowing down anytime soon. Interested in multiplying your DoD capture? Book a demo here: https://lnkd.in/gbkrP3yk

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M-Day was Yesterday. We are in an undeclared national crisis. "The U.S. public are largely unaware of the dangers the United States faces or the costs (financial and otherwise) required to adequately prepare. They do not appreciate the strength of China and its partnerships or the ramifications to daily life if a conflict were to erupt. They are not anticipating disruptions to their power, water, or access to all the goods on which they rely. They have not internalized the costs of the United States losing its position as a world superpower. A bipartisan “call to arms” is urgently needed so that the United States can make the major changes and significant investments now rather than wait for the next Pearl Harbor or 9/11. The support and resolve of the American public are indispensable." From the Commission on National Defense Strategy's 2024 report: https://lnkd.in/g94zBjnK

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In a concerning development, China has replaced its People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF) with the Information Support Force (ISF), highlighting the growing importance of information warfare. This shift comes at a time when the U.S. is downsizing its information warfare capabilities. In a 2022 War on the Rocks article, the author points out that China's "intelligentized warfare" concept aims to use AI to manipulate the will of policymakers, military leaders, and citizens. Again, this comes at a time when the U.S. de-emphasizes information power in resourcing and prioritization. This is a critical wake-up call for the U.S. to prioritize information warfare investment. #China #InformationWarfare #NationalSecurity #greatpowercompetition #geopoliticalrisk #CCP #PLA #strategiccompetition #AI Jake Auchincloss Seth Moulton Michael Waltz Mike Studeman https://lnkd.in/giUgsYfM

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"The purpose of the APFIT pilot program is to expeditiously transition technologies into production, and to accelerate the fielding of needed technologies to the warfighter, with priority given to technologies developed by small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors. The benefits of this pilot program will be to deliver war-winning capability earlier than scheduled, while contributing to the viability of small business and nontraditional defense contractor vendors. APFIT is an additional tool the DoD can use to propel innovative capabilities across the "Valley of Death" and accelerate fielding into the hands of warfighters."

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For CXOs at all tethered to the defense sector, sequential continued funding resolutions (CFRs) are the most destructive instrument to business. More so perhaps than increased taxes, inflation and labor strikes. It's impractical to plan a profitable business when the client's funding streams are interrupted, which then, like a pathogen, metastasizes with unrecoverable rises in budget and opportunity costs due to schedule and configuration changes, modifications to subcontracts, interruptions to sourcing and delivery of materials, and then, like fracking in the oil & natural gas business, the multi-directional lattice of production becomes complicated such that management and labor are confronted with challenges that can't be resolved or require painful, costly decisions. Today, another year-after-year CFR rides the high tide of a recession. Sight unseen to most people, including Members of Congress, are the $B++ impacts to industry that must somehow be mediated and resolved at taxpayer expense - if possible. Deadlines for just about everything are irrevocably extended which then affects every facet of national defense. There's a domino effect that's ugly. CXOs should consider a near re-write of business plans and evaluate contracts. Engage participating unions. Inform shareholders. Have conversations with employees. A CFR during a lame duck Administration during a recession is bad. The more people understand the impacts the less caustic will be the environment created by tough business decisions that should never have been required in the first place. The Axis Powers rejoice over Congress' CFRs.

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I’m at #SOFWeek2024 currently, and this morning, Military Embedded Systems published 2 articles summarizing yesterday’s sessions that are rather contradictory and confusing if read through the lens of a VC-backed startup. First, there was an article about Ms. Melissa “Mojo” Johnson’s keynote expressing SOCOM’s interest in expanding its ecosystem, to include proactive engagement with the VC and investor communities and their portfolio companies. Second, there was an article summarizing key takeaways from the PEO Rotary Wing session that stressed the importance of modular open systems architectures (MOSA). In the second article, Dan Taylor the author writes: “…industry should be focused on helping [PEO Rotary Wing] solve problems with technology the agency already has rather than developing their own proprietary solutions.” If executing on Ms. Johnson’s vision is a priority, this statement needs to be revised to state: “…industry should be focused on helping …solve problems USING technology the agency already has WHILE developing their own proprietary solutions.” This is the only way everyone will win—startups, VCs and investors, and especially the government. Just my $.02! #nationaldefense #executionmatters #onward

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I understand the perception that something needs to be done to curtail the growth of government spending, but there's an issue with using major federal workforce cuts across the board as the tool to accomplish it: veterans are massively over-represented in the federal workforce. About 33% of the federal workforce (and a similarly high percentage for contractor workforces) are military veterans due to the preferential hiring status one earns from military service. Back when many private employers were skeptical of recently returning veterans, even immediately post-9/11, the government doubled down on veteran hiring and added additional programs to aid in their recruitment for civilian government positions. For the sake of argument, if somehow 500,000 positions were cut from the roughly 2.5M employee federal government (a 20% reduction), at least 165,000 of those would be veterans. That action alone would singlehandedly nearly double the current veteran unemployment rate for the entire nation. Coupled with some recent vociferous criticisms of an "overly generous" VA benefit system, I believe veterans in general, but especially those in federal positions, will be watching closely the Department of Government Efficiency (#DOGE). If they are successful in even a portion of what their current stated goals are, veterans are almost certainly going to be impacted at a rate far higher than their representation in the general population. Spending could absolutely be made more efficient certain areas, but the indirect (though perhaps unintentional) targeting of recent veterans who served honorably across more than two decades of wartime and conflict is likely to eventually become a "third rail" issue for anyone that attempts such broad federal workforce reductions.

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