This Week in Startups

Castelion Hypersonic Missiles and Crunchbase’s AI Powered Predictions | E2088

Feb 22, 2025

Bryon Hargis, CEO of Castelion, discusses the U.S. hypersonic technology gap with China and the innovative developments in affordable long-range munitions. He highlights the challenges in the defense sector's production capabilities and the pressing need for advancements. Meanwhile, Jager McConnell, CEO of Crunchbase, shares insights on their new AI-driven predictive models, discussing how these tools enhance understanding of market trends while ensuring user privacy. Both guests underline the significant shifts and opportunities in their respective fields.

55:56

Creator website

Episode guests

Jager McConnell

Bryon Hargis

AI Summary

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The urgent need for affordable defense technology in the U.S. is emphasized, particularly for scalable production of hypersonic missiles to deter adversaries.

Hypersonic technology, defined as speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound, presents a significant challenge due to its unpredictable trajectory compared to traditional missiles.

Innovative manufacturing techniques, including automation and new entrants to the defense sector, are crucial for reducing costs and increasing production capacities in military equipment.

Deep dives

The Need for Affordable Defense Technology

The podcast highlights the urgent need for affordable defense technology in the U.S. military, particularly in the context of long-range missile production. Currently, the production capabilities are shockingly low, with the potential to produce only dozens of high-end missiles per year. The discussion emphasizes that a large quantity, defined as thousands or tens of thousands, is necessary to deter adversaries like China. Acknowledging that existing systems are costly and produce limited quantities suggests a pressing requirement to innovate and manufacture at scale.

Intro

2min

The Future of Defense: Hypersonic Munitions

6min

Balancing Cost and Capability in Military Technology

4min

Revamping Defense Contracting

8min

Navigating Sales and Product Development in a Competitive Landscape

4min

Navigating Hypersonic Manufacturing Challenges

6min

Building Skills and Opportunities in Engineering

2min

AI and the Future of Crunchbase

14min

Crunchbase Innovations and Predictions

12min

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Today’s show: Jason interviews Bryon Hargis, CEO of Castelion, about the United State’s hypersonic technology gap with China, how we’re catching up and what it will take to win the hypersonic missile race. Alex interviews Jager McConnell, CEO of Crunchbase, about their newly released, scary accurate, AI powered predictive models.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Episode teaser(1:14) Introduction of Byron Hargis and Castellion's mission(2:20) Significance of hypersonic munitions(5:55) Impact and challenges of hypersonic systems in defense(7:16) Castellion's development and cost of hypersonic weapons(9:39) Squarespace. Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST(12:28) Shift in defense contracting and venture backing(18:25) Sales strategies and founder insights in defense startups(19:38) LinkedIn Jobs. Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist(21:10) China's manufacturing capabilities and defense paradigm shifts(24:37) Role of automation and robots in manufacturing(28:58) AdQuick. Visit https://adquick.com/twist and mention TWIST to get $1000 off your first campaign.(31:37) Crunchbase's transition to predictive insights(38:01) Crunchbase's technology stack and AI models(41:36) Financial implications of AI-first model for Crunchbase(48:43) AI integration challenges and financial performance(52:50) AI-driven predictions and their accuracy(54:24) Future prospects for Crunchbase: Acquisition vs. IPO(55:22) Upcoming guests: Vlad from Robinhood and Raul from Superhuman

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