005: Raj Shah - Unit X: The Rise of the Defense Innovation Unit

15 snips

Sep 19, 2024

Raj Shah, co-founder of Shield Capital and former managing partner of the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit, shares his remarkable journey from a small town in Georgia to becoming an Air Force pilot. He discusses the collaboration between tech startups and the military, highlighting innovative solutions like Shield AI's drone initiatives. Raj also addresses the bureaucratic challenges in funding military innovation and the necessity for modern warfare strategies to adapt to emerging drones. His insights bridge the gap between Silicon Valley's agility and national security needs.

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ANECDOTE

Personal Tablet in F-16

Raj Shah used his personal tablet in an F-16 because its moving map was superior to the aircraft's built-in system.
Similarly, ISIS used tablets for targeting rockets.

ANECDOTE

Outdated Software at Creech AFB

A Creech Air Force Base control center had modern hardware but ran Windows XP, limiting video footage quality.
Upgrading the system was blocked due to security approval issues, despite XP's outdated status.

INSIGHT

Choosing Not to Sell to the Government

Raj Shah's startup, composed of National Security Agency engineers, built software applicable to government use.
However, they chose not to sell to the government due to bureaucratic hurdles and investor advice.

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Raj Shah is a former US Air Force F-16 pilot and was the head of the Defense Innovation Unit, Experimental. He now leads Shield Capital, an early stage venture capital firm investing in technologies that will secure America’s future. Raj is the author of Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War.

In this episode of the Defense Tech Underground, we discuss Raj’s journey from small town Georgia to becoming an Air Force pilot, his experience leading the Defense Innovation Unit, the founding and mission of Shield Capital, and his new book Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley are Transforming the Future of War, which explores the evolving nature of the Department of Defense’s acquisition of cutting-edge technology for the warfighter.

This episode is hosted by Jeff Phaneuf and Josh Pickering.

Full Bio:

Raj Shah is the co-founder and managing partner of Shield Capital, an investment firm focused on technologies applicable to both the commercial and defense markets. He is also the chairman of Resilience, a cyber-security start-up and a commissioner on the Department of Defense’s Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution Reform (PPB&E).

Raj also serves on the Board of Directors to NATO’s Innovation Fund. Most recently he was the managing partner of the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx), reporting to the Secretary of Defense. Raj led DIUx in its efforts to strengthen U.S. armed forces through contractual and cultural bridges between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon.

He is the author of the book, Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley are Transforming the Future of War. Previously, Raj was senior director of strategy at Palo Alto Networks, which acquired Morta Security, where he was chief executive officer and co-founder. Raj serves as an F-16 pilot in the US Air Force and has completed multiple combat deployments. He holds an AB from Princeton University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.