America Builds 032: Steve Bowsher, President & CEO of In-Q-Tel
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Mar 17, 2024 Steve Bowsher, President and CEO of In-Q-Tel, shares insights into the evolution of national security investing. He discusses the vital connection between startups and U.S. intelligence agencies, highlighting the role of dual-use technologies. The conversation delves into the balance between innovation and procurement challenges within the Department of Defense. Steve emphasizes the importance of trust in defense ventures and advocates for cultural shifts to modernize procurement processes, ensuring alignment between government needs and technological advancements.
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Bridge Between Startups And Intelligence
- In-Q was created to bridge venture-backed startup innovation and CIA/IC needs by investing and influencing product direction.
- They contract and pilot products with agencies, then the agency adopts successful solutions directly from portfolio companies.
Two-Way Tech Sourcing
- In-Q gathers problem sets from partner agencies and also proactively pushes unexpected commercial tech to them.
- That dual flow lets them both respond to needs and introduce disruptive alternatives.
Convergence Of Commercial And National Security Tech
- Convergence means commercial consumer tech often maps directly to intelligence and defense needs.
- Examples like Keyhole (later Google Earth) show consumer products can become mission-critical tools.