Arun Gupta, venture capitalist and author of 'Venture Meets Mission,' discusses bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and public service, attracting talent for national security challenges, and the evolving landscape of mission-driven ventures.
Bridging the gap between academia, entrepreneurship, and government to inspire the next generation for government service and solve big problems.
Addressing the talent gap in government by attracting young talent with expertise in emerging technologies and fostering collaboration to rebuild trust across sectors.
Deep dives
Connecting Entrepreneurship and Mission
In this podcast episode, the guest discusses the intersection of entrepreneurship, technology, and mission-oriented work. He shares his personal journey in venture capital and witnessing the power of entrepreneurship. He also highlights the importance of focusing on the mission and the broader impact of the companies built. Through teaching a class at Stanford, he noticed that students were not exposed to the opportunities in government and the importance of using entrepreneurial talents for solving big problems. This led to the creation of a program called No Bridge, which aims to inspire the next generation to consider government service and bridge the gap between academia, entrepreneurship, and government.
Addressing the Talent Gap
The podcast delves into the talent gap in government agencies. It highlights that less than 7% of the tech workforce in government today is under the age of 30, while the average age at top tech companies is in the mid-30s. This disparity calls for a focus on bringing in young talent with expertise in emerging technologies to work in government and implement these technologies effectively. The guest discusses the need for scalable programs that inspire students to consider careers in government service, create a marquee brand associated with government service, and foster a community of like-minded individuals who can collaborate and rebuild trust across sectors.
Building a New Ecosystem
The guest outlines the efforts of No Bridge, an organization he is involved in, to build a new ecosystem that connects talent and innovation with government service. No Bridge has two main focus areas: talent and innovation. On the talent side, they aim to inspire the next generation, particularly top tech and business students, to pursue careers in government and make it prestigious to do so. They plan to launch a program, similar to Teach for America, called No Bridge Scholars, which will place students with AI, cyber, materials, bio, and space expertise in government for rotational periods. On the innovation side, No Bridge collaborates with programs like the MIRG to bridge research of national interest with entrepreneurial ecosystems, supporting researchers and entrepreneurs in commercializing their technologies. The goal is to bring together academia, entrepreneurship, and government to ensure a vibrant and impactful ecosystem that can address major challenges.
In this episode of The IQT Podcast, host Steve Bowsher interviews Arun Gupta, a venture capitalist, Adjunct Entrepreneurship Professor at Georgetown University, and author of "Venture Meets Mission." Arun discusses bridging the gap between aspiring entrepreneurs and public service, inspiring the next generation to let mission guide them in their careers. The episode explores attracting talent for national security challenges and the evolving landscape of mission-driven ventures. Tune in to learn more about the dynamic intersection of technology and national security!
Topics
Educating Students About Government Service Opportunities
The Inspiration Behind “Venture Meets Mission”
Lowering the Average Age of the Tech Workforce in Government