
Defense Mavericks
Why Unclassified Data is the Secret to National Security Success with Sammy Semwangu
Feb 18, 2025
In this exciting discussion, Sammy Semwangu, CEO of Bazze and a national security veteran, reveals how his startup is changing the intelligence game with unclassified data. He highlights that 99.5% of data is unclassified, yet often overlooked. Sammy shares his entrepreneurial journey and the challenges faced in the defense sector, emphasizing the importance of balancing privacy with security. He advocates for leveraging commercial data aggregations to address intelligence gaps while maintaining ethical standards. A thought-provoking look at the future of intelligence sharing!
31:47
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Quick takeaways
- Leveraging unclassified data through advanced querying can significantly enhance decision-making capabilities in national security operations.
- Startups face unique challenges in defense acquisitions, emphasizing the need for strong advocacy and diversified connections within government.
Deep dives
The Value of Open Source Data
The U.S. government recognizes the significance of open source and commercial data in national security operations. However, current practices involve purchasing entire datasets that prove unsustainable and inefficient. A more effective approach involves querying data directly from its source to extract only the necessary information needed for analysis. This targeted method reduces costs and leverages existing data more effectively, thereby improving decision-making capabilities in rapidly changing conflict scenarios.
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