The Dual-Use Founder: Vets Now Building For America

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Apr 16, 2025

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In this discussion, John Doyle, CEO of CAPE, David Tuttle, CEO of Rune, and Grant Jordan, CEO of SkySafe, dive into their journeys from military service to creating innovative defense startups. They share how their experiences shaped their entrepreneurial ventures and the challenges of integrating tech in military operations. The trio reflects on the impact of Ukraine on defense strategies and emphasizes the importance of agility and trust in mission-driven companies. They explore the future of military logistics and the balance between service and entrepreneurship.

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00:00 / 00:00

Veterans' Paths to Founding

John Doyle shared how he enlisted the day after the Iraq invasion to become a Special Forces soldier.
Grant Jordan and David Tuttle both used their service experiences to transition into defense tech and entrepreneurship.

00:00 / 00:00

Ukraine War Accelerates Tech

The Russia-Ukraine war dramatically accelerated the adoption and understanding of drone and communications tech in defense.
Lessons from Ukraine motivate startups to prepare technology for potential conflicts like Taiwan.

00:00 / 00:00

Gain Experience Before Founding

Founders can build their startup skills by working first in companies like Palantir or Anduril.
Getting experience in these companies offers "training wheels" before launching a company.

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In today’s world, the battlefield extends far beyond war zones—it’s embedded in our tech stacks, supply chains, and airspace security systems. So who better to solve these modern challenges than those who’ve served on the front lines?

Recorded live at the third annual American Dynamism Summit in Washington D.C., this episode features a16z’s Matt Shortal—a veteran himself—moderating a conversation with three founders who transitioned from military service to building cutting-edge defense startups:

John Doyle, founder & CEO of Cape
David Tuttle, cofounder & CEO of Rune
Grant Jordan, founder & CEO of SkySafe

The panel covers their journeys from service to startups, how their time in uniform shaped what they chose to build, and whether veterans should go straight into entrepreneurship—or stop first at places like Palantir or Anduril. They also discuss how Ukraine changed the game, how dual-use tech is shifting the innovation landscape, and how to instill trust and culture in mission-driven companies.

The big question: how do we win the next war—the asymmetric, fast-moving, tech-enabled kind—and build the industrial base we need to do it?

Resources:

See more from The American Dynamism Summit 2025: www. a16z.com/american-dynamism-summit

Find John of LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-doyle-48633227/

Find David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidtuttle1/

Find Grant on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantjordansd/

Find Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-shortal/

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Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.