The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch 20VC: Palantir CTO on The Broken Incentive Structure of How Governments Buy Defence, The Danger of Defence Spending at Historic Lows, How Elections and Wars Change Government Defence Buying & Why Budgets are Anti-Creative with Shyam Sankar
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Jan 17, 2024 
Shyam Sankar, CTO of Palantir Technologies and Chairman of Ginkgo Bioworks, dives into the flaws in government defense procurement. He critiques how outdated processes stifle innovation and emphasizes the urgency for change in defense spending, especially in light of global conflicts. Shyam shares personal insights from his father's challenges, highlighting resilience and responsibility. He also draws parallels between hiring top talent in tech and the entertainment industry, advocating for a creative approach to assembling teams.
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Sankar's Father's Influence
- Shyam Sankar's father left India to build Africa's first pharmaceutical plant, embodying hard work and risk-taking.
- Despite facing setbacks like armed violence and starting over as refugees, his father's resilience taught Shyam the importance of perseverance.
Luck vs. Hard Work
- Shyam Sankar believes focusing on hard work is more productive than relying on luck.
- While luck exists, hard work is the only controllable factor in success.
Joining Palantir
- Sankar joined Xoom as the fifth employee after persistently pursuing Kevin Hartz.
- Inspired by personal experiences with terrorism, he later joined Palantir, a 12-person startup focused on national security.
