Brett Granberg is a co-founder and CEO of Vannevar Labs, a startup building AI for defense.

We dive into Brett’s journey as a defense investor and startup founder, and the challenges and opportunities he sees in defense tech right now. He breaks down the differences between hardware and software development, the evolving DoD acquisition process, and how to know when a defense startup has achieved product-market fit. Plus, we discuss the biggest thing Brett looks for in interviews and what it takes to succeed in a startup environment.

Outline

1:30 The genesis of Vannevar
04:38 What have you changed your mind about?
06:49 Knowing when to adjust course
10:09 Building products with urgency
12:42 Doubling down on existing products vs. exploring new bets
17:27 Hardware vs. software in defense
19:19 DeepSeek and what LLMs mean for defense tech
25:27 DoD acquisition evolution
28:01 The defense tech market
31:48 The next decade
33:40 Building a company culture that withstands growth
35:38 Personal reflections
37:31 Unexpected predictors of success
39:07 Lessons for future founders
40:58 Opportunities at Vannevar

040: Brett Granberg, CEO and Co-Founder of Vannevar Labs