Ep. 27: Building (Many) Defense Startups

Kyle Olson's path to defense tech started in a firefight. As a Marine Raider Team Commander in Iraq in 2020, he found himself coordinating airstrikes with a broken military radio. The solution? A forbidden Iraqi cell phone and Signal messaging app. That moment crystallized something he'd long suspected: commercial technology had outpaced military equipment in many areas. Instead of heading to business school as planned, Kyle joined Fairwater Labs, where he's now COO, helping build the next generation of defense tech companies.

Spun out of a major Bay Area VC firm, Fairwater Labs is productizing the defense innovation process. Unlike traditional venture studios that retain majority ownership, Fairwater gives founders control while providing deep operational support. They've developed a systematic approach to identifying market opportunities, matching them with the right founders, and supporting early growth. The model is working: their first company achieved a successful exit within 36 months, and they're on track to launch four new companies in 2024.

For more on Fairwater: fairwaterlabs.com

For more about Kyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-o/

For more Crossing the Valley: https://youtube.com/@crossingthevalley

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