Season 2 Ep 8: Dan Magy and Ben Kohlmann on Navigating the Defense Ecosystem

About Our Guests:

Ben Kohlmann is a retired F-18 pilot, former consultant, founder, and current investor at Cubit Capital. Ben has touched it all, and has a well-rounded, thoughtful, and purpose-driven perspective on defense investing.

Dan Magy is a repeat defense founder and the co-founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs. Dan's experience includes starting a counter-UAS company and working closely with special operations forces, giving him deep insight into the defense innovation landscape. He’s also prolific on LinkedIn, where his near-daily drone videos are wildly popular with the defense community and beyond.

Timestamps:

00:39-01:40: Introduction to Modular, Attritable Systems in Defense Tech

01:56-06:41: The Emergence of Drone Swarms in Modern Warfare

07:06-08:47: Asymmetric Warfare Advantage: Countering High-Tech with Low-Cost Solutions

09:08-10:53: Challenges in Adapting US Military Innovation and Procurement for Modern Conflicts

11:40-13:48: US Missed Opportunity to Innovate and Learn in Ukraine Conflict

13:48-14:46: The Importance of Real-World Testing and Rapid Innovation in Military Technology Development

16:30-17:58: Leveraging Battlefield Experience for Innovation

18:20-19:33: Navigating the Government Procurement Process for Startups

19:34-23:09: The Importance of Lobbying and Customer Discovery for Defense Startups"

23:47-24:58: Finding the Right Customer

26:01-30:58: The Keys to Successful Defense Tech Startups: Relationships, Go-to-Market Strategy, and Building Credibility

31:13-34:34: Navigating the DOD Innovation Ecosystem

36:02-36:25: DIU's Evolution

36:59-38:11: Firestorm's Progress and Future Milestones

38:12-39:15: Effective Storytelling for Congress in Defense Appropriations

42:32-45:51: Finding Alignment and Purpose in Your Role