Ben Van Roo, CEO of Yurts AI, discusses the evolution of defense tech, pitfalls of dual-use companies, and the future of defense tech. Topics include level up AI workflows, scaling from commercial side, defense tech over the years, the defense tech VC bubble, and contract procurement's impact on the future of defense.
The importance of faster clearances and removing barriers to accelerate progress in the defense tech industry.
The challenges of straddling the line between commercial and defense markets, and the need to understand the unique requirements and differences in customers and sales approaches between these sectors.
Deep dives
Optimism for the Future of Defense Tech
The speaker expresses optimism about the future of defense tech and believes that real people are excited to build real things for the country. They emphasize the need for faster ways to obtain clearances and remove barriers that slow down progress. The speaker highlights the importance of initiatives like TradeWins and the role of the private sector and acquisition community in driving innovation. They mention the growing importance of defense and expect it to be a growing industry in the next 10 years.
Challenges and Opportunities of Dual Use Technology
The speaker discusses the challenges and opportunities of dual use technology in the defense tech industry. They mention the difficulty of straddling the line between commercial and defense markets, as it requires a technology that makes sense in both markets, sales and distribution strategies for both sectors, and a team that can navigate the complexities of both arenas. They highlight the importance of understanding the unique requirements and differences in customers and sales approaches between defense and commercial sectors.
Easier Access to Defense Tech Industry
According to the speaker, it is easier now to enter the defense tech industry compared to 10 years ago. They mention the availability of more pathways, contracts, and support from venture capitalists. However, they caution that straddling dual markets can be challenging and recommend choosing a specific market to focus on. The speaker also acknowledges the difficulties faced by the acquisition community in evaluating the increasing number of defense tech companies and technologies and suggests the need for better evaluation mechanisms.
The Future of Defense Tech and Concerns
The speaker anticipates that the defense tech industry will continue to grow in the next 10 years, despite potential challenges in the short term. They mention possible issues arising from budgetary constraints, election year uncertainties, and saturation of technologies. However, they encourage perspective and focus on long-term advancements and improvements. The speaker emphasizes the need for a collective pause to evaluate the overall impact and goals of the defense tech industry, considering geopolitical dynamics, technological advancements, and critical gaps that need to be addressed.
This week, Bonnie is joined by Ben Van Roo, CEO and co-founder of Yurts AI, to discuss the rapid evolution of defense tech in the last decade. He shares his insights on the dynamic interplay between defense initiatives and the commercial tech landscape, the pitfalls of dual-use companies, and the fine line between oversaturation and innovation in AI. Tune in for a timely conversation on the current and future state of the defense tech world.
TIMESTAMPS:
(3:53) How to level up AI workflows
(8:07) Defense tech over the years
(14:10) How to scale from commercial side
(18:39) Why dual-use is not always the answer
(20:08) Will the defense tech VC bubble burst soon?
(25:48) How contract procurement impacts the future of defense