Crossing the Valley

Frontdoor Defense
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Oct 8, 2025 • 47min

Ep. 62: Rune Technologies CEO David Tuttle

David Tuttle, CEO and co-founder of Rune Technologies, brings a wealth of experience from his time as an Army officer and leading JSOC software teams. In this engaging discussion, he shares how his diverse career shaped his mission to modernize military logistics. Tuttle highlights Rune's innovative tactical-edge software, which flips traditional logistics on its head. He discusses the importance of understanding defense budgeting and how his company is tackling challenges for the Army and Marine Corps, aiming to revolutionize the way they operate and make decisions.
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Oct 1, 2025 • 41min

Ep. 61: Hidden Level CEO Jeff Cole

About Jeff ColeJeff Cole is the CEO and co-founder of Hidden Level, bringing 20 years of experience developing radar and sensing technology for defense, intelligence, and commercial customers. Before founding Hidden Level, Jeff worked at Saab and SRC (a not-for-profit defense company), where he developed cutting-edge systems for customers including the Army, FAA, and NASA. He also collaborated with commercial giants like Google, Apple, Disney, and Amazon on early drone delivery initiatives, working directly with Astro Teller and Sergei Brin on what would become Wing.Born and raised in Syracuse, New York—an epicenter for radar and electronic warfare technology—Jeff built his expertise in an ecosystem surrounded by companies like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Saab. This background gave him rare insight into both the technical challenges of advanced sensing systems and the procurement realities of government customers. At SRC, he co-founded Griffin Sensors, a wholly-owned subsidiary focused on commercial applications, which shaped his vision for a commercial-first defense company.Jeff’s approach combines technical depth with an entrepreneurial mindset learned from working with fast-moving commercial partners. His guiding principle: “If it wasn’t hard, it wouldn’t be worth doing.”About Hidden LevelHidden Level provides airspace awareness through passive radar and RF sensing technology that detects objects ranging from small, non-emitting drones to fighter jets and balloons. The company’s vertically integrated approach means they design and build everything in-house—software, firmware, phased arrays, and mechanical systems—using a modular “Lego” architecture that enables rapid deployment and reconfiguration.Founded with a commercial-first strategy, Hidden Level initially focused on enabling safe drone delivery and urban air mobility through subscription-based airspace monitoring services. Early customers included NASA, Joby Aviation (formerly Uber Elevate), and commercial enterprises. This commercial foundation proved critical when transitioning to defense applications, as the technology was designed from the start for exportability, interoperability, and rapid scaling.The company’s breakout moment came through a partnership with the U.S. Army. After starting with small SBIR contracts, Hidden Level progressed through an IDIQ vehicle with Booz Allen Hamilton as lead systems integrator, won APFIT funding in May 2023, and achieved program of record status under urgent capabilities in January 2024—just 18 months from initial prototype to fielded production systems. During the December 2024 drone crisis in New York, Hidden Level deployed sensors at Stewart International Guard Base in under 24 hours, enabling the apprehension of unauthorized drone operators within minutes.The company has raised over $100 million from investors including Quest Ventures, DFJ, Costanoa Ventyres, Washington Harbor, Lockheed Martin Ventures, and Booz Allen Ventures. With 130+ employees and growing, Hidden Level is scaling both commercial infrastructure deployments across U.S. cities and defense applications globally.Key Takeaways1. Commercial-first beats defense-to-commercial for dual-use companiesHidden Level’s approach didn’t take defense technology and try to commercialize it; instead, they built with commercial intent from day one and then adapt to defense needs. Hidden Level designed for subscription models, exportability, and interoperability—requirements that made government adoption easier, not harder. The modular architecture that enables rapid deployment in commercial settings (like the 24-hour Stewart AFB installation) directly translated to defense value. This approach avoids the vendor lock-in and compliance baggage that makes defense-to-commercial transitions so difficult.2. Reputation and relationships create momentum that capital alone cannotBefore Hidden Level existed, Jeff and his team had delivered advanced radar systems to demanding customers for two decades. This track record meant NASA, Joby, and Army customers believed in their ability to execute even when working from a basement. When first investor Tom Moss tripled his commitment within 48 hours and introduced Jeff to other VCs, it wasn’t just about the technology—it was about backing a team with proven delivery capability. For defense tech founders, past performance and domain expertise can be more valuable than a perfect pitch deck.3. APFIT and other bridge funds are really important to bridge the valley of deathHidden Level used small SBIR awards to maintain customer relationships, moved to an IDIQ through partnership with Booz Allen Hamilton, then leveraged APFIT funding to procure systems when the Army customer had validated demand but lacked budget. This represents a careful understanding of which funding mechanisms match which stage of technical maturity and customer pull. APFIT worked because Hidden Level had already proven the technology and had an evangelizing customer; it wouldn’t have worked two years earlier.4. Partnerships with primes require clear-eyed understanding of incentives and termsJeff’s advice on working with integrators like Booz Allen Hamilton and strategic investors like Lockheed Martin is notably nuanced. These relationships can be powerful but require understanding contractual vehicles (FAR parts 12 vs. 15), IP ownership, colors of money, and compliance requirements upfront. The relationship with Booz Allen worked because roles were clear—they were the lead systems integrator doing C2, Hidden Level provided sensors and integrated into their architecture. Going in eyes-wide-open about what the partnership actually entails prevents later frustration about doors not opening or unexpected IP constraints.5. Intentional product architecture enables speed at scaleHidden Level’s “Lego modular” design philosophy is a strategic choice that enabled their 18-month prototype-to-production timeline and 24-hour deployment capability. Components designed for one product line work across different applications, reducing development time for new variants when the Army wanted a vehicle-mounted system half the original size. This modularity also supports the dual-use model: the same core technology serves commercial airspace monitoring subscriptions and military counter-drone applications. Speed in defense tech isn’t about cutting corners—it’s about making architectural choices that create optionality and reduce integration friction from the start.For more on Hidden Level: Website | LinkedInFor more Crossing the Valley: Substack | YouTube | LinkedIn Follow Jeff: LinkedIn Follow Noah: LinkedIn | X This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.valleycrossers.com
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Sep 10, 2025 • 40min

Ep. 60: The $150M Bet on American Magnet Independence

From University Lab to Critical Defense SupplierAbout Jonathan RowntreeJonathan Rowntree brings three decades of materials commercialization experience to his role as CEO of Niron Magnetics. His background spans scaling technologies across consumer electronics, industrial applications, automotive, and defense sectors. Before joining Niron in 2022, Rowntree led global businesses and specialized in taking new material technologies from development to market-scale production. His experience includes both successful ventures and instructive failures in solar thermal materials and heat transfer applications. Rowntree describes his 30-year career as an "apprenticeship" that prepared him to tackle the unique challenges of scaling breakthrough magnet technology during a critical geopolitical moment.About Niron MagneticsFounded in 2013 and spun out of University of Minnesota research, Niron Magnetics has developed the world's most powerful rare earth-free permanent magnet using iron nitride technology. The company's breakthrough material delivers 2.4 Tesla magnetic strength compared to 1.4 Tesla for traditional rare earth magnets, while using abundant materials (iron and nitrogen) that can be sourced anywhere. Niron has raised over $150 million in development funding and secured strategic investments from automotive OEMs (GM, Stellantis), tier-one suppliers (Magna, Allison), and technology companies (Samsung). The company serves multiple markets including audio, industrial motors, automotive, and defense applications. Their first commercial manufacturing facility breaks ground in fall 2025 in Minnesota, with plans for global expansion to meet tripling demand by 2030.For more Crossing the Valley: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossing-the-valley For more on Niron: https://www.nironmagnetics.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.valleycrossers.com
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Sep 3, 2025 • 49min

Ep 59: Building Infrastructure for 70% of the Untouched World

About Dan WrightDan combines deep operational experience with strategic thinking about technological competition. Starting his career as a lawyer at Goodwin Proctor, Wright made the transition to technology by joining AppDynamics as one of the early employees, eventually becoming COO. He then served as CEO of DataRobot before co-founding Armada in 2022.Dan combines three critical elements that prepared him for building Armada: legal expertise that taught him to understand complex regulatory environments, operational experience scaling enterprise software companies, and a data-centric worldview developed across three technology companies focused on extracting value from information.About ArmadaArmada has positioned itself as "the hyperscaler for the edge" - building distributed cloud infrastructure for the 70% of the world not served by traditional data centers. The company's core product line consists of modular data centers called Galleons, ranging from suitcase-sized units (Beacon) to megawatt-scale facilities (Leviathan).The company's strategy centers on three technological convergences: Starlink bringing fiber-quality connectivity to remote locations, the explosive growth of edge data generation (75% of all data by 2025), and the rise of AI capabilities. Armada combines these trends into a full-stack platform that processes data locally rather than sending it to centralized cloud facilities.Operating across 70+ countries with over 10,000 connected assets, Armada serves both defense customers (including active work with the US Navy) and industrial clients in energy, mining, and manufacturing. The company has raised over $200 million from investors including Founders Fund, Lux Capital, and Microsoft, with their latest $131 million round announced alongside their "American AI Dominance" strategic framework.To learn more about Armada: https://www.armada.ai/Follow Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wrightdhFollow Crossing the Valley: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossing-the-valley This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.valleycrossers.com
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Aug 27, 2025 • 22min

Ep 58: Blue Water Raises $50M to Deliver Maritime Autonomy to the Navy

Case Study: Blue Water Autonomy's Lightning-Fast Series AAbout the GuestsRylan Hamilton is Co-founder and CEO of Blue Water Autonomy, bringing a unique combination of naval service and commercial robotics expertise. After his Navy career, Hamilton spent years in the commercial robotics space focusing on warehouse and logistics automation, giving him deep understanding of both military requirements and commercial-scale robotics deployment.Austin Gray is Co-founder of Blue Water Autonomy and a prominent voice in the maritime autonomy and defense technology movement. Gray combines operational understanding of defense acquisition challenges with strategic thinking about how commercial innovation can reshape military capabilities.About Blue Water AutonomyBlue Water Autonomy is developing medium unmanned surface vessels specifically designed for U.S. Navy operations. Based outside Boston, the company is building on the region's robotics expertise, drawing talent from successful companies like Amazon Robotics and iRobot.Their vessels are approximately half a football field in length - large enough for cross-ocean operations but small enough to be manufactured at dozens of mid-tier shipyards rather than requiring major naval facilities. The company focuses on creating "attritable" platforms that balance capability with cost-effectiveness, designed around cost-to-kill ratios rather than pure survivability.The team has grown rapidly from stealth to over 50 employees, including key hires like COO Tim Glinatsis (20+ years in naval shipbuilding) and ship designer Ryan Maatta (formerly on a DARPA autonomous ship program). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.valleycrossers.com
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Aug 20, 2025 • 38min

Ep. 57: A Navy SEAL Reveals What Ukraine Taught Us About Drone Warfare

Fortem Technologies - From Radar Innovation to Counter-UAS LeaderAbout Jon GruenJon brings a unique combination of operational experience and defense industry knowledge to his role as CEO of Fortem Technologies. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, he served 10 years on active duty as a Navy SEAL, including multiple deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.His transition to the private sector began in 2007 when he joined the Navy Reserve while simultaneously building his commercial career. He spent 11 years at Lockheed Martin learning acquisition processes and big program management, while concurrently commanding unmanned aerial system units in the reserves for four years. This dual perspective gave him front-row seats to both the traditional defense contracting world and the emerging defense innovation ecosystem.Before joining Fortem, Gruen worked as an operational consultant helping multiple aerospace and defense startups navigate the valley of death. He took the helm at Fortem in 2022.About Fortem TechnologiesFounded in 2016 by Adam Robertson, Fortem Technologies began as a radar company leveraging Robertson's decades of experience developing military radars, particularly for IED detection during the Wars on Terror. Robertson's breakthrough was creating an architecture that enabled very low size, weight, power, and cost (SWAP-C) radar systems.The company's evolution accelerated when DARPA recognized the potential of their small radar technology and suggested mounting it on drones in 2018. This led to Fortem developing comprehensive counter-UAS solutions spanning the entire detect-to-mitigate spectrum:* Ground-based and airborne radars with edge computing and AI* Command and control software integrating multiple sensors* A family of counter-UAS drones using various effectors (nets, explosives, future high-powered microwave)* Man-portable systems that fit in commercial trucks for tactical mobilityFortem has been operationally deployed in Ukraine for over three years, working with border guards and other units while providing real-time intelligence on electronic warfare environments to U.S. government agencies. They've also developed significant homeland security capabilities, becoming the only approved kinetic solution for safely removing drone threats in the continental United States.For more on Fortem: fortemtech.comFor more Crossing the Valley: valleycrossers.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.valleycrossers.com
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Aug 13, 2025 • 1h 15min

Ep. 56: "The Adversary Doesn't Give a S*** About Your Compliance State"

How Palantir, SpaceX & Anduril Veterans Are Redefining Cybersecurity for the Defense Industrial BaseAbout the GuestsNik Seetharaman and Grace Clemente represent perhaps the most elite defense tech pedigree possible. Between them, they've touched the holy trinity of modern defense juggernauts: Palantir, SpaceX, and Anduril.Nik's journey began in special operations before transitioning to the private sector. At Palantir, he learned the art of aggressive execution and brutal feedback loops that forge high-performing teams. His stint at SpaceX reinforced the culture of rapid iteration and learning from failure. But it was at Anduril where he faced his defining challenge: becoming the first security engineer at a company scaling from 100 to 4,000 people while building weapon systems under constant foreign adversary attention.Grace built her expertise in the most sensitive areas of corporate security—insider threat and counter-espionage programs at both SpaceX and Anduril. She witnessed firsthand the daily reality of nation-state adversaries attempting to penetrate critical infrastructure and defense technology companies. Her experience shaped a deep understanding of what real security looks like versus the theater of compliance checkboxes.Their pain points weren't academic—they were personal and professional crises. Waking up at 3 AM to alerts, logging into 40+ different security tools, spending hours gathering context for simple decisions, and watching talented security professionals burn out from cognitive overload and poor tooling.About WraithwatchWraithwatch emerged from a simple but profound question: What would we have wanted to gift ourselves as lone security engineers told to "protect the company" with 100,000 possible next steps?The company addresses a fundamental market shift in defense technology. Security has evolved from a cost center to a revenue generator. Defense companies literally cannot sign government contracts without robust security controls, making cybersecurity teams direct contributors to revenue generation rather than overhead expenses.Wraithwatch's core innovation is a unified security platform that breaks down the data silos plaguing modern cybersecurity. Instead of forcing teams to operate 40+ point solutions, Wraithwatch creates a "digital twin" of customer environments and runs thousands of attack simulations to identify the most critical vulnerabilities and provide actionable remediation steps.Their "gain of function" approach uses advanced AI offensive capabilities to continuously improve defensive strategies—a co-evolution process that mirrors how nation-state adversaries actually operate. The platform deploys in as little as 22 minutes and immediately begins autonomous threat modeling without executing actual attacks against production systems.The user experience philosophy is radical for cybersecurity: make defenders feel like Tony Stark commanding an intelligent system rather than helpless operators drowning in alerts. This includes features like AI-generated daily briefs with voice narration, 3D network visualization, and one-click remediation capabilities.For more on Wraithwatch: https://www.wraithwatch.com/Follow Nik: On X | LinkedInFollow Grace: On X | LinkedInFollow Noah: On X | LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.valleycrossers.com
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Aug 6, 2025 • 50min

Ep. 55: Equipping the Military for Human-Centric Warfare

About James BoydJames Boyd is the archetype of a mission-driven founder. Born in California but raised in the UK, his trajectory changed completely on September 11, 2001, when he was a Stanford computer science student. Instead of following his peers into consulting or investment banking, Boyd made the contrarian decision to enlist in Army Special Forces—a choice that would define his entire career.Boyd was in the First Special Forces Group for about three years. It was during these deployments that he experienced firsthand the friction between cutting-edge intelligence systems and the analog processes that dominated day-to-day military operations. This experience led him to Palantir, where he spent nearly seven years building and deploying data analytics platforms across special operations units.The combination of Stanford computer science education, Special Forces operational experience, and Palantir's high-velocity startup culture created a unique skill set: deep technical capabilities paired with intimate understanding of military operations and bureaucratic navigation. This intersection would prove invaluable when founding Adyton.About AdytonAdyton was founded in early 2020 with a simple but powerful thesis: while defense organizations had invested heavily in enterprise systems and data analytics, the actual warfighters—the people doing maintenance, training, and operations—remained trapped in analog processes using paper notebooks, clipboards, and manual data entry.The company's flagship product, Adyton Operations Kit (AOK), transforms these analog workflows into seamless digital experiences optimized for mobile devices. Rather than requiring new government-furnished equipment, AOK leverages the smartphones that service members already carry, addressing everything from personnel accountability to digital asset management to training coordination.Adyton's growth trajectory has been impressive: 500% growth in 2024, deployment across 39 of 59 Army Brigade Combat Teams, adoption by seven Special Forces groups, and recent expansion to multiple Navy aircraft carriers. The company achieved this scale through organic, bottom-up adoption—end users demanding the product rather than top-down procurement mandates.Follow James Boyd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-alexander-boyd/Learn more about Adyton: https://www.adytonpbc.com/Subscribe for more Crossing the Valley: www.valleycrossers.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.valleycrossers.com
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Jul 30, 2025 • 46min

Ep. 54: Tracking Stuff in Space

LeoLabs is Building the "Living Map" of Space ActivityAbout Tony FrazierTony Frazier joined LeoLabs as CEO after a distinguished career scaling technology companies in complex government markets. At Maxar Technologies, he served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Earth Intelligence, overseeing partnerships with over 60 allies worldwide and supporting critical missions from humanitarian assistance to the Ukraine conflict. His earlier experience includes leadership roles at Cisco Systems and Infor, plus startup experience during the late 90s internet boom. Tony's unique combination of product expertise, P&L management, and deep government market knowledge made him the ideal leader to scale LeoLabs from innovative technology to mission-critical infrastructure.About LeoLabsFounded in 2016, LeoLabs commercialized radar technology from Stanford Research Institute to create the world's most comprehensive space domain awareness platform. The company operates a globally distributed network of 11 radars across 7 countries, tracking over 24,000 space objects daily and providing persistent monitoring services to government and commercial customers. LeoLabs has raised over $140 million through Series B funding and serves a diversified customer base spanning US government (33% of revenue), international governments (60%), and commercial space operators (7%). With recent wins including a $60 million STRATFI award and $4 million TACFI award, the company is positioned to scale its next-generation "seeker" class radar technology as space activity explodes toward 100,000+ trackable objects in the coming decade.For more about LeoLabs: https://leolabs.space/For more Crossing the Valley: www.valleycrossers.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.valleycrossers.com
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Jul 23, 2025 • 23min

Ep. 53: The Startup General

About Lieutenant General (ret) Ross CoffmanRoss Coffman represents a rare breed in defense innovation - a senior military leader who transitioned directly from the Pentagon to startup leadership. During his final seven years in the Army, Lt Gen Coffman was deep in technology, serving as director of the next generation combat vehicle cross-functional team before becoming deputy commanding general for combat development at Army Futures Command from 2022 to 2024.His portfolio at Army Futures Command spanned satellite payloads to vaccines for monkeypox - giving him a unique perspective on how the military evaluates and adopts new technology. After 35 years of military service, Lt Gen Coffman joined Forward Edge-AI as president, a company building cybersecurity products for the quantum age.About Colonel Dan CormierColonel Cormier brings the operational perspective as both a seasoned warfighter and current educator at the Naval Leadership and Ethics Center in Newport. His focus on senior leader development provides crucial insight into how bureaucratic processes shape military thinking, particularly the tension between compliance-based junior leadership and the dynamic thinking required at senior levels.About Forward Edge AIForward Edge AI is an early-stage startup focused on cybersecurity for the quantum age. The company's core values align with national defense, public safety, and national security - a mission alignment that drew Coffman from his military career to startup leadership.For more on Ross Coffman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-coffmanFor more on Daniel Cormier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-j-cormierFor more Crossing the Valley: www.valleycrossers.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.valleycrossers.com

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