Crossing the Valley

SOF Week Pt. 1: A Tale of Three Defense Tech StartupsIn this special edition of Crossing the Valley, we sit down with three promising defense technology companies ahead of their trip to SOF Week—one of the defense industry's premier events. Each company represents a different stage in the journey across the "valley of death" from concept to production, providing valuable insights for founders navigating the defense ecosystem.About Edgerunner AICompany Overview: Edgerunner AI is building domain-specific AI agents for warfighters that can operate without internet connectivity. Their technology enables military personnel to access ChatGPT-like capabilities that are tailored to their specific military occupational specialty (MOS), all while functioning in disconnected, degraded, intermittent, and limited bandwidth (DDIL) environments.Founders:* Tyler Saltsman: Former Army logistician who served in Operation Atlantic Resolve. Previously at AWS where he first encountered Stability AI, helping to build their infrastructure before eventually joining them.* Colton Malkerson: Former Capitol Hill staffer for Speakers Boehner and Ryan, Stanford Business School graduate, and held positions at AWS and Stability AI.Company Stage: Edgerunner AI has secured a CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) to power NIPR GPT. They recently closed their Series A funding (announced during SOF Week) and partnered with Second Front Systems. The company is less than a year old.About Aurum SystemsCompany Overview: Aurum Systems is developing the Atlas platform, designed to transform existing UAVs into independent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting assets. Their software works completely at the edge and in the field, enabling operators to complete missions autonomously with minimal input.Founders:* Jason Ashton: Founder and CEO with a background in robotics and self-driving technology.* Myles Spencer: Founder and CTO with product development experience at Google (YouTube's data warehouse) and Wayfair.Company Stage: Aurum is approximately one year old, having raised a small angel round in September 2023. They recently demonstrated their technology publicly for the first time at the Avon Park Air Force Range for US SOCOM. They currently operate as a two-person team.About Distributed SpectrumCompany Overview: Distributed Spectrum focuses on helping warfighters understand what's happening across the radio spectrum. Their technology adds intelligent software to existing hardware systems, enabling both trained experts and frontline operators to identify adversary communications and detect jamming without requiring expensive equipment or specialized training.Founders:* Alex Wulff: Co-founder and CEO with a background in electrical engineering and a deep fascination with radio waves. Started the company with Ben Harpe (COO) and Isaac Struhl (CTO) while in college at Harvard.Company Stage: Approximately 4.5 years since founding, with significant momentum since 2022 after graduation. They've raised a Series A round of $25 million, secured over $7 million in DoD contracts, and their RF sensing platform is already deployed in Ukraine and with U.S. special operators. The company currently has 16 employees.About our AdvisorsDave Rolen is a combat developer for US Army Special Operations Command. He identifies, captures, and develops resourcing strategies for emerging requirements and Program Objective Memorandum (POM) products for key emerging capabilities.Scott Moore is a recently retired Green Beret, most recently serving as the R&D NCOIC, and previously Director of Operations with the 3rd Special Forces Group. He’s now with SBIR Advisors and brings a wealth of recent insider knowledge after many years as the target customer and planning industry engagement events.To hear how the show went, tune in next week for Part II of this special episode!For more about the companies:* Aurum Systems: https://aurum.systems/* Distributed Spectrum: https://www.distributedspectrum.com/* EdgeRunner AI: https://www.edgerunnerai.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

The Army's Multi-Domain Task Force: Soldier-Driven Innovation in ActionAbout our GuestsLieutenant Colonel Thomas Burns serves as the Deputy Commander of the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF), headquartered in Germany in support of US Army Europe and Africa. With a background in traditional Army operations, Burns brings a task force-level perspective on how new capabilities need to integrate into joint warfighting concepts.Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Ritzema commands the 2nd Multi-Domain Effects Battalion (MDEB), which serves as the primary sensing and non-kinetic effects arm of the task force. His battalion comprises specialized companies focused on space, cyber, electronic warfare, and unmanned systems. Ritzema's role involves organizing, training, and equipping soldiers across multiple technical specialties that historically have been siloed across different parts of the Army.Together, these officers represent the operational leadership of one of the Army's most innovative organizational constructs - a unit specifically designed to counter anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities that potential adversaries have developed to keep U.S. forces at bay.About the Multi-Domain Task ForceEstablished through Army Chief of Staff General James McConville's 2021 vision paper "Army Multi-Domain Transformation," the MDTF concept represents the Army's primary organizational innovation for multi-domain operations. The Army is currently building five such task forces, with three currently established - two focused on the Indo-Pacific and the 2nd MDTF focused on Europe.The 2nd MDTF, activated in late 2021, consists of a headquarters element, an intelligence/cyberspace/electronic warfare/space detachment, and a brigade support company. At its core is the Multi-Domain Effects Battalion, which is organized into specialized companies:* A signal company providing mission command networks* A military intelligence company for target analysis* An extended range sensing and effects company with unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare, and high-altitude balloon platoons* A space company with modular and fixed space control capabilities* An information defense company with defensive cyber and electromagnetic attack platoonsWhat makes the MDTF concept unique is that it brings capabilities previously reserved for joint or national-level commands down to the tactical level, enabling field commanders to integrate and synchronize effects across domains. As LTC Ritzema explains, the task force's mission is fundamentally about finding adversaries faster than they can find you, then delivering effects - whether kinetic or non-kinetic - to enable broader joint operations.For more on Arcane Thunder 25: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/496977/exercise-arcane-thunder-25-press-releaseFor 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

Is the Department of the Navy Taking the Lead in Defense Acquisition?About Justin and ArtemJustin Fanelli serves as the Navy Chief Technology Officer and has earned a reputation for dismantling bureaucratic barriers that traditionally slow defense innovation. Coming from a technical background, Fanelli has developed new mental models for technology adoption within the Department of the Navy, including a structured approach to piloting, evaluation, and scaling of emerging technologies. His work focuses on creating transparent, outcomes-driven processes that empower change agents across the department.Artem Sherbinin serves as the CTO for the Naval Surface Force, implementing modernization strategies on the front lines. His operational background as a navigator and operations officer on a Navy cruiser gives him a warfighter's perspective on technology risk. This experience has shaped his approach to innovation, with an emphasis on addressing real operational needs rather than satisfying bureaucratic requirements. Sherbinin works three echelons below Fanelli in the Navy's organizational structure, yet their collaborative approach demonstrates the cross-functional alignment driving today's modernization efforts.For more Crossing the Valley:* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crossingthevalley* Substack: 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

Grant DeMaree, Founder and CEO of OneBrief, discusses his journey from military service to launching a revolutionary software platform designed to streamline military planning. Inspired by his experiences during the Ebola crisis and his time in Iraq, he highlights the need for faster decision-making tools. The importance of strategic partnerships in military contracting and the role of AI in improving planning processes are also explored. Grant emphasizes the necessity of modernizing military decision-making to save lives and enhance operational efficiency.

In this discussion, Jason Brown, General Manager of Applied Intuition's defense business, shares his extensive experience in defense innovation and AI. He talks about the shift from hardware to software in military operations, emphasizing the urgency for technology to keep pace with global competitors. Jason explores the synergy between defense and commercial autonomy technologies, highlighting the need for a new mindset in software acquisition. He also touches on the role of generative AI and effective collaboration in evolving defense applications.

Rylan Hamilton and Austin Gray, co-founders of Blue Water Autonomy, dive into the exciting world of autonomous ships tailored for the U.S. Navy. With Hamilton's extensive military experience and Gray's dual degree from HBS and MIT, they share their vision of merging technology and defense. Topics include their groundbreaking approach of building vessels that require minimal human maintenance, challenges in aligning tech with military needs, and lessons learned from a summer spent in Ukraine's defense tech landscape. Get ready for a naval innovation revolution!

About Merlin LabsFounded to develop autonomous flight technology for existing aircraft, Merlin Labs is taking a fundamentally different approach to the challenge than many competitors. While most autonomous systems try to augment human pilots, creating a potentially dangerous shared control situation, Merlin's system operates as the primary pilot with human supervision. The "Merlin Pilot" is responsible for flying the aircraft, communicating with air traffic control, and making operational decisions, with a human supervisor available to take control if necessary..Merlin's strategy involves dual certification paths, working with both military and civilian regulators to certify their core autonomous pilot system. Once certified, this core capability can be adapted to specific aircraft with only incremental certification work required. This approach has recently yielded a significant milestone: the first approved airworthiness plan for integrating autonomy onto a mainline Air Force aircraft.Check out the show notes at ValleyCrossers.ComFor more on Merlin: https://merlinlabs.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

Jesse Kallman, Founder and CEO of Danti, is revolutionizing how we access Earth observation data. With an impressive background in defense and space, he discusses the challenges of transitioning from a proof of concept to securing vital government contracts. Jesse highlights the role of AI in simplifying vast information for informed decision-making. He also delves into the importance of partnerships in the unmanned systems landscape and shares insights on launching a public sector venture while navigating customer relationships and scaling innovations.

About PhillipPhillip Buckendorf is the co-founder and CEO of Air Space Intelligence, bringing a unique perspective shaped by his education in political science and international relations in Germany. Frustrated by what he describes as Europe’s "degrowth mindset,” Phillip moved to the United States in his early 20s, seeking out the hotbed of innovation and technological progress.About Air Space IntelligenceFounded after extensive research into air operations centers across commercial airlines, government agencies, and maritime organizations, ASI develops predictive software that transforms how logistics planning occurs in both commercial and defense contexts. The company's core innovation is shifting from static displays showing current conditions to dynamic simulations that predict how operational environments will change over time.For more on Air Space Intelligence: https://www.airspace-intelligence.com/For the Air Space Manifesto: https://www.airspace-intelligence.com/thesisFor more on Phillip: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipbuckendorf/For more Crossing the Valley: 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

As Apex Space commemorates one year on orbit for its Aries satellite, CEO and co-founder Ian Cinnamon joins us to talk about all things space.A serial entrepreneur, Ian's journey began right after college when he worked as a technology advisor to Mark Pincus at Zynga, later starting a gaming company that was acquired by Zynga. He went on to found Synapse Technology (acquired by Palantir), invest at Village Global, and then co-found Apex Space with Max Benassi, a veteran of SpaceX who had worked on both the Falcon 9 and Starlink programs.Founded in 2022, Apex Space is the world's first manufacturer of productized, configurable satellite bus platforms. Unlike traditional aerospace companies that custom-build each satellite bus for specific missions, Apex has standardized the design and manufacturing process to create what is essentially an off-the-shelf product.For more on Ian: @IanCinnamon on X, LinkedInFor more on Apex: @ApexSpacecraft on X, LinkedInFor more Crossing the Valley: @NSheinbaum 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