America Builds

Brett Granberg is a co-founder and CEO of Vannevar Labs, a startup building AI for defense.We dive into Brett’s journey as a defense investor and startup founder, and the challenges and opportunities he sees in defense tech right now. He breaks down the differences between hardware and software development, the evolving DoD acquisition process, and how to know when a defense startup has achieved product-market fit. Plus, we discuss the biggest thing Brett looks for in interviews and what it takes to succeed in a startup environment.Outline1:30 The genesis of Vannevar04:38 What have you changed your mind about?06:49 Knowing when to adjust course10:09 Building products with urgency12:42 Doubling down on existing products vs. exploring new bets17:27 Hardware vs. software in defense19:19 DeepSeek and what LLMs mean for defense tech25:27 DoD acquisition evolution28:01 The defense tech market31:48 The next decade33:40 Building a company culture that withstands growth35:38 Personal reflections37:31 Unexpected predictors of success39:07 Lessons for future founders40:58 Opportunities at Vannevar

Congressman Gabe Amo is the U.S. representative for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district.Our conversation touches on public service and the importance of engaging with constituents, the unique story of Rhode Island, and the strategic significance of the "blue economy." We also get into national security, discussing the state of NATO, the implications of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the challenges posed by China, particularly regarding Taiwan.Outline02:43 The journey into public service05:24 Engaging with constituents11:01 Understanding the blue economy15:44 National security and the navy19:02 Insights from the Foreign Affairs Committee21:51 The importance of Ukraine24:53 The state of NATO28:07 Taiwan and China31:10 Personal reflections and recommendations

Bilal Zuberi from Lux Capital discusses food, culture, and investing with purpose in defense tech. Topics include the importance of storytelling, challenges in managing people, ethical investing in national security, and global warfare fronts. The conversation also touches on team cohesion, reading interests, and the impact of tribalism on American politics.

In this conversation, Sarah, a former CIA officer, discusses her experience in targeting and tracking terrorists. She shares insights from her book on Benghazi and explains the career trajectory of a targeter. Sarah highlights the importance of human intelligence and the challenges of using open source intelligence. 

Tess Hatch is a Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners.

Jon Pelson is a China expert and the author of "Wireless Wars: China's Dangerous Domination of 5G and How We're Fighting Back."

Don Faul is the CEO of CrossFit and a USMC veteran. He has also held operating roles at Pinterest, Meta, and Google.

John Gedmark is the CEO and co-founder of Astranis, a satellite company.

President and CEO Steve Bowsher describes the history and mission of In-Q-Tel, the original gangster of national security investing.

Michael Easter is the New York Times bestselling author of Scarcity Brain and The Comfort Crisis. He has spent his career researching and writing about mental and physical health, performance, nutrition, fitness, mindset, toughness, the value of challenge and adventure, and much more.