The IQT Podcast

Learn how IQT connects startups with government agencies for national security through strategic investments. Discover how IQT sources and adapts startup tech, and the value of conversations and exploring solutions. Explore the investment decision-making process at IQT and its role as the venture arm of the CIA.

The United States is facing a significant challenge in competing with China on technological innovation, cybersecurity, and national security issues. With China's rapid rise as a global technological superpower, the U.S. must take steps to ensure its own competitiveness and security. This includes addressing concerns such as intellectual property theft, cyber attacks, and the development of emerging technologies. The U.S. government must prioritize these issues in order to protect its economic and national interests. In this episode of The Intersection on the IQT Podcast, Steve Bowsher is joined by Will Hurd, author of “American Reboot” and managing director at Allen & Company. Will has a lot of experience with national security issues, having worked as a CIA officer, member of Congress, and cybersecurity executive. Tune in to learn about the challenges and solutions that can help shape America's technological future. Key Takeaways: - The problems and difficulties that must be tackled in relation to competing with China - US government’s approach and collaboration with the private sectors on innovation and competitiveness - Explaining pragmatic idealism and the inspiration behind it 

The podcast explores the history of intelligence, the use of algorithms in analysis, and the biases and manipulations that can occur. Dr. Amy Zegart discusses the competition between US, China, and Russia in technology and national security. It also delves into the shift towards open source intelligence, the strengths and vulnerabilities of Russia and China in espionage, and the importance of ensuring long-term advantage in the cyber complex.

On September 12, 2022, President Biden signed an Executive Order (EO) on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy. The EO aims to sustain and broaden U.S. competitiveness and leadership in biotechnology and extend the impact of biotechnology across industrial areas including health, agriculture, energy, and beyond. What does this mean for the future of the U.S. bioeconomy? In this episode, Dr. Kevin O'Connell, Dr. Tara O'Toole, and Eugene Chiu explore key takeaways from the EO, including the importance of biomanufacturing regarding climate change, bioeconomy international collaborations on supply chains and national security, and how the overall economy will be impacted by the development of biotechnology.

Energy fuels so many things in our daily lives, including the device you are reading this on right now, but do you ever pause to wonder: where exactly does this energy come from? In this episode of The Intersection, Steve Bowsher is joined by Dr. Scott Hsu, Senior Advisor, and Lead Fusion Coordinator in the Office of the Undersecretary for Science and Innovation at the US DOE. Listen to learn more about nuclear fusion and its difference from the current fission technology, why it’s being pursued as an alternative energy source, and what the status of this technology around the world currently looks like. Takeaways: • Difference between nuclear fission and fusion energy • The obstacles to making nuclear fusion a reality • Definition of fusion breakeven and the Lawson Criterion • Legislation regarding public safety and security on nuclear fusion energy • The timetable for nuclear fusion energy in the coming years   Featured in this Episode: • Scott Hsu, Senior Advisor and Lead Fusion Coordinator, DOE • Profile: https://arpa-e.energy.gov/about/team-directory/dr-scott-hsu • Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottchsu/ • Twitter: https://twitter.com/scottchsu

In this episode of The Intersection series, we are joined by battery and electric vehicles expert Steve LeVine, author and editor of The Electric, to explore how important batteries are and their supply chain. How does this affect the world in the future and who are the big players in the battery industry? Key Takeaways: - The current status of the battery supply chain and E-vehicle industry - Top players in the battery supply chain around the world - Lithium Ion and how will it shape the future - Actions and laws to regulate the increasing demand for raw battery materials

In this episode of The Intersection, Steve Bowsher is joined by Bilal Zuberi, co-founder and partner at Lux Capital. Recorded at an event held in May, this discussion draws from Bilal's experience in the world of venture capital, sharing insights on taking calculated risks, predicting which industries will rise to prominence, and coping with business cycles on a personal and company level. Listen to learn more about investors’ biggest considerations and how you can make the best out of economic downturns. Key Takeaways: Evaluating investment risk Why deep technology is a growing industry How to take advantage of contractions in the market Impact of cryptocurrency

This episode of The Intersection shares a discussion between In-Q-Tel's Dr. Megan Anderson and Dr. Sarah Sewall recorded at an event held back in May. Tune in to hear them explore innovative solutions to energy independence and over-the-horizon technologies to help shape a better world, including: A U.S.-based ecosystem for battery production Addressing vulnerabilities in critical minerals for energy production Public and private efforts to achieve fusion And more! You can learn more about this topic and others on the IQT blog at www.iqt.org/blog.

In this episode, Steve Bowsher is joined by John Rice, Founder and CEO of Management Leadership for Tomorrow, a national non-profit organization that empowers a new generation of diverse leaders to combat racial and economic inequality. Listen in as the two explore how the diversity of talents inside organizations is critical to attaining organizational objectives and developing the most innovative companies. The two explore best ways to obtain diverse talents, as well as how to build and nurture talents in an ideal setting that satisfies people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

The climate technology sector is a mature asset class that provides investors with considerable financial returns as well as the potential for outsized environmental and social impact. In this episode, we are joined by Victoria Chernow, A Technology Architect, who works on innovation in the next generation of nuclear energy and engineered biology for energy and materials manufacture, and Steve Taub, a recovering mechanical engineer with 10+ years' experience as a corporate venture capitalist. Listen in to learn more about climate technology, including what it is, why it's essential, and how we might utilize it to help design a brighter future for us all. For more information, check out Steve and Victoria's Climate Tech blog at iqt.org/blog.