The Startup Defense

Hosted by Callye Keen

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Jun 2026

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The Startup Defense explores the intersection of commercial technology and defense innovation. Callye Keen (Kform) talks with expert guests about the latest needs and trends in the defense industry and how startup companies are driving innovation and change. From concept to field, The Startup Defense covers artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, mission computing, autonomous systems, and the manufacturing necessary to make technology real.

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June 10, 2026Episode 6920 min

Non-Dilutive Funding, Defense Tech Fundraising, Mission Cultivate with Mollie Jahner

How founders can use grants, contracts, teaming, and acquisition pathways to fund hard tech without giving up equity too earlyGuest: Mollie Jahner - Mission Cultivate, formerly Spring and ForgeNon-dilutive funding can be a major advantage for defense startups, but winning it requires more than filling out grant applications. Mollie Jahner about how founders should think about grants, government contracts, teaming, SBIRs, state funding, acquisition pathways, and why the best proposals are written for the reviewer, not the founder.TopicsWhy non-dilutive capital is powerful but still difficult to winHow defense startups should treat grants like part of the product roadmapWhy teaming, past performance, and partner strategy matterHow private capital is learning to follow government demand signalsWhy TRL can be misleading in defense innovationHow Mission Cultivate is expanding access to funding intelligence and grant supportTakeawaysNon-dilutive funding is not “easy money.” Founders need a targeted strategy, agency understanding, and clear reviewer-focused writing.Grant and contract pursuit should be routine. Mollie recommends founders apply to two or three aligned opportunities every quarter.Teaming is an underrated growth mechanism. Startups can strengthen larger proposals by partnering with organizations that already have past performance.Government interest can strengthen investor conversations. A credible demand signal from a program office, command, or acquisition stakeholder can help unlock private capital.TRL is often too blunt for defense tech. Commercially mature technology may still be immature in a new mission context.Founder-problem fit matters. Founders who have personally experienced the mission problem often understand the market, user, and operational gap more deeply.AI and software can democratize access to funding opportunities, helping smaller teams compete with organizations that have dedicated capture resources.Highlights[00:33] - Mollie’s current focus: helping founders raise non-dilutive capital[01:46] - Lessons from closing more than $800 million in grants and government contracts[02:00] - Why founders need to understand the agency, reviewer, and funding mechanism[04:25] - Treating grants like a product roadmap, not a one-time event[05:00] - Teaming as a practical way for startups to access larger funding opportunities[07:06] - Why program manager conversations can sharpen proposals[09:07] - How VCs are getting smarter about government funding signals[10:50] - SBIRs as an entry point, not always a complete acquisition pathway[13:24] - What makes a founder ready to pursue non-dilutive funding[14:48] - Why TRL can fail to explain real defense innovation maturity[16:13] - Innovation as a human terrain and orchestration problem[17:33] - Drone fatigue and the challenge of differentiation in crowded markets[19:01] - Spring and Forge’s acquisition by Mission Cultivate[21:44] - Why government funding is almost a second language for new founders[22:30] - SBIR mills, repeat winners, and the challenge of access for new entrantsConnectGuest: Mollie Jahner on LinkedInEmail: Mollie at Mission Cultivate“Grant funding should be part of your product roadmap.”Subscribe to The Startup Defense for more conversations with founders, investors, builders, and defense leaders working to move technology from idea to fielded capability.

May 28, 2026Episode 6828 min

Accelerate Decisions, Dominate Operations, and Dunedain with Mack Ohlinger

Why accelerating decision-making—not just building models—is the real frontier of defense AIGuest: Mack Ohlinger – CEO, DunedainMost AI conversations in defense focus on models, data, or compute. This one does not. Mack Ohlinger, CEO of Dunedain, is building agent-based systems designed to compress military planning and decision-making timelines from days to seconds. This episode breaks down what actually matters: architecture, user interaction, and the hard reality of getting AI from demo to production. TopicsBuilding agent-based AI systems for military planning workflows (MDMP/MCPP)Why most AI companies fail between demo and productionThe role of architecture, testing, and user interaction in mission-grade AITakeawaysThe core constraint in defense is decision speed, not access to data or models.AI systems that succeed mirror existing cognitive workflows and compress them, rather than replacing them outright.The gap between demo and production is driven by integration, edge cases, and real user behavior—not model performance.High-quality data is necessary but insufficient; systems must continuously learn from users in real environments.Modular, MOSA-aligned architectures introduce integration complexity that must be actively managed.Timestamped Highlights[00:00] – Intro and mission: accelerating decision-making in defense[02:30] – From operator experience to startup: identifying the planning bottleneck[07:00] – Why most AI demos fail to survive contact with real users[10:30] – The challenge of testing stochastic, multi-agent systems[18:00] – How to frame AI capability for defense customers (KPPs, outcomes, trust)[26:00] – Decision-making under changing requirements and dynamic missions[28:30] – The future: AI-enabled planning from the CoCom level to the individual operatorResources & LinksMack Ohlinger — https://www.linkedin.com/in/mack2Dunedain — https://dunedainsystems.com/“The hardest part is not building the system. It’s getting from 99% to 100%—from demo to production.”

May 13, 2026Episode 6731 min

Sensor Fusion, Startup Scaling, Digital Force Technologies with Justin MacLaurin

How operator trust, patient capital, and integrated platforms turn defense technology into fielded capabilityGuest: Justin MacLaurin - Founder & CEO, Digital Force TechnologiesJustin MacLaurin has built, sold, bought back, and scaled a defense technology company focused on real operator needs. In this episode, Justin and Callye discuss sensor fusion, edge compute, counter-UAS, SOCOM acquisition speed, and why defense startups must build complete capabilities, not isolated widgets.TopicsThe convergence of technology and military operationsDFT’s origin story with Naval Special WarfareSensor fusion, edge processing, and battlefield awarenessSelling to BBN, moving under Raytheon, and buying the company backPatient capital versus traditional VC expectations in defense hardwarePartnership, ruggedization, cyber, and integration for startupsCounter-UAS, drone scale, and manufacturabilityBuilding operator trust before scaling to larger servicesTakeawaysDefense technology only matters when it works in operational context.Startups win by staying close to the mission and moving faster than traditional acquisition cycles.The government buys capabilities, not components, so integration and deployability matter.Patient capital can fit defense hardware better than constant fundraising cycles.Partnerships help startups avoid wasting runway on non-core work.Operator trust is the first contract. Without it, formal acquisition does not matter.Timestamped Highlights[00:00] - Introducing Justin MacLaurin and DFT[00:44] - Technology and military operations as the core passion[01:20] - Why sensor fusion is reaching an inflection point[04:00] - From video surveillance to edge compute and battlefield data[06:42] - Translating operator needs at Naval Special Warfare[08:00] - The unmet need for rapid tactical technology development[09:00] - Building DFT around mission relevance[10:12] - Selling to BBN and crossing the Valley of Death internally[11:20] - Raytheon integration and the shift from startup speed[12:35] - Buying DFT back and rebooting the company[16:28] - Choosing scale over a lifestyle business[17:30] - Partnering with DC Capital Partners[18:52] - Moving from SOCOM to larger service programs[19:39] - Patient capital and defense market realities[23:29] - Startup culture as a mentality, not a size[24:00] - Helping startups wrap technology for military use[25:30] - Drone manufacturing, scale, and solving the right problem[26:30] - The Seraphim platform and rapid sensor integration[28:27] - Avoiding overinvestment in non-core technology[31:47] - Marketing, OPSEC, and the modern defense tech noise floor[33:30] - Building a trust contract with operators[34:27] - Closing thoughts on fielded capabilityConnectJustin MacLaurin | LinkedInCallye Keen | LinkedInAdvanced Sensing Technology | Digital Force Technologies

April 22, 2026Episode 6629 min

Rapid Acquisition, Venture Speed, and DCODE with Meagan Metzger

Why defense innovation still stalls, how to fix the operating model, and what it takes to get commercial technology into warfighters’ hands at mission speedGuest: Meagan Metzger – Founder + Chief Executive Officer, DcodeWhat actually keeps great commercial technology from reaching the Department of Defense is rarely the technology itself. In this episode, Meagan Metzger joins Callye Keen to break down the real blockers: incentive misalignment, slow operating models, rigid budgeting, and the persistent gap between prototyping and scale. Together they dig into how defense teams can move from admiring the problem to building an acquisition system that rewards outcomes, fast feedback, and rapid fielding.TopicsWhy the Department needs a new operating model to move at the speed of relevanceHow incentive structures shape acquisition behavior and startup outcomesWhy the “valley of death” is a solvable transition problem, not an unavoidable law of natureHow rapid capability can go from need to fielded feedback in under 90 daysWhy outcome-based requirements and budgeting create better paths for commercial technology adoptionTakeawaysSpeed in defense innovation requires changing the operating model, not just asking teams to work harder inside the same system.Startups need fast clarity, not long maybes. A fast no is often more valuable than prolonged engagement without a buying path.Portfolio and mission-outcome thinking can align budgets, acquisition decisions, and fielding efforts around real capability instead of fragmented technology buys.Timestamped Highlights[00:05 - 01:51] Why this moment feels different for defense innovation and commercial tech adoption[03:52 - 06:31] The Department needs a new operating model, not just more urgency[08:43 - 10:43] Incentives, startup reality, and why a fast no beats a long maybe[12:03 - 14:30] Reframing the valley of death and building a rapid acquisition integration cell[15:10 - 19:29] Capability portfolios, mission outcomes, and what portfolio leaders should actually measure[22:12 - 25:14] Why outcome-based requirements and budgeting matter for commercial technology adoption[27:51 - 30:16] From zero to warfighter feedback in under 90 days and why that loop matters[30:42 - 32:41] Where to learn more about DCODE and why this work is possible nowResources & LinksDCODE official websiteDcode leadership and company background“Act Like a CEO” by Meagan Metzger on portfolio leadership and operating modelsKform and The Startup DefenseConnectGuest: Meagan Metzger on LinkedInHost: Callye Keen on LinkedIn

April 8, 202623 min

Data at Mission Speed, Resilient Pipelines, and Grist Mill Exchange with Jen Obernier

How government teams can buy, trust, and operationalize commercial data faster for mission-critical decisionsGuest: Jen Obernier | CEO, Grist Mill ExchangeWhat does it take to get the exact commercial data a mission team needs before the decision window closes? In this episode, Jen Obernier joins Callye Keen to explain why speed in defense data is not just a technology problem. It is an acquisition, trust, and integration problem, and the teams that solve it will have a major advantage in decision-making, AI adoption, and mission execution.TopicsWhy coherent data matters more than raw collection volumeHow Grist Mill Exchange helps governments discover, license, and deliver commercial data fasterWhy successful AI efforts start with the decision and required data, not just the modelHow resilient data pipelines reduce risk when providers, business models, or mission needs changeWhy the next defense advantage may belong to teams that can integrate and move data where decisions happenTakeawaysSpeed comes from coherence: the right data, in the right place, at the right momentMany mission data bottlenecks are business model and procurement problems before they are technical problemsAI programs are far more effective when teams identify the decision first, then align the data strategy to support itTrusted, flexible access to commercial data is becoming part of the defense data supply chainThe future power brokers inside government may be the people who can integrate, route, and operationalize data across systemsTimestamped Highlights[00:04 - 01:22] Jen explains her core passion: enabling better mission decisions with the specific data needed, exactly when and where it is needed[03:10 - 05:25] From neuroscientist to Pentagon executive to CEO, Jen shares the career path that led her to Grist Mill Exchange[05:25 - 07:47] Why 9 to 18 month acquisition timelines make mission-relevant data useless by the time it arrives[07:51 - 10:58] Callye connects mission data assurance to supply chain resilience and the risks of depending on fragile commercial inputs[10:58 - 13:20] Jen breaks down why commercial data access is as much a business model problem as a technology problem[14:29 - 16:16] Subscription access, one-time historical purchases, and metered APIs as flexible ways to buy only the data needed[17:00 - 18:55] Real-world use cases from policy analysis to supply chain intelligence and mission operations[20:39 - 22:23] Why AI pilots succeed when they are built around a real decision and the data required to support it[25:16 - 26:58] Jen’s prediction for the next three to five years: data integrators and infrastructure builders become the new power brokersResources & LinksGrist Mill Exchange: Official website“Speed comes from coherence.”Follow The Startup Defense for more conversations at the intersection of commercial technology and defense innovation. If this episode was useful, share it with a founder, operator, or acquisition leader working on mission data, AI, or defense modernization.

January 21, 2026Episode 6422 min

Next-Generation Munitions, Defense Manufacturing, and WAR Inc. with Jon Williams

From warfighter need to fielded effect: building a partner-led “ordnance nexus” that collapses the munition lifecycle (materials → manufacturing → security → delivery) into a faster, more survivable path to the fight.Guest: Jon Williams – President & CEO, WAR Inc.This episode is a candid, operator-informed look at why defense innovation stalls between prototype and deployment, and what it takes to close the gap. Jon breaks down WAR Inc.’s “portfolio + partners” approach, spanning munitions, counter-UAS, encrypted comms, and manufacturing strategy, with a clear thesis: speed comes from integrated capability, not isolated widgets. (War.inc)TopicsWAR Inc.’s origin story: returning to defense to close the “delay gap” for the warfighterProject ONI and the “Ordnance Nexus” concept: munitions + weapon systems + secure data/IP + manufacturingBase materials and process advantage (including cryogenic processing) as a force-multiplier across platforms and toolingWhy geographic manufacturing strategy (US + Europe proximity) is a product feature, not an ops detailIndustrial-park logic for defense: proximity, talent flywheels, and orchestration over bureaucracyDesigning for real near-term users (Ukraine/Poland/Baltics/INDOPACOM) and iterating fast enough to survive adoptionTakeawaysWarfighter-first means time-to-field, not just performance. If you cannot get it delivered, secured, and sustained, it is not capability.Manufacturing is strategy. Where and how you build can determine adoption, scale, and even whether the program is feasible.Integration beats novelty. The “portfolio + partners” model can outpace single-tech plays by collapsing logistics, handoffs, and approvals.Timestamped Highlights[00:00] - Warfighter-first: “get them the tech they need and deserve”[02:19] - Why Jon founded WAR Inc.: from Marine Corps to defense, to back again[05:38] - Project ONI and the “Ordnance Nexus” (munitions + systems + security + manufacturing)[07:34] - Going all the way back to base materials to move faster end-to-end[09:08] - Cryogenic processing as an “infinite use” advantage (product + tooling + fleet sustainment)[13:14] - The industrial-park model: proximity and orchestration as the real unlock[17:50] - Build for near-term users first; the US warfighter may get version five[19:51] - Why startups fail at scale: prototype is easy, production reality is not[21:22] - The overlooked constraint: raw material availability and supply chain physicsResources & LinksWAR Inc. — https://war.inc/ConnectJon Williams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwilliamsofficial/Callye Keen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callyekeen/“If your product doesn’t ship with a Ukrainian instruction manual, you’re doing something wrong.”Support the show: Subscribe, share with a builder in defense, and send one person this episode who needs a clearer view of how to go from prototype to production at speed.

December 17, 2025Episode 6326 min

AI Gun Detection, Mission-driven Culture, and ZeroEyes with Sam Alaimo

Stopping threats before shots are fired: how ZeroEyes pairs computer vision with a 24/7 human verification layer to deliver actionable intelligence to responders in seconds.Guest: Sam Alaimo – Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer, ZeroEyesZeroEyes was founded to tackle a real, urgent problem with a pragmatic solution: detect a brandished firearm through existing cameras, verify it fast, and dispatch real-time alerts. In this episode, Sam breaks down how the tech + operations model works, why dual-use (K-12, commercial, and DoD) made the product stronger, and what it takes to build a mission-first culture that scales.TopicsWhy ZeroEyes was founded after Parkland—and why cameras had been “forensic only” before (ZeroEyes)The ZeroEyes Operations Center (ZOC): human verification as the trust and assurance layer (ZeroEyes)Dual-use execution: how DoD work expanded capabilities (mobile cameras, new detection modalities)Fundraising lessons: why “team dynamics” can be the deciding factor in venture-scale capitalPartnerships and integration strategy (e.g., Picogrid) (PR Newswire)TakeawaysHigh-stakes AI needs an assurance model. Human verification isn’t a bolt-on—it’s core to operational trust and speed. Dual-use can be a product advantage. Diverse environments drive better data, stronger models, and broader applicability. Investors often underwrite the team, not just the tech. Cohesion, humility, and mission alignment can be a decisive differentiator.Timestamped Highlights[00:00] - The mission: doing something practical about mass shootings[01:35] - The founding story: Parkland, cameras, and “left of bang”[04:44] - The hard truth: selling into schools vs. DoD (and staying mission-aligned)[07:28] - Building a market that didn’t exist (and finding budget for it)[07:54] - Inside the ZOC: human verification, dispatch, and actionable intel[12:24] - Hiring as strategy: creating a mission-driven transition path for veterans[16:08] - Raising venture-scale capital: what investors actually respond to[22:15] - What’s next: expanding beyond firearms into new analytics (including knives)[23:10] - Partnerships as force-multipliers (and why not to “reinvent the wheel”)Resources & LinksZeroEyes (company) (ZeroEyes)ConnectGuest: Sam AlaimoHost: Callye KeenIf this episode sparked ideas, share The Startup Defense with one operator or founder in your network—and if you’re building or scaling a defense tech product, reach out to Kform for support.

December 3, 2025Episode 6237 min

Defense Startups, Crossing the Valley, and Steam Studios with Noah Sheinbaum

Startups can’t afford to be wrong on an 18-month cycle—and neither can the services or the acquisition system that supports them. Callye and Noah deconstruct the so-called “valley of death,” separating structural reality from self-inflicted pain and inexperience. They dig into how narrative, incentives, and tighter demo cycles can compress risk and get real capability into the hands of operators faster.TopicsWhy the “valley of death” is often more mirage than destiny—and where it’s brutally realHow information, narrative, and media shape behavior in defense and critical industriesKform’s evolution from a third-generation machine shop to a commercialization partner for defense startupsCompetition-based drone events and what they reveal about the future of acquisitionUsing rapid demos and shared customers to shrink timelines from years to weeksTakeawaysThe valley of death isn’t an inescapable trap; it’s a series of predictable transitions that punish inexperience, poor capital efficiency, and lack of customer focus.In defense, you may only get one meaningful shot every 12–18 months, so choices around SBIRs, sponsors, and end users are not “free”—they are existential.Tight feedback loops—design, build, demo, adjust—run on weeks instead of years can derisk programs, align incentives, and help both startups and the government “be slightly wrong and get less wrong” much faster.Timestamped Highlights[00:00] - Why startups (and DoD) can’t afford 18-month mistakes[02:34] - Rethinking the “valley of death” and reclaiming agency[05:24] - A contrarian view: the valley as mirage and self-inflicted pain[09:02] - “SBIR is not free money” and the cost of choosing the wrong sponsor[11:54] - Defense tech jobs, new attention, and why this moment matters[17:33] - Kform’s roots: from Navy machinist and Circle K to Kform[23:55] - Building Kform’s playbook: the “team behind your team”[26:29] - Steam Studios and competition-based drones as a new acquisition pattern[31:20] - Tight demo loops: slightly wrong every two weeks vs. catastrophically wrong in 18 months[36:57] - Policy shifts, acquisition reform, and closing reflectionsResources & LinksKform — https://kform.comCrossing the Valley (podcast) — https://www.frontdoordefense.com/podcastFront Door Defense Jobs — https://www.frontdoordefense.comSteam Studios — https://www.steamstudio.ioU.S. National Drone Association — https://www.usnda.org“We can’t afford to be wrong in 18 months. We can afford to be slightly wrong—and getting less wrong—every two weeks.”To partner with Kform, explore collaboration, or bring a product from prototype to field faster, visit kform.com and reach out to the team. If this episode resonates, share it with a founder, operator, or investor who cares about actually fielding capability—not just talking about it.

August 27, 2025Episode 5730 min

Collaborative Innovation, Dark Corners, and Mission Cultivate with Robert Fehlen

Callye Keen interviews Robert Fehlen about his work with Mission Cultivate and Dark Corner Solutions. They discuss the importance of community and networking in the defense innovation space, the challenges of duplication of efforts within military projects, and the need for a centralized platform to connect industry capabilities with military needs. Robert shares insights on the significance of teaming in defense contracts and the future plans for Mission Cultivate, which aims to create a more effective ecosystem for defense innovation.TakeawaysRobert Fehlen's passion is rooted in his family's military background.Dark Corner Solutions focuses on uncovering overlooked stories in defense.Networking is crucial for success in the defense industry.Duplication of efforts in military projects is a significant issue.Mission Cultivate aims to connect industry capabilities with military needs.Building a community is essential for fostering innovation.Teaming is the only way to succeed in defense contracts.The defense marketplace is complex and requires strategic navigation.Quality over quantity is a key principle for Mission Cultivate.Human connections are vital in the defense contracting space.About Robert FehlenWebsite: https://www.missioncultivate.com/

July 30, 2025Episode 5634 min

Rapid Innovation, Manufacturing Transparency, and Authentise with Andre Wegner

Andre Wegner believes the biggest choke-point in defense manufacturing isn’t hardware—it’s the months (or years) lost inside data-starved black boxes. He and host Callye Keen unpack how capturing every shred of context across design, engineering, and shop-floor workflows—then feeding it to AI—can turn a decade-long program into a months-long sprint. If you care about rebuilding U.S. industrial agility, hit play.Topics We CoverWhy “idea → part” speed is now a national-security metricThe cost of invisible data: 16k+ parts “too expensive to reverse engineer”Creating a new categoryKey TakeawaysTransparency beats paperwork. Drawings alone can’t scale or automate production; live context must flow from concept through machining.AI makes the unsexy sexy. Large language models can surface risks and bottlenecks instantly—if the data exhaust is captured.Own the ability to build. You don’t truly own IP when the know-how to make it sits outside your walls.Chapters00:00 | Welcome & guest intro02:58 | The Authentise journey—from secure print streaming to DoD prime 05:12 | Obsessing over months-not-years product cycles 10:18 | The “blind-men & elephant” parable of fragmented manufacturing data17:21 | Why the golden-thread metaphor fails in a multidimensional world 23:40 | Naming a new category: Continuous Engineering Operations 26:17 | $700 pocket sculptures & reframing value 31:58 | Cheap drones, culture change, and AI-enabled transparency 34:48 | Closing thoughts & future collaborationResources & LinksAuthentise — https://authentise.comKform — https://kform.comConnectAndre: LinkedIn / X / AuthentiseCallye: LinkedIn / X / Kform“You don’t really own your IP if you can’t make it.” — Callye KeenEnjoyed the episode? Follow The StartupDefense and share it with a fellow builder. Powered by Kform—defense tech transformation from concept to production.