The a16z Show
From Silicon Valley to the Pentagon: The Future of Defense Innovation
The a16z Show discusses tech and culture trends, news, and the future – especially as ‘software eats the world’. It features industry experts, business leaders, and other interesting thinkers and voices from around the world. This show is produced by Andreessen Horowitz (aka “a16z”), a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm. Multiple episodes are released every week; visit a16z.com for more details and to sign up for our newsletters and other content as well!
Show Notes
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The last few decades have been a period of transition for defense. An increasing number of startups have begun to rival large defense primes, the industry has gradually become a calculus of both hardware and software, and exponential technologies have forced the DoD to rethink how it has traditionally done business.
These changing conditions were some of the inputs to resulting in the DIU – Defense Innovation Unit – starting in 2015 within the Department of Defense, focused on accelerating the adoption of technology.
In this episode recorded at a16z’s American Dynamism Summit in January, a16z General Partner Katherine Boyle is joined by the Director of the DIU, Doug Beck, plus two critical founders ushering in this new era of defense: Brian Schimpf, cofounder and CEO of Anduril and Brandon Tseng, cofounder of Shield AI.
So what does the next wave of defense innovation really look like? Let’s find out.
The Future of Defense Innovation
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
Adoption of Startup tech by the DoD
Acquisition, Budgeting, and Contracting
Traditional Primes vs Startups
Cost-Plus Fixed Fee Contracts
The Replicator Program
The New Threat Environment
Scale and Readiness for Modern Warfare
Procurement Reform and Feasibility
Success Metrics for Defense
Resources:
Learn more about AD Summit 2024: www.a16z.com/adsummit
Watch Brian’s stage talk at AD Summit 2024: https://a16z.com/securing-americas-future-how-technology-companies-and-washington-are-building-a-safer-world/
Watch all of the stage talks at AD Summit 2024: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM4u6XbiXf5pAKmk1AeZ9964KGScf4lHM
Find Katherine on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KTmBoyle
Find Brandon and Shield AI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/shieldaitech
Find Brian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/schimpfbrian
Find Doug and the DIU on Twitter: https://twitter.com/diu_x
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Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
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Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
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