DIB Innovators

EP 54 — Slingshot Aerospace’s Erik Ekwurzel on Low-Cost Optical Alternatives for Space Radar Systems

In Dave’s latest conversation on DIB Innovators, he uncovers how Slingshot Aerospace has become one of the few major entities globally collecting space data at scale, alongside superpowers like the US, China, and Russia. Erik Ekwurzel, CDIO, explains how their patented optical sensor technology, which is deployed across 22 global sites, can detect objects as small as CubeSats while collecting critical photometric data that radar systems can't capture. 
 
As space becomes increasingly contested and congested, and with satellite numbers projected to grow from 12,000 today to potentially 100,000 in less than a decade, Slingshot's mission to deliver "decision-valued data" for safe space operations has become crucial for both government and commercial operators. 
 
Topics discussed:
 
How Slingshot's physics-true AI training environment gives them an edge in space domain awareness, allowing their AI to immediately focus on patterns rather than wasting time learning basic physics principles.
How Slingshot's global network of optical sensors generates over 1 billion space observations every six months (8-10 million daily), making them a major global entity collecting space data at scale.
The competitive advantage of using staring arrays versus traditional cueable sensors, including the ability to monitor large sections of space simultaneously without needing to be repositioned, which allows them to detect both known and previously unidentified objects.
How Slingshot applied AI to develop GPS jamming and spoofing detection capabilities for the US Space Force, identifying ground-based interference with satellite signals.
The significant cost efficiency of Slingshot's optical sensor approach: sub-million dollar deployable systems versus traditional radar installations that require football-field-sized infrastructure and massive power supplies.
The exponential challenges of space traffic management as orbital congestion increases, illustrating why AI-assisted decisions will soon become essential for satellite operators facing ever more risks.
The tension between intellectual property rights and government procurement in the DIB, with agencies often wanting to purchase rather than license proprietary technology, creating sustainability challenges for innovative companies.
The critical need for real-time data processing at scale, with Slingshot working to minimize latency from sensor observations to actionable intelligence while maintaining 99.999% system uptime.

EP 55 — Piasecki Aircraft’s John Piasecki on Their Answer to Extended-Range Combat Logistics

Vertical lift aviation is on the cusp of its biggest revolution since the helicopter itself, and John Piasecki, President & CEO of Piasecki Aircraft, is at the forefront with game-changing technologies that could cut operational costs in half while meeting complex military requirements. 
 
In this episode of DIB Innovators John walks Dave through how his family's aerospace legacy is evolving from the iconic tandem rotor helicopter (now the Chinook) to hydrogen-powered compound helicopters and tilt-duct VTOL platforms. 
 
The discussion illuminates the strategic shift from pure R&D to production capability with their acquisition of Sikorsky's Heliplex facility, while exploring how their innovations directly address the challenges of Ukraine's contested airspace and the vast distances of Indo-Pacific operations.
 
Topics discussed:
 
How Ukraine's battlefield realities have driven an "asymptotic" increase in air defense lethality, forcing a shift toward unmanned vertical lift systems for logistics in contested environments.
The strategic advantages of high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells that deliver 5x the energy density of batteries and require significantly fewer maintenance-intensive components than turbine engines.
Why hydrogen fuel propulsion could reduce vertical lift operational costs by 50% compared to conventional turbine helicopters while enabling units to generate their own fuel with just water and energy.
How the Ares tilt-duct VTOL platform solves the critical gap between V22 Osprey capabilities (300+ mile range) and conventional helicopter support that can't match this extended operational radius.
The potential for additive manufacturing to transform dynamic component production, reducing 12+ month lead times for critical parts like gearbox castings and cutting development cycles significantly.
How software-enabled "cyber rotorcraft" technology could extract 15-20% more capability from identical hardware by replacing traditional safety margins with real-time adaptive flight control systems.
The challenges of transitioning from SBIR program success to production at scale, prompting Piasecki's acquisition of Sikorsky's Heliplex facility after 60+ years as a pure R&D company.
The shift toward mission-manager operators instead of traditional pilots, potentially solving the commercial and military pilot shortage while broadening access to vertical lift mobility.

EP 53 — Skydweller Aero’s Robert Miller on Transforming Solar Aircraft into Military-Grade Assets

Imagine aircraft that can stay aloft for weeks, transforming how militaries conduct surveillance across vast distances — that's the game-changing reality Robert Miller, Co-founder & CEO at Skydweller Aero, shares with Dave in this episode of DIB Innovators. 
 
With decades of aerospace experience from Stanford to leading classified projects at Northrop Grumman, Robert walks through how his team is revolutionizing military surveillance by transforming the record-breaking Solar Impulse 2 into an unmanned warfare platform that can fly for weeks without landing. He also cuts through industry hype with battle-tested expertise, emphasizing the critical distinction between flashy demonstrations and real operational capabilities in the defense sector. "There's a lot of noise in the system these days," he explains, detailing how Skydweller has secured airworthiness certifications from European authorities, FAA, and NAVAIR while already flying operational missions for SOUTHCOM. With multiple beyond-line-of-sight data links integrated and working, the platform represents a genuine capability to maintain persistent surveillance far beyond the 1,500 nautical mile limitation of current systems.
 
Topics discussed:
 
The conversion of Solar Impulse 2 from a manned aircraft to a fully autonomous unmanned system with fly-by-wire capabilities and why this represents an operational leap beyond mere technical demonstrations.
How Skydweller's 236-foot wingspan aircraft can maintain continuous flight for weeks at a time, addressing the critical capability gap in persistent ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) beyond 1,500 nautical miles.
The significant cost advantage of Skydweller's platform, with maintenance costs approaching those of small general aviation aircraft rather than traditional military assets.
The strategic implementation of advanced weather prediction technologies and autonomous mission planning to navigate around environmental hazards using mathematics similar to those used for avoiding enemy radar systems.
The platform's potential for electronic warfare applications given its 200+ kilowatt-hour energy storage capacity and the ability to house substantial power apertures.
Why Skydweller's unique design offers survivability advantages over traditional aircraft, including reduced heat signatures and acoustic profiles that make detection more difficult.
The business challenges of securing private investment while navigating the complex Department of Defense acquisition process toward becoming a program of record. 

EP 52 — HTX Labs' Scott Schneider on Meeting Students Where They Are with Multi-Platform VR

In this episode of DIB Innovators, Scott Schneider, CEO & Co-founder of HTX Labs, takes us from his early days working on classified government programs at Texas Instruments to building a revolutionary virtual reality platform transforming military training. Scott highlights how they unexpectedly pivoted from corporate active shooter training to becoming a key partner with the US Air Force, creating immersive "digital classrooms" where aircraft can be made transparent to visualize complex systems in action. 
In his conversation with Dave, Scott doesn't sugarcoat the journey, sharing both exhilarating wins (securing a $90 million IDIQ contract) and sobering challenges of building a defense tech startup without venture capital. His insights into navigating SBIR funding, achieving cybersecurity compliance, and the elusive pursuit of becoming a "program of record" offer a masterclass in achieving meaningful impact within the complex defense procurement landscape.
Topics discussed:
 
The strategic pivot from corporate active shooter training to military aviation training, showcasing how serendipitous relationships with Air Force innovation leaders created unexpected paths to success.
How HTX Labs' platform delivers immersive "digital classrooms" that allow trainees to practice procedures repeatedly before touching real equipment, cutting training time by approximately 50% while maintaining or improving competency.
The importance of building a platform rather than standalone VR experiences, enabling deployment across headsets, tablets, laptops, and mobile devices to reach 100% of potential users.
Navigating the SBIR funding process as a bootstrapped company, leveraging non-dilutive government capital without taking traditional venture funding.
The significant challenge of transitioning from innovation contracts to becoming a Program of Record, requiring simultaneous bottom-up adoption and top-down leadership buy-in.
How generative AI is transforming content creation for VR training, reducing the labor-intensive process of building digital environments.
The integration of badging systems and performance metrics to capitalize on warfighters' natural competitiveness while generating actionable learning analytics.
Strategic approaches to cybersecurity compliance and ATOs, balancing stringent security requirements with the need for rapid innovation. 

EP 51 — Pindel Global Precision’s Bill Berrien on How Military Training Models Can Transform Manufacturing Skills

Bill Berrien, CEO of Pindel Global Precision, has discovered a fascinating parallel: both special operations and advanced manufacturing rely on highly cohesive, highly trained teams enabled by cutting-edge technology to punch above their weight. In this episode of DIB Innovators, he reveals how he's revolutionizing manufacturing by adopting military principles, from creating a model for workforce training called "forward skilling" to implementing special operations team dynamics on the factory floor. 
 
The results speak for themselves, as he tells Dave: employees mastering advanced automation have seen their wages double or triple, while the company has evolved from making ventilator components during COVID to producing sophisticated rocket engine parts. But Bill’s vision extends beyond his company: he's on a mission to transform Wisconsin from #30 to top 10 in defense industrial base contribution by helping manufacturers bridge the gap to defense contracts through innovative training and technology adoption.
 
Topics discussed:
How military NCO development principles can transform manufacturing workforce training, including the creation of "forward skilling" — a shared economy model for upskilling that leverages unused resources across companies to accelerate training capabilities.
The strategic positioning of CNC Swiss technology for complex, high-precision parts at production volumes, enabling the company to serve demanding aerospace clients.
Strategic implementation of CMMC certification through targeted CUI data segregation, full Microsoft GCC High deployment, and CSP partnership for continuous compliance monitoring.
Transforming manufacturing careers through substantial wage increases (2-3x over 10 years) for employees mastering advanced automation, demonstrating the potential for high-skill, high-wage manufacturing jobs.
Building Wisconsin's defense industrial base by increasing the state's contribution from #30 to top 10 through the Wisconsin Defense Industry Council's initiatives to connect manufacturers with defense primes.
Strategy for integrating AI and automation while maintaining workforce growth — focusing on compressing "white space" in manufacturing processes rather than replacing workers.
The parallel between special operations and advanced manufacturing: both rely on highly cohesive, highly trained teams enabled by advanced technology. 

EP 50 — Inneos’ Brian Peters on Building the Nervous System for Autonomous Military Vehicles

In the early 1990s Brian Peters, Founder/CEO of Inneos recalls, "lasers were a solution looking for a problem. Today, Inneos is transforming military platforms by replacing traditional copper wiring with advanced fiber optic solutions, significantly reducing weight and enhancing security across air, land, and sea vehicles. In this compelling episode of DIB Innovators, Brian walks Dave through how this technology is revolutionizing military platforms through dramatic weight reduction and enhanced security. 
 
Inneos, named by combining "innovation" and "Eos," the goddess of dawn, has developed a way to combine multiple signals onto a single fiber using different wavelengths of light, effectively replacing traditional copper wiring in defense systems. The impact is significant: where a 747 contains approximately 700,000 feet of copper wire weighing 15 tons, fiber optic alternatives can reduce this to just one ton while improving performance. This technology is proving crucial for autonomous military vehicles, where weight directly impacts operational range and power consumption. Beyond weight savings, these fiber optic solutions offer enhanced security against electromagnetic interference and physical tampering.
 
Topics discussed:
The critical SWAP-E (size, weight, power, and EMI) advantages of replacing copper wiring with fiber optics in military platforms.
Inneos's innovative approach to combining multiple signals onto a single fiber strand using different wavelengths, enabling up to 16 different channels without interference.
The parallel between autonomous military vehicles and the human nervous system, with fiber optics serving as the "spinal cord" that efficiently transmits sensor data to the vehicle's "brain" (CPU).
The company's strategic decision to maintain in-house manufacturing and acquire their own semiconductor fab facility for laser production, ensuring supply chain control and enabling development of high-temperature capable components.
Specific security advantages of fiber optics over copper in military applications, including immunity to EMI-based surveillance and physical tapping attempts, particularly crucial for command and control centers.
The business strategy of bootstrapping after buying back the company and maintaining profitability through disciplined "spending behind revenues" rather than seeking venture capital.
The emergence of unmanned and autonomous vehicle applications as a major growth area, where fiber optics' weight and power advantages directly translate to extended range and enhanced capabilities.
Defensive business strategy in the defense industry, including building sustainable competitive advantages or "moats" rather than just focusing on product offerings.

EP 49 — Atomic-6's Trevor Smith on Revolutionizing Aerospace Through Advanced Composite Materials

How does a former real estate broker end up revolutionizing satellite protection at Mach 21? Trevor Smith, President & CEO of Atomic-6, brings just this unique perspective about aerospace innovation to his conversation with Dave. His company is transforming space technology through groundbreaking composite materials, including their "space armor" that protects satellites from debris traveling at Mach 21, as well as innovative deployable solar arrays enabling new spacecraft capabilities. 
 
Trevor explores Atomic-6's development of lunar power systems, hypersonic aircraft components, and their pragmatic approach to defense innovation. Trevor also offers valuable insights on bootstrapping a hardware startup, creative SBIR strategies, and building dual-use technologies that deliver better value for taxpayers while advancing space capabilities.
 
Topics discussed:
Development of novel composite materials for extreme environments, including space debris protection and re-deployable solar arrays for spacecraft applications.
Innovative approach to space debris protection through non-metallic composite shields tested against projectiles traveling at Mach 21.
Development of vertical solar array towers for lunar power generation supporting mining operations at the lunar south pole.
Strategic approach to government contracting through creative SBIR proposals and incentive alignment with commercial partners.
Evolution of venture capital interest in defense technology companies and changing investment landscape since 2021.
Practical insights on bootstrapping hardware startups and maintaining efficient capital deployment in aerospace development.
Building dual-use technologies that leverage commercial markets to deliver better value for defense applications.
Creation of composite structures for hypersonic aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle applications.
Leadership lessons on managing innovation teams and maintaining focus on core technological advantages.

EP 48 — EolianVR's Michael Simmons on Revolutionizing Military Mission Planning Through Immersive AR/VR Technology

Join Michael Simmons, Co-founder & COO of EolianVR, as he details the company's journey from conception — a chance reunion with his now business partner at Rockefeller Center — to becoming a leading innovator in defense technology. Their flagship product, ARTAK, is revolutionizing military mission planning by combining AR/VR capabilities with real-time data integration, creating immersive 3D environments for collaborative mission preparation. 
 
Michael shares with Dave how Eolian has differentiated themselves in the crowded AR/VR space by focusing on mission planning rather than training, enabling users to create detailed digital twins of operational environments through drone scanning, LIDAR, and satellite imagery. The conversation also explores Eolian's evolution from early prototypes to a production OTA with SOCOM, their approach to rapid iteration based on user feedback, and the challenges of building a defense tech startup including security compliance, funding cycles, and navigating the complex defense acquisition process.
 
Topics discussed:
 
Development of the ARTAK platform for military mission planning, combining AR/VR technology with real-time data integration capabilities.
Evolution from early defense industry prototype to full production OTA contract with SOCOM with the help of AFID funding.
Integration of multiple data sources including drone scanning, LIDAR, satellite imagery to create comprehensive digital twins.
Challenges and solutions for security compliance in AR/VR technology within the defense sector.
The strategic decision to focus on mission planning rather than training applications in the military AR/VR space.
Building relationships and securing contracts in the defense industry through events, accelerators, and technical exchanges.
Implementation of rapid development cycles with 180 releases in one year based on direct warfighter feedback.
Navigation of defense acquisition processes and funding cycles as a small technology company.
Creation of the "World in a Box" capability, providing global 3D mapping for mission planning.
Development of edge computing solutions for disconnected environments while maintaining collaborative capabilities.

EP 47 — Phantom Space's Jim Cantrell on Democratizing Space Access Through Affordable Launch Solutions

Space industry pioneer Jim Cantrell, CEO & Co-founder of Phantom Space, joins in on this episode of DIB Innovators to share how his company is revolutionizing space access by developing cost-effective launch vehicles, building turnkey satellite solutions, and creating an innovative "space cloud" infrastructure. 
 
Jim explains to Dave how the space industry is evolving from hardware-centric "Space 1.0" through today's commercial "Space 2.0" into an AI-driven "Space 3.0" future. Jim's practical insights on navigating launch site constraints, reducing manufacturing complexity, and solving space debris challenges through market-based insurance solutions offer a masterclass in space industry innovation. 
 
Topics discussed:
The evolution of commercial space from government dominance to today's software-centric industry, highlighting key transitions and future trends.
Development of cost-effective launch vehicles targeting the under-1,000-pound satellite market, with insights on reusability and manufacturing.
Creating turnkey satellite solutions that enable entrepreneurs to focus on software rather than complex hardware development.
Building a "space cloud" infrastructure for efficient data processing and communication in orbit.
Navigating regulatory challenges and investor dynamics in the current space industry landscape.
Perspectives on the impact of AI and communications networks on defense applications in space.
Mentorship and entrepreneurship lessons learned from decades in the space industry.

EP 46 — Jetoptera’s Andrei Evulet on Ejector Propulsion and Aerospace Innovation

In this episode of DIB Innovators, Dave speaks with Andrei Evulet, Co-founder, CEO and CTO, Jetoptera. Andrei shares how their unique ejector-based propulsion system is addressing key aviation challenges, from noise reduction to speed optimization, which have potential for both commercial and government customers. 
 
With applications ranging from unmanned drones to high-speed air taxis, Jetoptera is reshaping both military and commercial aerospace. Learn about partnerships with the DoD, innovative engineering solutions, and the future of scalable, high-speed VTOL technology in this insightful conversation.
 
Topics discussed:
 
How ejector technology achieves low noise and high thrust without moving external parts.
The benefits of runway independence and scalability for military and commercial applications.
Collaborations with the DoD, including the High-Speed VTOL Challenge.
Why traditional electric VTOL systems fall short for high-performance applications.
The importance of modular airframes for versatility and streamlined performance.
Plans to scale from unmanned drones to manned airframes, including air taxis.
The critical role of additive manufacturing in prototyping and production.
Addressing challenges in capital, manufacturing, and partnerships for aerospace innovation.
How Jetoptera’s technology competes with helicopters in speed, noise, and accessibility.