DIB Innovators

EP 19 — Spirit Electronics’ Marti McCurdy on Inspiring the Next Generation in STEM

On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Marti McCurdy, CEO of Spirit Electronics. Marti shares her remarkable journey from serving in the Air Force to leading an aerospace and defense company. She discusses the challenges she faced and overcame, the importance of fostering innovation within her industry, and her dedication to engaging the younger generation in STEM fields. 
 
Marti emphasizes the value of a strong network and the critical role of teamwork in driving success. She also offers her strategies for creating a strong, collaborative company culture. Marti also touches on the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field and her commitment to supporting the next generation of STEM professionals. 
 
Topics discussed:
 
The biggest challenges of starting and leading a company, and the strategies used to overcome them.
Fostering a culture of innovation within the company to stay ahead in the competitive aerospace and defense sector.
The importance of creating a collaborative and adaptive culture that accommodates multiple generations of employees.
The critical role of teamwork and having a strong network in driving the success of her company.
The commitment to engaging and inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals to ensure a bright future for the industry.
The complexities of meeting compliance and security requirements in the aerospace and defense industry.
Addressing the challenges related to supply chain security and how to manage these effectively.
The need for specialized skill sets in the industry and the gaps in the current education system.

EP 18 — Long Capture’s Russell Long on Crafting Winning Government Proposals for Startups

On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Russell Long, Founder & CEO of Long Capture, to explore the intersection of innovative technology and government contracts. Russell shares his journey from military service to founding Long Capture, aiming to bridge the gap between tech startups and government funding. 
 
Russell discusses strategies for crafting compelling proposals that communicate the value of tech solutions, building essential relationships with government clients, and leveraging programs like SBIR to scale startups effectively. He also offers valuable insights and expert advice on securing government contracts for companies with tech innovations ready to scale. 
 
Topics discussed:
 
The importance of creating clear and impactful proposals that effectively communicate the value of tech solutions to government clients.
Leveraging the SBIR program to help tech startups scale from initial phases to substantial government contracts.
Strategies for conducting customer discovery during the early phases of a project to identify the right government customers for tech innovations.
The significance of developing strong relationships with government clients and understanding their needs to secure long-term contracts.
Differentiating between various SBIR types and understanding the role of feasibility analysis in securing funding for tech projects.
How to effectively communicate the practical benefits and potential impacts of tech innovations to government stakeholders.
The process of conducting targeted outreach to identify and engage the right government offices interested in specific tech solutions.
Preparing proposals with a focus on the client's pain points and addressing how the tech solution can meet their specific needs.

State of Cybersecurity in the DIB [Webinar]

On this week's special episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, Chris speaks with Tony Bai, CSO at RISCPoint; Christopher Leslie, CIO at Red6; Vince Petrecca, VP of Sales & Business Development at PreVeil; and Peter Romness, VP of Partnerships at IsI Enterprises. They talk about the challenges that this segment faces in terms of addressing cybersecurity and the threats that are coming after them, which were highlighted in a recent survey RADICL conducted to understand how the DIB is viewing cybersecurity. 
 
The topics of the survey touched on questions such as what this segment’s  challenges are, their concerns, the incidents they've experienced, how they view CMMC, how they outsource service providers, and more as it pertains to protecting their data and operations and ultimately withstanding the advances of nation-state-level threat adversaries.
 
The panel also explores the transformative role of AI in enhancing cybersecurity protocols by making systems more resilient, offers practical advice on safeguarding businesses against emerging cyber threats, and tips for developing robust security measures.
 
Topics discussed:
 
The necessity of robust compliance measures for businesses to effectively tackle cybersecurity threats in the defense sector.
The need for comprehensive security plans to stay ahead of potential cyber threats and ensure organizational resilience.
How AI can enhance cybersecurity protocols by making systems more adaptive and resilient to emerging threats.
Practical steps for businesses to develop and implement effective security measures to protect against cyber attacks.
Tips for evaluating MSSPs and MDRs, focusing on their differences and how to choose the right provider for cybersecurity needs.
Predictions on upcoming trends and challenges in the cybersecurity landscape, offering insights into what businesses should prepare for.
The significant challenges businesses face in maintaining accurate and thorough documentation for compliance purposes.
The importance of integrating comprehensive policies and processes as part of a holistic cybersecurity strategy.
How cybersecurity is a team sport, requiring collaboration across various departments to effectively manage and mitigate risks.
Advice and wisdom on what businesses should focus on to enhance their cybersecurity posture.

EP 17 — Free Form Fibers’ Shay Harrison on Strategic Partnerships and Cybersecurity in Advanced Materials

On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Shay Harrison, CEO at Free Form Fibers. Shay details the groundbreaking laser-driven chemical vapor technology that his company is pioneering, which aims to revolutionize the advanced materials industry. 
 
Shay discusses the critical role of strategic partnerships and securing capital to scale such innovative technologies. He also shares insights into the importance of protecting intellectual property and managing cybersecurity risks in a highly competitive market, especially for companies that eventually want to scale up and/or work with government entities. 
 
Topics discussed:
 
The challenges and strategies involved in scaling cutting-edge technology within a startup environment.
The importance of forming strategic partnerships to fuel growth and secure necessary resources.
Insights into the process of securing capital to support the scaling of innovative technologies.
Safeguarding intellectual property in a competitive market, especially for smaller companies and those looking to work with government entities like the DoD.
The unique aspects of working in a startup and how diverse backgrounds contribute to its success.
Current trends and future directions in the advanced materials sector.
 

EP 16 — Zulu Pods’ Rob Sladen on Navigating Government Contracts as a Small Business

On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Rob Sladen, Co-founder, Chairman, & CEO of Zulu Pods, to explore his entrepreneurial journey and the innovative technology behind their modular lubrication systems, including the challenges of raising capital and how creating prototypes to show potential investors made a huge difference in showing their vision. 
 
Rob shares insights into the impact of building a resilient startup team and the importance of understanding market pain points. He also touches on navigating government contracts and leveraging SBIR topics to gain traction in the aerospace and defense sectors. 
 
Topics discussed:
 
The importance of assembling a team that collectively doesn't take no for an answer, emphasizing perseverance and collaboration.
Insights into the complexities of working with government agencies and the patience required to secure and manage contracts.
Utilizing Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) topics to gain traction and funding for their projects.
The significance of understanding market pain points and customer needs, and the role of effective prototyping in product development.
Strategies for raising capital as a small business in the competitive tech industry.
The necessity of adhering to industry standards and regulations to secure government contracts and ensure business success.
Implementing cybersecurity measures to protect intellectual property and comply with government requirements.
Practical tips and insights for entrepreneurs looking to turn their innovative ideas into successful products and businesses.

EP 15 — Swarmbotics AI’s Stephen Houghton on Leveraging Military Experience in Swarm Robotics Leadership

On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, Stephen Houghton, CEO and Co-founder at Swarmbotics AI, dives into his journey from Marine officer to tech innovator. Stephen shares how his military background has uniquely shaped his approach to strategic leadership and decision-making in the tech industry, particularly in innovating swarm robotics. 
In fact, he offers insights on the gaps and opportunities he and his co-founder, Drew Watson, sought to address with groundbreaking technologies that set Swarmbotics AI apart in the field of ground autonomy and swarm robotics. Stephen also talks about the challenges and rewards of balancing the multifaceted responsibilities of being a CEO while driving innovation and growth. 
Topics discussed:
How Stephen Houghton's experience as a Marine officer has influenced his strategic leadership and decision-making skills in the tech industry.
The groundbreaking technologies Swarmbotics AI is developing in the field of ground autonomy and swarm robotics.
The most exciting and challenging aspects of being an entrepreneur and founder in the defense industrial base.
Identifying and addressing strategic issues within the tech and defense sectors.
Stephen's approach to building a strong and effective company culture, including sharing his leadership philosophy and values with new team members.
Managing the multifaceted responsibilities of being a CEO, from product reviews to investor meetings, while driving innovation and growth.
Key milestones Swarmbotics AI aims to achieve in the next two years and their long-term vision for five to ten years down the road.
The importance of collaboration within the industry to deploy and employ new technologies effectively, including the capabilities they bring to the table. 

EP 14 — Dauntless XR’s Lori-Lee Elliott on Enhancing Defense Training and Operational Efficiency with Extended Reality

On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Lori-Lee Elliott, Co-founder and CEO of Dauntless XR, to discuss the transformative power of extended reality (XR) in military applications. Lori-Lee dives into how XR technology is revolutionizing mission debriefing and operational efficiency for clients such as NASA and the Air Force, sharing insights into the challenges and solutions of integrating XR with government systems. 
Lori-Lee also highlights the importance of cybersecurity and accessibility in XR solutions. She shares how XR is cutting down rework by 90% and making training and maintenance tasks faster and more intuitive than ever before. 
Topics discussed:
The difficulties and solutions in integrating XR technology with the Air Force and other government systems.
How XR technology is enhancing mission debriefing processes for the Air Force by providing accurate, real-time data visualization.
The critical importance of cybersecurity and the specific vulnerabilities that XR applications face, along with strategies to mitigate these risks.
The need for no-code or low-code solutions to ensure widespread user adoption and effective rollout of XR technologies.
The original focus of Dauntless XR on industrial sectors and how those use cases transitioned to defense applications.
The journey through different phases of SBIR/STTR contracts and the challenges of crossing the “valley of death” to secure phase three funding.
How XR is being used to improve maintenance workflows, training, and operational efficiency, particularly in the context of agile combat employment and multi-capable airmen. 

EP 13 — Voyager Space's Matthew Kuta on Entrepreneurial Challenges and the Future of Aerospace

On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Matthew Kuta, President and Co-Founder of Voyager Space, who shares insights on his transition from the Air Force to founding a space exploration company. 
Matthew discusses the challenges of starting Voyager Space with limited resources and offers valuable advice to aspiring entrepreneurs in the aerospace sector. He also dives into the unique mission of Voyager Space as the prime company tasked with creating the replacement for the International Space Station. Matthew reflects on the future of space exploration and usage, including implications for national security and defense. 
Topics discussed:
Matthew’s transition from Air Force to Voyager Space leadership, including challenges and achievements.
Challenges faced in starting Voyager Space and raising capital for the venture.
Voyager Space’s involvement in Starlab, the replacement for the International Space Station, and its innovative technology.
The importance of strategic partnerships such as those of Voyager Space’s with Airbus and Mitsubishi for the development of Starlab.
The importance of understanding the end goal of a company or project before starting and capitalizing it.
Mitigating risks in the space sector, including cyber threats and space debris management. 

EP 12 — CARR Machine & Tool’s Jim Carr on Navigating Compliance and Culture in Defense Manufacturing

On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Jim Carr, President, CEO and Owner of CARR Machine & Tool, who shares how growing up in the family manufacturing business gave him insights into entrepreneurship, such as how to forge a strong company culture by connecting with your team. 
Jim discusses the challenges and successes of working with the defense industry such as navigating strict compliance measures, reflects on the relative ease of marketing in today's social media, and sheds light on the pivotal role of networking. 
Topics discussed:
Journey in the manufacturing industry, from deciding to work in his parents’ shop at 18 to being the sole shareholder and President.
Strategies for company growth and navigating challenges in the industry, such as finding your niche and doing what you’re best at.
Fostering a strong company culture with emphasis on core values, such as getting to know your team no matter how high up you are.
Security protocols and considerations in manufacturing operations.
Insights on working with the defense industry and compliance measures.
The importance of networking and building relationships for business success.
Effective marketing strategies and brand visibility tactics, including using social media, which is free and relatively easy.

EP 11 — World View’s Ryan Hartman on Envisioning a Radically Improved Future in the DIB

On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks to Ryan Hartman, President and CEO of World View. The conversation explores Ryan's military background, highlighting how his experiences in the Navy and Air Force shaped his leadership style. They also discuss the importance of effective communication and servant leadership in corporate success. 
Ryan shares impactful stories that emphasize the significance of a purpose-driven mission and leadership style at World View. He explains how stratospheric balloons function and what their clients use them for, highlighting World View's focus on enhancing customer missions and their engagement with the defense industrial base.
Topics discussed:
Ryan Hartman's military background in the Navy and Air Force and the influence of those experiences on Ryan's leadership style.
The importance of effective communication and crew or team coordination.
What has shaped the purpose-driven leadership at World View, including stories illustrating the impact of purpose on company culture
World View's focus on enhancing customer missions and their engagement with the defense industrial base
Technical challenges and operational efficiency in stratospheric ballooning.
The potential evolution of stratospheric ballooning in commercial and security applications