Paul Walsh

“From Challenges to Contracts: Securing Partnerships Starts at R&D” 🔧 High-value partnerships don’t happen by accident; they’re built early—right at the R&D stage. When I led projects with aerospace giants, like Honeywell, Lockheed, and NASA. The key was engaging from the first concept meeting. Why? Because bringing a vision to the customer early means aligning solutions with their evolving needs and positioning your expertise as part of the solution from day one. Success is about foresight. Show up early, bring value, and watch challenges turn into contracts. 🤝 What’s your approach to winning high-value deals? #StrategicPartnerships #Innovation #engineering #Leadership

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BIGGEST PRODUCT UPDATE YET!!! Over the past 6 months of the journey, our users have continually been asking for this one golden question: How much money is there for X? Up until now, you still had to piece the full picture together on our platform. No more. Create market sizings in minutes with competitors, funding offices and key stakeholders at your fingertips. We are so pumped for this next iteration of Usul and aren't slowing down anytime soon. Interested in multiplying your DoD capture? Book a demo here: https://lnkd.in/gbkrP3yk

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With release of Executive Order 14017, the Biden Administration made supply chain security a federal policy and funding priority and signaled that the Administration would expand investment in critical industries and use of the Defense Production Act. This update from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment summarizes current and planned FY25 investments. In February 2020, Federal Budget IQ's forecast predicted that supply chain resilience would become a 10-year multi-billion-dollar policy and funding priority. Chauncey Goss Maureen Holohan Charles KiefferBecky Leggieri Cameron Leuthy Dale Oak Austin Smythe #supplychainresilience #defenseindustrialbase #publicsectorforecast

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Recently I had the privilege of joining Miriam McNabb, (Editor-in-Chief at DroneLife.com), Charles Werner (Executive Director of DRONERESPONDERS), and Tim Martin (Director of Training, Unmanned Aerial Systems, The Regional Training Center) for an episode of the Public Safety Drone Review. Below is a breakdown of the topics covered and where you can find them in the video:  News: 5:23 – 7:58: The importance of communication and transparency in building public acceptance of drones. 15:05 – 17:10: Outreach events support public acceptance and can inspire the next generation of drone operators. 18:40 – 23:20: DETECT Act discussion, drone cybersecurity, & the impact of uncertainty on the market and drone programs.  23:21 – 27:45: Drones & Wildland Firefighting – the opportunities they represent to fill historical gaps/limitations and evolve risk mitigation and response.  Webinar Topics: 30:30 – 36:00: Practical Guide to the American Security Drone Act (ASDA) – (https://lnkd.in/epHeFciA) 36:07 – 37:30: U.C. Berkeley Disaster Lab and the FIRE Foundry program discussion (https://lnkd.in/eBWFXpev), (https://lnkd.in/egF5sqDm), (https://lnkd.in/em33DGXA). 37:31 – 40:03: Wildland Fire – The role of an "Operational Technologist" in connecting government agencies and industry to promote collaboration and advancement (https://lnkd.in/eB4KBARk)  41:09 – 42:56: Regulatory support and aligning airspace and regulations to reflect new technologies and expanded commercial markets that are part of this 2nd Golden Age of Flight (https://lnkd.in/eYZsuXkZ). 43:23 – 46:50: Future of eVTOL in wildland fire (https://lnkd.in/eeKieaRw). 47:00 – 50:25: “Drones for Better” – discussion of the new SourceAmerica Mentor-Protégé Program under AbilityOne that provides expanded opportunities for drone and related technology companies, Federal Agencies, wounded warriors and other deserving Americans with disabilities. (https://lnkd.in/eaXeYC5k). Audience Questions: 52:05 – 56:40: ASDA follow-up question. 56:41 – 57:58: MQ-25 question. Closing: 58:05 – 59:11: Future influence in the drone space – military to commercial or commercial to military? https://lnkd.in/ePnaJFSh #dronesforgood #dfr

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I'm pretty critical when it comes to resources like this BUT I have to say THANK YOU to the NSIN - National Security Innovation Network Transition Cell for putting an informative guide together. This guide along with the webinars held by NSIN every Thursday (see below) should be something every emerging tech company, especially those new to government, should attend. Thanks Jesse Gipe Jon LazarAndy Tennant David S.! Keep these resources coming! #emergingtech #barriers2entry #defensetech #defenseinnovation

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"There's a ton of great ideas out there. Finding the people to execute them well is hard." Fairwater Labs COO Kyle O. joins me today on Crossing the Valley to explain their different approach to building defense tech companies. While others chase unicorns, Fairwater is proving you can create meaningful impact (and returns) by focusing on smaller, targeted opportunities. In this episode we dive into: 🎯 The Founder-First Incubator Model Unlike most venture studios, Fairwater gives founders majority ownership. Their thesis? Act more like a co-founder than an investor, focusing on long-term value creation over quick exits. 💡 The Scale Paradox Not every defense tech company needs to be a billion-dollar play. Sometimes a $50M exit in 36 months creates more value for founders, investors, and warfighters than chasing unicorn status. 🔄 The Execution Engine Ideas are easy - Fairwater (like many companies) has hundreds in their backlog. The key is matching the right founders to the right opportunities and supporting them through early scaling. Full episode available now on Substack, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you listen, let me know what you think! #DefenseTech #Innovation #Startups #Leadership

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Garrett Smith would have you believe he's "a head in the clouds, visionary CEO who's not grounded in reality." But Reveal Technology's story proves otherwise. While some defense tech startups chase headlines and trade show sponsorships, Garrett and his team have quietly become the first commercial software solution certified on the Army's mobile network. Today on #CrossingtheValley, I sat down with Garrett and Dave Caudle, the company's VP of Defense, to unpack how a small team is revolutionizing tactical edge operations. This episode just might change how you think about defense tech. We cover: 🎯 The Power of Tactical Truth While others pitched PowerPoints to generals, Reveal spent time on ranges with sergeants and lieutenants, building capabilities they wished they had in combat. Result? When they finally met program leadership, the grassroots demand was undeniable. 💡 The Integration Revelation Most founders obsess over technology readiness (TRL). Reveal discovered early that integration readiness (IRL) is the real kingmaker. It's not enough to build great software – it has to seamlessly integrate into the warfighter's complex ecosystem. 🤝 The Platform Play What started as an edge mapping solution is morphing into something much bigger. With a recent acquisition and a $33.6M STRATFI award, Reveal is positioning to become the standard platform for AI-enabled operations at the tactical edge. Full episode available now at ValleyCrossers (dot) Com. Whether you're a founder, investor, or acquisition professional, you don't want to miss this. #DefenseTech #Military #Innovation #Leadership

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Great news we have movement - time to accelerate the build allied model. The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is working quickly to determine how and where to spend the nearly $1 billion US Congress provided in March through the fiscal 2024 appropriations act. The $983 million allocation, nearly $800 more than what DIU received last year, will support the growing organization’s mission to help the United States Department of Defense quickly foster and field commercial capabilities in large numbers, according to DIU director Doug Beck. As reported, "due to prolonged budget deliberations in Congress that delayed the release of appropriations, DIU’s funding came more than five months into the fiscal year, presenting Beck’s team with the challenge of using that money in a short period of time". Beck didn’t discuss the specific initiatives DIU will funnel the funding toward — or what additional staff he might need to support these efforts — but said it will fall in four primary buckets: - accelerating existing programs, - launching new ones, - supporting projects housed within other DoD #innovation organizations, and - addressing some of the challenges commercial companies face as they try to work with the DoD. A pretty broad agenda. Hopefully allies and partner nations, particularly in the #indopacific, will not be forgotten as these programs are progressed in a multidomain environment. One that is becoming increasingly contested. #defence #defense U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Armatus.ai Bernice Glenn Kissinger US Army US Navy United States Air Force U.S. Space Command Defence Australia Pacific International Center For High Technology Research - PICHTR Japan - The Government of Japan Japan Ministry of Defense David Anderson #innovation #china #taiwan #technology Jerry McGinn, Ph.D. Tomoki Matsuo Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) https://lnkd.in/g6FWV3YT

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As promised, I can now share the interview with SAIC 's Jay Meil and Joshua Conine . Thanks to Air & Space Forces Association for the great interview. Listen in if you are curious about data, ai and ml for national defense. https://lnkd.in/eeQ28sJd

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Defcon AI Inc., a defense technology startup that provides logistics insights for military operations, said today it has raised $44 million in seed funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners to expand its team and build more capabilities. In addition to Bessemer, Fifth Growth Fund and Red Cell Partners also joined the round. Military organizations such as the U.S. Department of Defense, which contracts with Defcon AI, are faced with innumerable obstacles when deploying manpower and resources to the field. These could be issues such as hurricanes, washed-out roads and enemy action. All of this must be modeled and represented to get the best outcome when coordinating in the field where people and things need to move from point A to point B as efficiently as possible.

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🚀 Tech Titans Unite for Defense Innovation 🚀 Palantir Technologies and Anduril Industries are leading efforts to form a consortium with other technology companies to bid for U.S. defense contracts. This initiative aims to challenge the dominance of traditional defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, by introducing innovative technologies into the defense sector. Key Details: Consortium Members: In addition to Palantir and Anduril, companies in discussions to join include SpaceX, OpenAI autonomous shipbuilder Saronic, and AI data firm Scale AI. Objectives: 💡 Innovation: The group seeks to leverage advanced technologies, such as AI and autonomous systems, to provide the U.S. government with cutting-edge defense capabilities. ⚙️ Efficiency: By collaborating, these companies aim to offer more efficient solutions compared to traditional defense procurement processes. 🤝 Strategic Partnerships: Some collaborations have already begun. For instance, Palantir’s AI Platform has been integrated with Anduril’s autonomous software to deliver AI solutions for national security. 📅 Announcement Timeline: The consortium plans to announce formal agreements with participating tech companies as early as January 2025. This consortium is a significant shift in the defense industry, with Silicon Valley tech firms collaborating to modernize and enhance the technological capabilities of the U.S. military. #AI #Innovation #DefenseIndustry

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#DisruptiveTech 🔴 More players riding the new wave new-look defense Primes? Election Night Reflections: A Turning Point for Defense Tech? In the late hours of election night, as former President Donald Trump appeared on the brink of victory, Elon Musk reached out to Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey with a direct message: It’s “very important” to open up the United States Department of Defense (DOD) and intelligence agencies to “entrepreneurial companies like yours.” [*reference below - credit POLITICO] This message resonated deeply with Silicon Valley’s emerging defense tech leaders. The new wave of defense-tech companies is eyeing the future, eager to introduce disruptive technologies that could transform the industry. Smaller players in the defense-tech ecosystem had been hoping for a Trump win, viewing him as a disruptor who could help them gain a larger share of the Pentagon’s budget. Although the Pentagon has shown interest in more cost-effective and agile defense technologies, new entrants have found it challenging to navigate its complex regulations. Many venture capitalists and defense tech entrepreneurs supported Trump’s campaign early on, believing he could reform the Pentagon’s budgeting system to speed up the adoption of their innovative technologies. This new wave of defense is poised to bring groundbreaking advancements to the forefront, reshaping the future of defense technology. Meanwhile, defense and critical infrastructure tech startup CHAOS Industries raised $145 million in a Series B led by Accel, becoming just the latest defense tech firm to see big cash from investors. The round also included participation from 8VC, Overmatch Ventures, Lerner Enterprises and existing insiders. The Los Angeles-based startup had previously raised a$70 million Series A led by 8VC last year. Chaos specializes in advanced detection, monitoring and communication solutions for the defense and commercial sectors. The company’s Vanquish radar provides early warning and tracking capabilities against unmanned aerial systems, missiles and aircraft. #defense #startup #ud #vc #DefenseTech #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Election2024 #SiliconValley #PentagonReform Campaign Catapult, Pravo Consulting *Election night source: POLITICO

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There you have it! Sydney Freedberg is always amazing at capturing real facts... and he sees beyond what others don't even begin to grasp. This is a great article from Breaking Defense about how to implement #GenerativeAI the right way, with tremendous and tangible outcomes but also the right guardrails. "Trust but verif-AI: Army will let genAI draft acquisition documents, with guardrails" Check it out! https://lnkd.in/gqkffkH7

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