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In this session from the Hill & Valley Forum 2025, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI), Saronic's Co-Founder & CCO Rob Lehman, 8VC partner Alex Moore, and Caffeinated Capital GP Varun Gupta explore how autonomous surface vessels and AI-driven maritime systems could help the US counter China's substantial naval buildup. The conversation highlights the potential for a transformative "hybrid fleet" combining traditional naval assets with unmanned systems, and examines how American shipbuilding can be revitalized through private investment and public-private partnerships.
Subscribe to The Hill & Valley Forum Podcast:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HillValleyForum
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hill-valley-forum-podcast/id1692653857
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39s4MCyt1pOTQ8FjOAS4mi
Timestamps:
(00:00) Alex Moore on how elite Silicon Valley engineers are entering the naval space
(00:27) America's maritime challenges and China's naval advantage
(01:29) Congressman Gabe Amo on the strategic imbalance in the Indo-Pacific and funding predictability challenges
(03:51) Rob Lehman explaining Saronic's approach to unmanned vessels enhancing the Navy's hybrid fleet concept
(06:38) Alex Moore on the compounding nature of maritime AI and autonomous software stacks
(09:14) Congressman Amo discussing underwater drone development in Rhode Island's maritime industry
(11:58) The evolution of maritime dominance from battleships to distributed autonomous systems
(15:19) Discussion of America's withered shipbuilding industrial base compared to Asian competitors
(17:38) Rob Lehman detailing Saronic's $250 million investment in Gulf Craft and plans for Port Alpha
(20:17) The emergence of tech startups entering naval defense and shipbuilding after decades of Silicon Valley neglect
By Jacob Helberg, Delian Asparouhov, Christian Garrett4.9
1111 ratings
In this session from the Hill & Valley Forum 2025, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI), Saronic's Co-Founder & CCO Rob Lehman, 8VC partner Alex Moore, and Caffeinated Capital GP Varun Gupta explore how autonomous surface vessels and AI-driven maritime systems could help the US counter China's substantial naval buildup. The conversation highlights the potential for a transformative "hybrid fleet" combining traditional naval assets with unmanned systems, and examines how American shipbuilding can be revitalized through private investment and public-private partnerships.
Subscribe to The Hill & Valley Forum Podcast:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HillValleyForum
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hill-valley-forum-podcast/id1692653857
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39s4MCyt1pOTQ8FjOAS4mi
Timestamps:
(00:00) Alex Moore on how elite Silicon Valley engineers are entering the naval space
(00:27) America's maritime challenges and China's naval advantage
(01:29) Congressman Gabe Amo on the strategic imbalance in the Indo-Pacific and funding predictability challenges
(03:51) Rob Lehman explaining Saronic's approach to unmanned vessels enhancing the Navy's hybrid fleet concept
(06:38) Alex Moore on the compounding nature of maritime AI and autonomous software stacks
(09:14) Congressman Amo discussing underwater drone development in Rhode Island's maritime industry
(11:58) The evolution of maritime dominance from battleships to distributed autonomous systems
(15:19) Discussion of America's withered shipbuilding industrial base compared to Asian competitors
(17:38) Rob Lehman detailing Saronic's $250 million investment in Gulf Craft and plans for Port Alpha
(20:17) The emergence of tech startups entering naval defense and shipbuilding after decades of Silicon Valley neglect

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