Disruptive Innovation Podcast (D.I.P.)

In this episode, Mike has a compelling conversation about how Innovation Research Programs Like The New Small Business Grant Programs Are Transforming Military Funding Approaches & The Result Is Profound Disruption To How We Solve Problems. 

Geopolitical tensions abound. Asia. The Middle East.  Eastern Europe. Africa. For the US military, business as usual is no longer adequate. Dramatic improvements in agility, speed, costs, etc are vital based on today’s global realities. Programs like the US Airforce  AFWERX  program drive open collaboration across a global ecosystem to enable #innovation at speeds once unimaginable

This episode focuses on the story of 4 young United States Air Force captains, including US Airforce Academy graduate Captain Steven Lauver, active duty U28A pilot & AFWERX accelerator manager, working closely with Warren Katz,  Techstars #USAF program Managing Director, to profoundly disrupt how this branch innovates. Steve & Warren share the impressive results of the 1st two cohorts & preview what to expect from their impressive 3rd cohort, now in session. Results from this ground-breaking “experiment” include:

-Incorporating a truly global world view of innovation potential and capacity, with participating #startups from Canada , the UK, Poland, Singapore & the US. This is historically unprecedented for military technology sourcing programs


-100% of the 20 startups that have graduated from the program to date remain active. This is unprecedented as deep tech startups fail at alarmingly high rates

-A newly designed, non-dilutive Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant program was significantly improved to minimize bureaucracy and enable funding - approval turnaround times at startup speed. It has seen a 200% increase in applications just two years. Previously, only 10% of TechStars startups applied for the prior version of SBIR grants


-As proof of the efficacy of the improved program $20M in SBIR  funding has been secured by the first two 20 startups that have “graduated” from the 2018 & 2019 programs. 


-New #VentureCapital investors have joined the ecosystem to support these graduates


- The #USAF culture itself is being transformed, with more service members taking on the growth mindset of "Airmen - #Entrepreneurs" , infused with a sense of ownership of solving problems by leveraging open innovation from Techstars & many other sources.

An early breakout success, #VitaInclinata, solved a problem that went unfixed for 75 years. Under the traditional approach, this innovation would never have been identified. Today, they're growing exponentially just one year after graduating from the program. Founder, #CalebCarr, is a Forbes #30under30 designee



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- A significant increase in high potential global applicants to this highly selective program 

-The early success of this program is now being piloted by other branches of the US military

Stay tuned, next week, when Nakiso is back in the studio to continue the take aways from this episode and build on an exciting discussion with a VC firm that's focused on advancing innovation in a compelling way. 

In this episode, Mike interview’s the polymath Professor Jeffrey Schnapp. Jeffrey is a study in duality. An expert on the romance languages, medieval history AND the digital transformation of society, a long-time resident of both Milan, Italy AND Silicon Valley, an endowed Professor & Research Center Director at Harvard and formerly Stanford, AND a founder-entrepreneur, a former top level motorcycle racer AND a visionary on the future of transportation who extols the importance of walking to reclaim civic space - his fascinating multi-disciplinary career path led him to this moment, when endlessly congested cities & the Climate Crisis require imaginative, intelligent personal mobility solutions.

This is where Piaggio Fast Forward, the personal mobility innovation lab that he founded in Boston, comes in. Jeffrey is Co-Founder, former CEO & now Chief Visionary Officer of Boston-based  Piaggio Fast Forward, the personal mobility innovation lab of the 150 year old Italian heritage company, Piaggio Group, based in Genoa. Simultaneously, he remains very active at Harvard, as Faculty Director of the (meta) Lab which he founded, and the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society.

Piaggio designs & manufacturers 2 of the most successful & ubiquitous motorized vehicles in history- the iconic Vespa scooter & the workhorse 3 wheel Ape. Piaggio’s history of innovation is rich and extremely rare for a dynastic Italian company founded during the period of the US Civil War. Piaggio has been able to successfully evolve from the maritime era of outfitting ships to making leading edge railcars and aeroplanes to scooters, mini-trucks & now, under Jeffrey and team’s leadership, intelligent robots that augment personal mobility

To this end, Piaggio Fast Forward introduced the gita in November of 2019. The gita is their first commercial product offering that supports their vision – “to build technology products that move the way people move”. Further, ” to support a sustainable mobility ecology with healthy lifestyles and social connectivity available to all, regardless of age or abilities.” Please join me for this discussion on this vitally important topic with this endlessly fascinating man.