Callye Keen and Steve Simone discuss the evolving landscape of defense technology, particularly in countering unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Steve shares his passion for building businesses in this sector, the challenges of developing effective counter-drone solutions, and the importance of private capital in fostering innovation. They explore the dynamics of the defense market, the acquisition processes, and the need for startups to anticipate future requirements rather than react to current demands.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Defense Tech and Passion for Building
01:38 The Shift to Counter UAS and Drone Warfare
03:58 Challenges in Developing Kinetic Solutions
06:17 Navigating the Defense Startup Landscape
09:27 Funding and Innovation in Defense Tech
11:10 Overcoming Challenges in Defense Startups
15:09 Market Changes and Acquisition Processes
18:16 Future Opportunities in Defense Tech

About Steve Simoni

Steve is a Navy veteran and a nuclear engineer who worked on instrumentation and control systems for Navy nuclear reactors. He previously was CEO and co-founder of Bbot, a software and robotics restaurant technology startup which was acquired by DoorDash. He’s also held sales, product and engineering roles in marketing technology. 

Links

Website: https://www.allencontrolsystems.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevensimoni/