The Pair Program

Rethinking Medevac: Autonomy for a Contested Pacific | The Pair Program Ep103

What happens when a wounded service member needs care, but a helicopter cannot reach them? Today’s guests, Major Sarah Blackthorne of the National Guard Bureau and Ben Pinx of Lyntris, explore whether autonomous vessels could deliver blood, medical supplies, and eventually patients across contested waters. Drawing on a Northern Strike exercise, they discuss:

• Why traditional casualty evacuation may fail in the Indo-Pacific
• How to deliver blood when aircraft cannot fly
• What happened when a team tested loading a patient onto an autonomous vessel
• The small design change that made loading easier for medics
• The ethical decisions involved in moving patients without a crew
• What a successful demonstration still cannot prove about real-world use

About Major Sarah Blackthorne: Sarah is a military healthcare leader in the National Guard Bureau’s Joint Surgeon’s Office. A registered dietitian with an MBA, she brings clinical and healthcare administration experience to medical readiness, policy, and training. As a medical planner for Northern Strike, she has helped prepare teams to deliver care when evacuation is delayed, supplies are limited, and they must operate under threat.

About Ben Pinx: Ben is Principal for Technology & Mission Solutions at Lyntris and previously led its Sensors & Autonomous Solutions business segment. His work spans autonomous platforms, sensing, command and control, and the delivery of technology for defense missions. Before joining industry, he held senior U.S. Army roles, including Chief of Experimentation at Army Futures Command, where he helped connect emerging technologies with operational needs.

Exploring your next tech role? Get insider job advice and the latest startup & govtech openings – delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here: https://www.myhatchpad.com/newsletter/

How We Hatched: Charles Sanders, Founder and CEO of PrimeRFP

In this How We Hatched episode, we sit down with Charles Sanders, founder and CEO of PrimeRFP, to unpack the journey behind building an AI-native platform for government capture. Charles traces his path from taking apart electronics as a kid to working across software, infrastructure, and cybersecurity before becoming a founder.

The episode takes a closer look at:

• How curiosity shaped Charles’s career in technology
• The frustration that sparked PrimeRFP
• Why responding to an RFP may already be too late
• Turning public-sector data into traceable intelligence
• PrimeRFP’s plans for funding, hiring, and growth

About Charles Sanders: Charles is the founder and CEO of PrimeRFP, where he built SCOUT, an analyzed intelligence layer for federal and SLED capture. He got there sideways: telecom infrastructure, large-scale data operations, a CISO seat, then a CIO job where he watched his own team burn 30+ hours a week on federal leads that never fit. SCOUT answers the question that comes before every bid decision, with receipts you can trace.

How Maritime Autonomy Is Proving a New Model for Defense Tech | The Pair Program Ep102

Maritime autonomy is becoming a test case for a shift in defense technology. In this episode, Tim and Sean sit down with Mike Flanigan, co-founder and CEO of Seasats, and Jason Chapman, co-founder of Konvoy, to explore why the future may rely less on a few exquisite, expensive platforms and more on distributed systems that can be built, deployed, and improved quickly. From operating uncrewed vessels in the Taiwan Strait to competing with traditional defense primes, Mike and Jason unpack what it takes to turn ambitious hardware into fielded capability—and why affordability, execution, and scale matter more than hype.

Key topics include:

• How autonomous maritime systems are challenging the traditional model of large, expensive defense platforms
• The speed, cost, and operational advantages of deploying smaller uncrewed vessels at scale
• What real-world operations, including a Taiwan Strait encounter, reveal about the value of persistent maritime awareness
• How Seasats competes with larger defense primes by prioritizing fast execution, affordable hardware, and field-ready technology
• Why successful autonomy depends on more than ambitious ideas: it must be reliable, explainable, and useful to operators
• The founder and investor perspectives on building, funding, and scaling hardware for both defense and commercial markets

About Jason Chapman: Jason co-founded Konvoy and invests across the firm’s full thesis, often gravitating toward critical industries, deep tech, and defense. He previously worked in IBM’s artificial intelligence division, focusing on natural language processing, machine learning, and computer vision. Outside of work, Jason is passionate about C.S. Lewis, The Lord of the Rings, Age of Empires, and board games.

About Mike Flanigan: Mike Flanigan is the co-founder and CEO of Seasats, a San Diego-based leader in long-range unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). He has worked with the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and commercial organizations around the world to help them leverage USVs. Mike holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and Computer Science from the University of Colorado Boulder.

This episode is supported by Defense Unicorns

Defense Unicorns builds platform technologies that help deliver mission-critical capabilities faster and more reliably. Their open architecture approach enables secure, scalable systems without vendor lock, creating flexibility across the software ecosystem. Backed by a team of engineers, innovators, and veterans, they bring deep experience across defense and federal tech. Get in touch at [email protected]

Exploring your next tech role? Get insider job advice and the latest startup & govtech openings – delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here: https://www.myhatchpad.com/newsletter/

From Space Domain Awareness to Space Intelligence: Building the Infrastructure for Real-Time Decision Making in Orbit | The Pair Program Ep101

On this episode of The Pair Program, we’re exploring the infrastructure behind the rapidly evolving space economy, and what it takes to turn awareness in orbit into intelligence teams can actually act on. Today’s guests are Rich Minford, COO at Turion Space, and Zachary Kirstein, CRO at Northwood. Together, they bring perspectives from both sides of the equation: sensing and operating in orbit, and the ground infrastructure needed to move critical data back to Earth.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why the space economy is shifting from awareness to actionable intelligence
• The infrastructure and latency challenges standing in the way of real-time space operations
• How Turion and Northwood are approaching the next generation of in-orbit and ground infrastructure
• How commercial space, national security, and new Space Force acquisition models are shaping what gets built next

About Rich Minford: Rich Minford is Chief Operating Officer at Turion Space, where he leads go-to-market teams and the internal functions turning engineering breakthroughs into a scalable commercial business. Previously, he spent more than a decade at Palantir Technologies, leading its international oil and gas business and deploying AI and data systems across intelligence, security, and energy.

About Zachary “Zak” Kirstein: Zak Kirstein is Chief Revenue Officer at Northwood, where he leads commercialization of the company’s space-to-Earth communications technology and infrastructure. Previously, he held leadership roles at Loft Orbital and Palantir Technologies, including serving as Program Manager and Chief Architect for the U.S. Space Force’s Warp Core platform.

This episode is supported by Defense Unicorns

Defense Unicorns builds platform technologies that help deliver mission-critical capabilities faster and more reliably. Their open architecture approach enables secure, scalable systems without vendor lock, creating flexibility across the software ecosystem. Backed by a team of engineers, innovators, and veterans, they bring deep experience across defense and federal tech. Get in touch at [email protected]

Exploring your next tech role? Get insider job advice and the latest startup & govtech openings – delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here: https://www.myhatchpad.com/newsletter/

How modern defense technology companies get capabilities into the hands of end users | The Pair Program Ep100

This week on The Pair Program, we’re joined by Nick LaRovere, Co-Founder & CEO of Pryzm, and Allie Coukos, Partnerships Lead at Onebrief, for a conversation on how AI is transforming the defense technology ecosystem. Together, they explore the evolution of federal business development, why startups have more opportunities than ever to enter the government market, and how strategic partnerships are becoming a key driver of innovation.

Key topics covered:

• Why defense tech is becoming more accessible to startups than ever before
• How AI is transforming federal business development, capture, and teaming strategies
• The shift from compliance-driven procurement to delivering mission outcomes
• Why context, not just data, is the next competitive advantage for AI
• How startups and prime contractors can build successful partnerships instead of competing head-to-head
• Why AI literacy and prompt engineering are becoming essential skills for defense professionals

About Nick LaRovere: Nick is Co-Founder and CEO of Pryzm, an AI platform helping companies navigate federal business development and acquisition. Before founding Pryzm, he worked at Palantir and Tesla. He holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University and Colby College.

About Allie Coukos: Allie is Partnerships Lead at Onebrief, where she focuses on building strategic partnerships across defense and national security. Previously, she worked at Deloitte advising technology and government clients. She earned her MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.

This episode is supported by Defense Unicorns

Defense Unicorns builds platform technologies that help deliver mission-critical capabilities faster and more reliably. Their open architecture approach enables secure, scalable systems without vendor lock, creating flexibility across the software ecosystem. Backed by a team of engineers, innovators, and veterans, they bring deep experience across defense and federal tech. Get in touch at [email protected]

Exploring your next tech role? Get insider job advice and the latest startup & govtech openings – delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here: https://www.myhatchpad.com/newsletter/

Beyond the Quantum Hype: Real Applications, Real Results | The Pair Program Ep99

What happens when traditional computing reaches its limits? In this episode of The Pair Program, we’re joined by Martin Sajon and Bill Collier to explore how quantum computing is moving from theory to real-world applications. They discuss where quantum is already delivering value, why it works best alongside AI rather than replacing it, and how organizations can begin preparing for the next wave of innovation. From logistics and cybersecurity to predictive intelligence and emerging startup opportunities, this conversation breaks down what quantum means today—and why it’s a space worth paying attention to.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Where quantum computing is already solving real-world problems.
• Why AI and quantum are more complementary than competitive.
• How adaptive AI models can improve decision-making in complex environments.
• What founders and investors should know about the current state of quantum technology.
• Why businesses should start preparing for the future of post-quantum cybersecurity.

About Martin Sajon: Martin is the Co-Founder and CEO of q99, where he is building quantum-enhanced AI solutions for complex decision-making. A multi-exit founder with more than 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, he is focused on helping organizations unlock the potential of quantum computing and artificial intelligence.

About Bill Collier: Bill is a Principal at Noblis Ventures, where he focuses on investing in and supporting early-stage frontier technology companies. He works closely with founders across AI, defense, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies, helping bridge commercial innovation and government applications.

This episode is supported by Defense Unicorns

Defense Unicorns builds platform technologies that help deliver mission-critical capabilities faster and more reliably. Their open architecture approach enables secure, scalable systems without vendor lock, creating flexibility across the software ecosystem. Backed by a team of engineers, innovators, and veterans, they bring deep experience across defense and federal tech. Get in touch at [email protected]

Exploring your next tech role? Get insider job advice and the latest startup & govtech openings – delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here: https://www.myhatchpad.com/newsletter/

Built for Pressure: What a 15-Year-Old Professional Muay Thai Fighter Can Teach You About Performing When It Matters

This special bonus episode explores a different kind of high-performance journey. Today’s guest is Elijah Hinzman, a 15-year-old professional Muay Thai fighter competing on some of Southeast Asia’s biggest stages. While his arena is the ring, the qualities behind his success are the same ones we often explore on this show: discipline, preparation, resilience, and performing under pressure. Elijah shares the mindset that has helped him pursue excellence at such a young age, offering lessons that resonate far beyond combat sports.

From the ring to everyday leadership, we explore:

• How preparation becomes confidence under pressure
• The sacrifices required to pursue excellence at a young age
• Turning losses into opportunities for growth
• Building resilience through discipline and consistency
• The role of family, humility, and staying grounded
• Why high-performance mindset applies far beyond the ring

This episode is supported by Defense Unicorns

Defense Unicorns builds platform technologies that help deliver mission-critical capabilities faster and more reliably. Their open architecture approach enables secure, scalable systems without vendor lock, creating flexibility across the software ecosystem. Backed by a team of engineers, innovators, and veterans, they bring deep experience across defense and federal tech.

Get in touch at [email protected]

Exploring your next tech role? Get insider job advice and the latest startup & govtech openings – delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here: https://www.myhatchpad.com/newsletter/

Founder-Led Growth in the AI Era: Rethinking the CRM from First Touch to Close | The Pair Program Ep98

What happens when your sales stack becomes the bottleneck instead of the growth engine? In this episode of The Pair Program, we are joined by David Zhu, CEO of ReevoAI, and Lukas Haffer, CEO of Casca, to explore how AI-native platforms are reshaping modern sales. They discuss why traditional CRMs are failing founders, how AI can eliminate manual work instead of adding to it, and why connected systems matter more than ever. Drawing from both the builder and customer perspective, they share practical insights on scaling go-to-market teams, improving collaboration, and preparing for the next generation of AI-powered software.

Here’s what we get into:

• Why traditional CRMs create more work than they solve
• AI-native software vs. legacy platforms with AI layered on top
• Eliminating manual data entry and disconnected sales workflows
• The hidden cost of fragmented sales, marketing, and support tools
• How customer conversations can automatically shape product roadmaps
• What the future of AI-powered sales and customer relationships looks like

About David Zhu: David is the Co-Founder and CEO of ReevoAI. Previously Head of Engineering at DoorDash, he led teams of more than 200 engineers across fintech, platform infrastructure, and enterprise products. Before that, he held engineering leadership roles at OpenStore and Cisco, building and scaling high-growth technical organizations.

About Lukas Haffer: Lukas is the CEO and Co-Founder of Casca, where he’s building AI-native software for commercial lending. Before founding Casca, he was Chief of Staff at Avaloq, supporting platforms managing over $4 trillion in assets. A Stanford MBA graduate, he focuses on using AI to transform banking, credit risk, and financial operations.

This episode is supported by Defense Unicorns

Defense Unicorns builds platform technologies that help deliver mission-critical capabilities faster and more reliably. Their open architecture approach enables secure, scalable systems without vendor lock, creating flexibility across the software ecosystem. Backed by a team of engineers, innovators, and veterans, they bring deep experience across defense and federal tech. Get in touch at [email protected]

Exploring your next tech role? Get insider job advice and the latest startup & govtech openings – delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here: https://www.myhatchpad.com/newsletter/

From Snapshots to Systems: Why 3D Earth Awareness Is Becoming Critical Infrastructure | The Pair Program Ep97

In this episode of The Pair Program, we’re joined by Andrew Peterson, Co-Founder and CEO of Array Labs, and David Gauthier, Chief Strategy Officer at GXO, for a conversation on the future of Earth observation and what happens when the world can be mapped in near real time. From distributed radar satellite networks to AI-powered geospatial intelligence, they explore how 3D awareness is changing the way governments, businesses, and operators understand the physical world. They also discuss the shift from legacy space systems to resilient satellite architectures and why persistent, high-resolution data could become critical infrastructure in the years ahead.

Key topics include:

• Why 3D Earth observation is the next evolution of geospatial intelligence
• How satellite swarms can outperform traditional space systems
• The growing role of commercial space technology in national security
• What becomes possible when real-time physical world data is always available

About Andrew Peterson: Andrew is the Co-founder and CEO of Array Labs, where he is building a new approach to satellite-based Earth observation using distributed radar systems. His background spans radio-frequency sensing, laser defense systems, and the Vera Rubin Astronomical Observatory. He is focused on applying information from large-scale sensing programs to help us better understand the planet.

About David Gauthier: David is currently a consultant at GXO, Inc., integrating new commercial space capabilities with U.S. national security missions. He has nearly 30 years of experience leading operations and strategy across the Intelligence Community, including serving as Chief Strategy Officer and Director of Commercial Operations at NGA. He is also a Fellow at the National Security Institute and a Senior Associate at CSIS.

This episode is supported by Defense Unicorns

Defense Unicorns builds platform technologies that help deliver mission-critical capabilities faster and more reliably. Their open architecture approach enables secure, scalable systems without vendor lock, creating flexibility across the software ecosystem. Backed by a team of engineers, innovators, and veterans, they bring deep experience across defense and federal tech.

Get in touch at [email protected]

Exploring your next tech role? Get insider job advice and the latest startup & govtech openings – delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here: https://www.myhatchpad.com/newsletter/

From Sidewalks to Scale: What It Actually Takes to Build Real-World Robotics | The Pair Program Ep96

What does it take to turn autonomous robotics from a demo into real-world infrastructure? In this episode of The Pair Program, Paige Craig, Managing Partner at Outlander VC, and Zach Rash, Co-founder & CEO at Coco, discuss scaling autonomous delivery, building operational moats through real-world data, navigating regulation and reliability, and what separates successful robotics companies from the rest. They also explore the future of physical AI and the founder traits behind category-defining businesses.

What we cover in this episode:

• Why real-world deployment matters more than perfect demos
• Building operational moats in robotics and physical AI
• The economics and challenges of last-mile delivery
• How autonomous systems learn from real-world data
• Reliability as the key to scaling logistics networks
• The future impact of autonomy across industries
• Founder-market fit and what investors look for in exceptional founders

About Paige Craig: Paige is the Managing Partner of Outlander VC, where he invests in founders building category-defining companies. A former Marine Corps officer and entrepreneur, he successfully scaled a national security company before transitioning into venture capital, backing companies such as Lyft, SpaceX, and AngelList early in their growth.

About Zach Rash: Zach is the CEO and co-founder of Coco, an autonomous delivery company focused on transforming last-mile logistics. Since launching the company, he has helped expand autonomous delivery services across multiple cities while advancing sustainable, technology-driven solutions for urban transportation.

This episode is supported by Defense Unicorns

Defense Unicorns builds platform technologies that help deliver mission-critical capabilities faster and more reliably. Their open architecture approach enables secure, scalable systems without vendor lock, creating flexibility across the software ecosystem. Backed by a team of engineers, innovators, and veterans, they bring deep experience across defense and federal tech.

Get in touch at [email protected]

Exploring your next tech role? Get insider job advice and the latest startup & govtech openings – delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here: https://www.myhatchpad.com/newsletter/