From Open Source to Open Skies: Why Sapphire Ventures Backed Defense Unicorns | The Pair Program Ep84

In this episode of The Pair Program, we sit down with Rob Slaughter, CEO of Defense Unicorns, and Jai Das, President, Partner, and Co-Founder at Sapphire Ventures, for a deep dive into what it takes to modernize defense software—and why a leading enterprise VC made its first-ever bet in defense tech. The conversation explores how open source is reshaping national security, what scalable government software really requires, and why contrarian investment decisions often lead to the biggest breakthroughs.

Key topics include:

• Rebuilding the U.S. military’s software backbone
• Open source as a strategic advantage in defense
• Bootstrapping to scale before taking venture capital
• Why Sapphire Ventures invested in defense for the first time
• The future of defense tech and government software innovation

About Rob Slaughter: Rob made a name for himself in the defense tech community leading a variety of software development teams within the Department of the Air Force and Department of Defense, including as director of the DOD’s DevSecOps platform team, Platform One. Now, since leaving the military, he’s CEO of Defense Unicorns, a company that delivers that same secure software development for mission-focused organizations.

About Jai Das: Jai is President, Partner, and Co-Founder at Sapphire Ventures, investing in growth-stage startups building category-defining enterprise technology. With 15+ years of experience, he has backed companies like Glean, Cohesity, ThoughtSpot, CircleCI, and Defense Unicorns, with 15+ IPOs and 20+ acquisitions across his portfolio. He is a recognized voice in AI and enterprise tech, frequently featured in top media and speaking at major industry conferences. His focus areas include AI/ML, data, security, DevOps, open source, and crypto.

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Securing the Supply Web: From the Global Network to the Tactical Edge | The Pair Program Ep83

In Episode 83, Tim Winkler and Sean Leahy talk with Peter Goldsborough, Co-Founder and CTO of Rune Technologies, and Evan Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Altana, about how AI and modern data systems are reshaping defense logistics. They explore the disconnect between global supply networks and frontline sustainment, the realities of operating in disconnected environments, and why visibility and trust are now core to readiness. A concise look at the technologies and decisions that keep missions moving.

What we cover in this episode:

• Why logistics often determines mission success
• Global supply chain visibility through the Product Network
• The spreadsheet reality of military logistics today
• Edge-first software for contested, low-connectivity environments
• Public–private collaboration to strengthen readiness
• Understanding both friendly and adversary supply chains

About Evan Smith: Evan Smith is the Co-Founder and CEO of Altana, the world’s Product Network, an AI-powered network connecting global businesses, suppliers, logistics providers, and governments. He has founded and led companies across supply chain, clean tech, and data, and holds a degree in Economics from Yale University.

About Peter Goldsborough: Peter Goldsborough is the Co-Founder and CTO of Rune Technologies. Before launching Rune, he served as a core developer on Facebook’s PyTorch team, worked on real-time data systems, and helped build Anduril’s machine learning platform while leading software engineering across key defense programs.

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Runtime Confidence Meets Real-World Adoption: How AI Is Transforming Traditional Industries | The Pair Program Ep82

In this episode, Tim Winkler and Mike Gruen sit down with Kevin McGrath, Co-Founder and CEO of Meibel, and Rob Murray, Founder and CEO of SpecBooks, to unpack what it actually takes to move AI from impressive prototypes to dependable, production-ready systems. They dig into the challenges of unstructured data, the real meaning of runtime confidence, and why human-in-the-loop workflows lead to higher accuracy, not job displacement. Through the Meibel–SpecBooks case study, the group breaks down the results, the pitfalls, and the surprising upside of scaling AI in fast-moving, real-world environments.

Here’s What We Get Into:

• Why most generative AI projects never make it to production
• How runtime confidence is measured and why it matters
• Turning thousands of messy PDFs into structured, reliable outputs
• Human-in-the-loop systems that boost performance instead of replacing teams
• The business impact: 250–300% win-rate lift + 75% faster workflows
• What founders should know before scaling AI across their product

About Kevin McGrath: Kevin brings over 25 years of experience across startups and enterprise technology, with deep expertise in infrastructure, cloud optimization, and developer platforms. Before founding Meibel, he served as Vice President and General Manager of Spot by NetApp, following his earlier role as CTO where he led engineering and product during a period of rapid growth in cloud automation. Throughout his career, he has held senior technical leadership roles focused on building scalable systems and high-performing teams.

About Rob Murray: Rob Murray is the Founder and CEO of SpecBooks, a platform he has led since launching the company in 2011. He brings more than 14 years of experience building digital tools for the construction and design industry. Rob holds a degree in Marketing and Finance from the University of Florida and previously gained entrepreneurial experience as a part owner of Ezell’s Restaurant in Alabama.

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Supply Chain at Escape Velocity: How InnoFlight and Verigon Are Scaling Secure Space System for the SDA Era | The Pair Program Ep81

In this episode, Tim Winkler and co-host Mike Gruen sit down with Jeffrey Janicik of Innoflight and Greg Davis of Verigon to explore what it really takes to scale secure space systems fast—and without sacrificing quality. They dive into the rise of small-sat architectures, the push for higher-volume production, and why cybersecurity must be designed into hardware from day one. Through the Innoflight–Verigon partnership, they unpack how trust, communication, and rigorous testing enable teams to deliver mission-critical electronics that are ready for orbit.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How small, secure, low-SWaP electronics support modern satellite architectures
• Why proliferated constellations require speed, volume, and resiliency
• How Innoflight and Verigon scaled from boards to full system-level builds
• What makes a manufacturing partner truly “mission-ready”
• Why cyber protection must be built into hardware from the start

About Jeffrey Janicik: Mr. Jeffrey Janicik is the Founder of Innoflight, specializing in secure, high-performance space electronics. With decades of service in the Air Force, he helped pioneer unmanned X-vehicles and contributed to establishing the U.S. Space Force. He founded Innoflight after leading NASA’s first internet-based satellite mission and continues to drive innovation in small satellites, cyber, and space networking.

About Greg Davis: Greg Davis has 30+ years in electronic contract manufacturing across aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. As VP at Verigon, he has led major growth, expanded manufacturing capacity, and broadened the company’s customer base into top-tier defense and space programs. He previously held roles at Unisys, Litton, ITT Cannon, Sanmina-SCI, and NeoTech.

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Building Space Together: Inside the U.S. Space Force’s Push for Commercial Collaboration | The Pair Program Ep80

In this episode of The Pair Program, host Tim Winkler is joined by Holly Bertrand, Founder and Chief Operating Officer of ExoAnalytic Solutions; Dan Ceperley, Chief Operating Officer and Founder of LeoLabs; and Lt. Col. Tim Trimailo, Director of the Commercial Space Office at Space Systems Command. Together, they unpack how the U.S. Space Force is partnering with leading commercial innovators to build a more resilient and responsive space architecture. From rapidly evolving threats to breakthrough sensing and radar technologies, this conversation reveals how government and industry can move faster, collaborate smarter, and rethink acquisition to stay ahead in orbit.

What we cover in this episode:

• Why Space Force is shifting to “buy before build”
• How commercial SDA, radar, and sensing capabilities are accelerating innovation
• Real examples of proximity ops, maneuvering satellites, and emerging threats
• New pathways for startups to work with DoD (Front Door, CASR, SpaceWERX)
• The biggest challenges in trust, data integration, and rapid acquisition
• What the future of government–commercial collaboration must look like

About Holly Bertrand: Holly is the Founder and Chief Operating Officer of ExoAnalytic Solutions, leading internal operations, financial strategy, and overall corporate execution. She helped establish the company’s core infrastructure and oversees Contracts, Facilities, Finance & Accounting, Security, and Program Management. Holly holds a B.S. and M.S. in Physics from Brigham Young University.

About Dan Ceperley: Dan is the Chief Operating Officer and a Founder of LeoLabs, leading engineering teams behind the company’s global radar network and real-time orbital intelligence platform. He previously worked at SRI International supporting DARPA and Air Force Space Command programs, and holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from UC Berkeley.

About Lt. Col. Tim Trimailo: Tim is Director of the Commercial Space Office (COMSO) at Space Systems Command, where he leads the integration of commercial capabilities across U.S. Space Force missions. His background includes overseeing SDA’s Missile Tracking Layer, pLEO prototyping, and earlier roles in SATCOM operations and NRO analytic programs.

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AI at the Tactical Edge: Scaling Secure, Warfighter-Centric Tech in Denied Environments | The Pair Program Ep79

In this episode, host Tim Winkler sits down with Tyler Saltsman (Founder & CEO, EdgeRunner AI), Colton Malkerson (Co-Founder & COO, EdgeRunner AI), and TJ Rowe (Chief Revenue Officer, Second Front Systems)for a deep dive into how secure, on-device AI is transforming decision-making at the tactical edge. Together, they explore the rise of air-gapped, domain-specific AI and what it takes to scale dual-use technology across defense and enterprise markets.

We dive into:

• What “warfighter-centric design” looks like in practice
• Why edge and air-gapped AI are critical for modern missions
• Lessons from scaling a dual-use company across DoD & enterprise markets
• Challenges of security, compliance, and go-to-market in defense tech

About Colton Malkerson: Colton is Co-Founder & COO at EdgeRunner AI, a Series A dual-use defense technology company building domain-specific, air-gapped, on-device AI. He previously led Enterprise Sales at Stability AI and held roles at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and on Capitol Hill for Speakers Paul Ryan and John Boehner. He earned his MBA from Stanford University and his BA from Georgetown University.

About Tyler Saltsman: Tyler is the Founder & CEO of EdgeRunner AI, developing AI agents for defense applications that operate entirely offline and secure. His career spans leadership roles at Stability AI, AWS, and the U.S. Army, where he led logistics operations as a platoon leader. He’s passionate about building resilient, mission-ready AI systems for the modern battlefield.

About TJ Rowe: TJ is the Chief Revenue Officer at Second Front Systems, a company reimagining how commercial software is securely deployed across national security environments. Before this role, he led growth and sales initiatives that expanded Second Front’s partnerships across defense and enterprise sectors. A former U.S. Army officer, TJ served with elite units including the 75th Ranger Regiment and later worked in strategy at JLL Technologies.

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Sea Change: How Autonomy and Acquisition Will Shape the Future Fleet | The Pair Program Ep78

In this episode, hosts Tim Winkler and guest co-host Sean Leahy dive into the intersection of autonomy, AI, and defense acquisition with Austin Gray, Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer at Bluewater Autonomy, and Alex Campbell, former Chief of Staff at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). Together, they explore how startups, private capital, and the Pentagon’s acquisition system collide in the race to modernize maritime operations.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How Bluewater Autonomy is designing mass-producible unmanned ships for the U.S. Navy
• The friction between defense acquisition culture and startup speed
• Why trust is the key to bridging government–industry collaboration
• The growing role of private capital in scaling defense innovation
• How new legislation like the Speed and Forge Acts could reshape acquisition

About Austin Gray: Austin is Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Blue Water Autonomy, a VC-backed company building autonomous ships. Austin started his career in the U.S. Navy as an intelligence officer, worked in a drone factory in Ukraine, and holds degrees from Davidson, Harvard, and MIT.

About Alex Campbell: Alex is an engineer at Applied Intuition and former Chief of Staff at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). At DIU, he led efforts to accelerate commercial technology into Navy and Marine Corps programs, including initiatives focused on autonomy and maritime innovation. A former U.S. Navy officer, Alex has extensive experience in defense acquisition and emerging tech integration.

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The Future of Autonomous Electronic Warfare in Multi-Domain Operations | The Pair Program Ep77

In this episode of The Pair Program, hosts Tim Winkler and Mike Gruen are joined by Nathan Mintz, Co-founder & CEO of CX2, and Dr. William “Dollar” Young, Jr., Former U.S. Air Force Colonel & Spectrum Warfare Expert, for a deep dive into the future of electronic warfare. Together, they unpack how autonomy, distributed systems, and AI are reshaping the electromagnetic battlespace.

In this episode:

• How AI-enabled drones and sensor networks are transforming military operations
• Integrating autonomy across air, land, sea, and cyber domains
• Balancing risk, ethics, and trust in autonomous decision-making
• Lessons from Ukraine’s “drone crucible” and real-world spectrum warfare
• What true multi-domain integration could look like in the next five years

About Nathan Mintz: Nathan Mintz is a serial entrepreneur in sensors and electronic warfare and was founding CEO of three deep tech start ups: Epirus (EMP to kill drones), Spartan Radar (automotive radar) and now CX2. He has over 20 years experience in aerospace & defense and started his career at Raytheon and Boeing as a Radar and Electronic Warfare Systems Engineer. He has 9 US Patents in various electronics technologies.

About Dr. William “Dollar” Young, Jr.: retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and founder of the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing. He created the STPA-Sec and FMA-C cybersecurity frameworks used across the DoD. A PhD graduate from MIT, he’s now an Associate Research Professor at Syracuse University. In 2023, he received the Association of Old Crows Gold Medal, the top global award in Electronic Warfare.

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Securing the Industrial Frontier with Frenos | The Pair Program Ep76

In this episode, hosts Tim Winkler and Mike Gruen chat with Harry Thomas, CTO of Frenos, and Colin Murphy, Chief Hacking Officer at Frenos, two cybersecurity experts redefining how we protect critical infrastructure. They unpack what it takes to defend operational technology (OT) environments that keep power grids, water systems, and manufacturing lines running safely.

We dive into:

• The origin of Frenos and its AI-powered “digital twin” for OT defense
• Bridging IT and OT security mindsets
• How their new tool, Optica, boosts visibility and resilience
• The rise of OT security posture management
• Balancing commercial growth with national-security applications

About Harry Thomas: Harry is an expert offensive penetration tester specializing in industrial and healthcare cybersecurity, with over a decade of experience. As CTO of Frenos, he leads innovation in protecting critical infrastructures. He has taught “Hacking PLCs” at DefCon and BSIDES Orlando, spoken at BSIDES NH, and been featured on the Secure Insights Podcast. Previously, he directed Product R&D at Dragos and led AI/ML-driven UBA development at AWS.

About Colin Murphy: Colin is a technology innovator and security practitioner with a passion for building and breaking systems to drive meaningful change. As a former CIO and ethical hacker, he focuses on offensive security and digital strategy to stay ahead in an evolving threat landscape. His mission: help organizations simulate and stop cyberattacks before they happen.

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Generals in the Startup Trenches: Leading Defense Tech from Frontlines to Frontiers | The Pair Program Ep75

In this episode of The Pair Program, hosts Tim Winkler and Mike Gruen sit down with two retired Army generals turned tech executives, LTG Eric Wesley, former CEO of Parasanti Inc, and LTG Ross Coffman, President of Forward Edge AI. They discuss how military leadership translates into startup success, what it takes to build culture from scratch, and how dual-use innovation can strengthen both national defense and commercial sectors.

Key Topics Covered:

• Leading teams through transition and uncertainty
• Building culture in early-stage startups
• The realities of defense-tech bureaucracy
• How military experience informs innovation

About LTG Eric Wesley (USA, Ret): Eric is the former CEO of Parasanti Inc, an edge compute company serving the Department of Defense. He previously served as Deputy Commander of Army Futures Command and led the development of the Army’s Multi-Domain Operations concept.

About LTG Ross Coffman (USA, Ret): Ross is the President of Forward Edge AI and a Board Member of The Federal Savings Bank. He served over 35 years in the U.S. Army, culminating as Deputy Commander of Army Futures Command, and now advises multiple companies on innovation and leadership.

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