Sanjana Polapragada hosts a two-speaker conversation with Robert Miller, a seasoned “startup statesman” who has advised companies such as CrowdAI (now acquired by Saab) and Hawkeye 360 (now valued at over a billion dollars), and Emma Bates, CEO and founder of Cachai, a dual-use tech company (for both civilian and military purposes) focused on collaborative autonomy and drone innovation in the national security space.

Together, they unpack how to navigate the national security startup ecosystem, secure government contracts, and cross the many “valleys of death” that mission-driven ventures face.

Aimed at anyone with a concrete, government-focused venture idea, the episode offers practical how-tos for entering and thriving in the field.

If you're curious about building a mission-driven venture in national security, this episode is your starting point.

Produced in partnership with the Pava Center for Entrepreneurship at Johns Hopkins.

Researched and hosted by Sanjana Polapragada; edited by Vishal Gogusetti.

Leila Olukoga talks with Ambassador Juan Jose Gomez Camacho of Mexico. Ambassador Gomez Camacho has represented his country as ambassador to eight countries and led international negotiating efforts on a wide range of issues – ranging from politics, economics, and trade to security, disarmament, humanitarian issues, and a host of other subjects.

Researched and hosted by Leila Olukoga; edited by Vishal Gogusetti

Connor Hall talks with US Air Force Brigadier General Geoffrey Weiss on the evolution of modern airpower theory, the role airpower has played in recent conflicts, and the future of manned aircraft in an environment increasingly dominated by attritable unmanned systems.

General Weiss is currently serving as the Director of Regional Affairs in the office of the Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs (SAF/IA) at the Pentagon. His critically-acclaimed book The New Art of War was published in 2021 by Cambridge University Press and has been an Amazon bestseller in military history and military science.

Researched and hosted by Connor Hall; edited by Emma Ding.

The views expressed in this episode are those of Geoffrey Weiss and do not reflect the official stance of the US Air Force or the US Department of Defense.