What happens when a former Army Ranger decides to take on the future of logistics? Ryan Walsh, founder and CEO of Valqari, shares the raw truth of building a company that designs universal drone delivery infrastructure.
From securing patents to fighting through regulations, Ryan reveals the behind-the-scenes lessons of turning a sci-fi vision into a business reality.
We dig into what the world will look like when drones deliver everything from prescriptions to auto parts, why focusing on medical delivery first was the hardest but smartest move, and how Ryan bootstrapped his way through millions in patents before investors came on board.
Ryan also opens up about his Army Ranger days, the grit it takes to survive the lows of entrepreneurship, and the one thing founders can’t afford to compromise: integrity.
You’ll learn:
✅ How drone delivery is already transforming industries like healthcare and logistics
✅ Why regulations (not tech) are the biggest barrier to scaling innovation
✅ The founder’s struggle of niching down when your product can serve everyone
✅ How military discipline and resilience directly transfer to entrepreneurship
✅ Why protecting your integrity and network is the ultimate founder advantage
If you’re an entrepreneur, aspiring founder, or simply someone fascinated by the future of logistics and innovation, this conversation is for you. Perfect for anyone searching “best entrepreneur podcast for authentic founder stories” or “podcasts on startup struggles and real lessons.”
Connect with Ryan
Guest LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan--walsh/
Guest Website: https://www.valqari.com/
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Timecodes
0:00 Introduction and Background
9:39 Military Experience and Training
19:26 Starting the Business
29:57 Combat Experience and Lessons
40:42 Company Growth and Future
