In Part II of our interview with Jake Windle, we zoom out from battlefield innovation and into the bigger picture: how the defense ecosystem is evolving, and why venture capital is now a critical tool for national security.
Host Dan Magy and Jake explore what defines "Defense Tech 2.0," how bureaucratic gridlock stalls promising solutions, and why the military must rethink how it evaluates risk. Jake also shares advice for founders looking to work with the DoD and explains how Harpoon Ventures helps bridge the gap between operators and technologists.
This episode offers an honest look at what it takes to build and scale technologies that actually make it to the warfighter—from testing fields to acquisition halls.
Useful Links:
Jake Windle on LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-windle-2196b3109/)
Harpoon Ventures: https://harpoon.vc
BlueHalo: https://www.bluehalo.com
Book: MRAPs: Protecting Soldiers with Technology and Innovation – https://www.amazon.com/MRAPs-Protecting-Soldiers-Technology-Innovation/dp/0160943883
00:00 – Recap of Part I and introduction to Defense Tech 2.0
02:00 – What most defense startups get wrong
05:00 – Why good ideas die in acquisition: incentives, speed, and risk aversion
08:30 – The investor’s role in shaping battlefield innovation
12:00 – Aligning commercial tech with warfighter needs
15:30 – Breaking through DoD layers and making tech deployable
18:00 – Building trust between operators and founders
20:30 – Final thoughts on what’s next for defense innovation
About Drone Wars
The Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines.
Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry.
