Shows
The Transfer Files: Inside the World of Federal InnovationBen Solomon: How FedTech Builds Startups From Federal Lab InventionsThere’s something exciting happening right now in the world of federal innovation, and it feels like the momentum is building faster than ever. When research inside government labs actually finds its way into the hands of entrepreneurs who know how to run with it, that’s where real impact shows up. And that’s the story we’re digging into today, how ideas turn into companies, and how communities working together can make that leap possible.My guest today is Ben Solomon, the founder and CEO of FedTech. Ben started out as a business-minded student who wanted t...
2025-11-2526 min
The BIC Presents PodcastBIC Presents: Massachusetts Climatetech StudioIn this episode, Sharon Bort and Benedikt Reynolds discuss the groundbreaking work of the Massachusetts Climatetech Studio. The program pairs university and lab-based technologies with entrepreneurs to help commercialize climate tech innovations. Participants receive a stipend, expert mentorship, and access to grant funding, making entrepreneurship more accessible and equitable. Sharon and Benedict highlight the success of their first cohort, which has already resulted in six new startups moving toward incorporation. Applications for the next cohort are open until February 28, 2025, and the program is designed to accommodate participants with various backgrounds and levels of experience. Learn how this initiative is sh...
2025-01-2815 min
The Buzz with ACT-IACICYMI: Digital Transformation Strides Driving Citizen Experience in GovernmentThis week, The Buzz presents a session from ACT-IAC's 2024 Digital Transformation Summit. This panel of fedtech experts discusses the progress they have made in their respective agencies to leverage digital transformation to enhance the citizen experience, focusing on policy and process impediments that can derail progress and how to overcome them. Panelists:Andrea Fletcher - Chief Digital Strategy Officer, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ServicesRaymond Holder - .VP of Digital Growth, MaximusBeth Martin - Digital Services Expert, OPMRaj Iyer (Moderator) - Global Head of P...
2024-04-1735 min
The Best One Yet⏳ “Love those Sand Worms” — Dune’s IMAX surge. Whole Foods’ 1st bodega. The government’s #FedTech hiring spree.Dune: Part 2 just brought in $182M at the box office on opening weekend, but the winner was IMAX — Because regular theaters are in trouble, premium theaters ain’t.Whole Foods Market its 1st ever Bodega — Because the idea can be right even if the execution is wrong.And while tech companies continue layoffs, 1 company is hiring: The Government — We call it FedTech… and to hire up, they’re paying up.Plus, a massive helium deposit was found 2,200 feet under Minnesota — It’s #2 in the periodic table, but #1 in our hearts....
2024-03-0620 min
The MergeE29 – Inside Look on Selling Tech to the PentagonDon’t miss our newsletter!
Mike and Jake host John Ferry to discuss the ins & outs
and the highs & lows of trying to sell tech to the Pentagon, and the US government—how it really works.
Warning: We had a ton of fun—maybe a bit too much. This episode is full of spicy takes and unvarnished thoughts and opinions based on 15+ years of experience and scar tissue. Hang on for a ride deep down the rabbit hole of govcon and fedtech nerdiness, but we make it out ok at the end—discussi...
2024-02-111h 01
FedTech InnovatorFedTech Innovator: Mike Grubbs from SafireIn this episode of the "FedTech Innovator", host Ben Solomon sits down with Mike Grubbs from Safire to discuss the venture's path after participating in FedTech's Startup Studio, Mike's wide range of careers leading him to Safire, and his advice to current Startup Studio participants.
2023-10-0639 min
FedTech InnovatorFedTech Innovator: Genevieve Lind, PhD from NOAAIn this episode of the "FedTech Innovator", host Ben Solomon sits down with Genevieve Lind, PhD from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Small Business Innovation Research Program (NOAA SBIR) to discuss NOAA's approach to the SBIR proposal, the administration's vast mission space, and her path from neuroscience to leading NOAA SBIR.
2023-09-2530 min
FedTech InnovatorFedTech Innovator: Will Schaffer from Mercia Asset Management PLCIn this episode of the "FedTech Innovator", host Ben Solomon sits down with Will Schaffer from Mercia Asset Management PLC to discuss venture investing, the intricacies of mergers and acquisitions for prime and subprime contractors, and the changing scene of English public-private partnerships.
2023-08-1850 min
FedTech InnovatorFedTech Innovator: Helen Whiteley from the Women+ in Climate Tech Global NetworkIn this episode of the "FedTech Innovator" podcast, Helen Whiteley, Executive Director at the Women+ in Climate Tech Global Network, dive into talks of tackling the climate crisis through technology and diversity with host Ben Solomon, Founder and Managing Partner of FedTech. Listen as the two investigate the changing landscape of climate tech, ways to make the climate tech space more equitable, and why diversity is such a critical component of saving the planet.
2023-08-0432 min
FedTech InnovatorFedTech Innovator: Tyrell Junius, co-founder of Tiami NetworksIn the summer of 2022, Tyrell Junius was selected to be a participant in NSIN Foundry, a startup studio powered by FedTech. Now, he is the co-founder of Tiami Networks, a startup spun-out from the technology he and his team was assigned to. Along with securing a license from the Air Force Research Laboratory, Tiami Networks has successfully won public funding. Listen in as host Ben Solomon, Founder and Managing Partner at FedTech, and Tyrell discuss the Foundry program, the SBIR process, and the incredible journey of entrepreneurship.
2023-07-1722 min
FedTech InnovatorFedTech Innovator: Justin Dunnicliff and Brady RyanIn this episode of the "FedTech Innovator" podcast, Justin Dunnicliff, Deputy Managing Director at NSIN; and Brady Ryan, Principal at NSIN; engage in a defense-focused conversation with host Ben Solomon, Founder and Managing Partner at FedTech. Join them as they discuss the burgeoning defense sector in Seattle and delve into the Department of Defense's (DoD) growing relationships with tech startups. Gain valuable advice from Justin and Brady on how startups can successfully forge partnerships with the DoD.
2023-06-2341 min
FedTech InnovatorFedTech Innovator: Rachel Rath from Johnson & JohnsonRachel Rath, Director, BARDA Alliance at Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JLABS, sat down with Ben Solomon, Founder and Managing Partner at FedTech, in the latest episode of the "FedTech Innovator" podcast. The two discuss the prevention of future pandemics, Rachel’s path through politics to Johnson & Johnson, and growing the Washington DC startup scene.
2023-05-2639 min
FedTech InnovatorMeeting with Asmod Karki, Co-Founder & Head of Operations at VikasaTechAsmod Karki, Co-Founder & Head of Operations at VikasaTech, sat down with Ben Solomon, Founder and Managing Partner at FedTech, in the latest episode of the "FedTech Innovator" podcast. The two discuss the Nepali technology entrepreneurial ecosystem, Asmod's journey to Princeton University, and his suggestions for rethinking entrepreneurship.
2023-04-2845 min
FedTech InnovatorMeeting with Dr. Christel Bastida, CEO of HealieTechDr. Christel Bastida, CEO at HealieTech, sat down with Ben Solomon, Founder and Managing Partner at FedTech, in the latest episode of the "FedTech Innovator" podcast. The two discuss self-healing materials and their application to defense and space technologies, NASA technology licensing, the value of FedTech's Startup Studio, and some of the challenges of startup team formation.
2023-04-1431 min
FedTech InnovatorMeeting with Josh Grehan, Principal of Helios Climate VenturesJosh Grehan, Principal of Helios Climate Ventures, sat down with Ben Solomon, Founder and Managing Partner of FedTech, in the latest episode of the "FedTech Innovator" podcast. The two discuss Josh's passion for climate technology, his background leading to Helios Climate Ventures, and his advice for entrepreneurs pitching to VCs.
2023-03-3141 min
FedTech InnovatorMeeting with Gabe Mounce, Deputy Director of SpaceWERX and Director of the AFRL Outreach & Tech Engagement Office in New MexicoGabe Mounce, Deputy Director of SpaceWERX and Director of the AFRL Outreach & Tech Engagement Office in New Mexico, sat down with Ben Solomon, Founder and Managing Partner of FedTech, in the latest episode of the "FedTech Innovator" podcast. The two discuss the changing New Mexico Deep Tech ecosystem, defining Space Force, and Gabe's hopes for the future of startups working with the Department of Defense.
2023-03-1742 min
FedTech InnovatorMeeting with Mike Bynum from FedTechMike Bynum, Director of FedTech's Department of Defense Programs, sat down with Ben Solomon, Founder and Managing Partner of FedTech, in the latest episode of the "FedTech Innovator" podcast.The two discuss the Department of Defense’s changing small business strategy, working with the Special Operations community, and how his exciting career led him to FedTech.
2023-03-0332 min
FedTech InnovatorMeeting with FedTech Alumni, Bryan Knouse from OWLBryan Knouse, CEO of OWL sat down with Ben Solomon, CEO and Managing Partner of FedTech, in the second episode of the “FedTech Innovator” podcast. The two discuss the humble beginnings of OWL, hackathons, engaging the government as a small company, and the growing pains of running a business.
2023-02-1740 min
FedTech InnovatorMeeting with FedTech Alumni, Mike Grace from Longshot SpaceMike Grace, CEO of Longshot Space Technologies Corporation, sat down with Ben Solomon, CEO and Managing Partner of FedTech, in the first episode of the “FedTech Innovator” podcast. The two discuss the future of space, transitioning out of the Army, the road to launching Longshot Space, and his advice for making entrepreneurs' lives easier.
2023-02-0338 min
The Truth Starts NowRobert SpaldingIn this episode, Dan chats with General Robert S. Spalding III. Gen Spalding is a retired United States Air Force brigadier general and a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. Spalding has served in senior positions of strategy and diplomacy within the Defense and State Departments, as Senior Director for Strategy to the President, he was the chief architect of the framework for national competition in the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy (NSS). He has earned recognition for his knowledge of Chinese economic competition, cyber warfare, and political influence. His work has been published in The Washington Post, The Washington Ti...
2022-12-3131 min
The Truth Starts NowRobert SpaldingIn this episode, Dan chats with General Robert S. Spalding III. Gen Spalding is a retired United States Air Force brigadier general and a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. Spalding has served in senior positions of strategy and diplomacy within the Defense and State Departments, as Senior Director for Strategy to the President, he was the chief architect of the framework for national competition in the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy (NSS). He has earned recognition for his knowledge of Chinese economic competition, cyber warfare, and political influence. His work has been published in The Washington Post, The Washington Ti...
2022-12-3131 min
RISE InsideFedTech's role in the Small Business Startup Ecosystem with Gunnar GillespieGunnar Gillespie, Senior Analyst at FedTech joins Justin Starbird to discuss how FedTech helps companies in the deep tech space, like RISE™, by providing program support and services related to technology entrepreneurship.
At FedTech, Gunnar shares, "We essentially run the program start to finish. The recruitment of people that want to be entrepreneurs, the selection of the technology, and then, assisting with the licensing process." Listen to learn more about FedTech's approach.
2022-04-2824 min
WHERE’S THE FUNDING?Why Angel Investing is Addictive with Angel Investors Tasha Jones and Aurelia Flores S3 Ep.7Aurelia Flores is Board Secretary for Citrine Angels. She is a Venture Partner at New Markets Venture Partners. Prior to joining New Markets, Aurelia played a key role on corporate acquisition teams for a Fortune 500 company after graduating from Stanford Law School in the mid-90s. She has over 20 years of experience building and supporting businesses, putting together strategic partnerships, creating business plans/models, obtaining SBA and angel/VC funding, as well as working on M&A activity when a company is ready to grow or exit. She also co-founded a digital marketing agency, the Athena Digital Media Group...
2022-02-1854 min
The Debugged PodcastGetting Involved In FedTech | Debugged Episode #6In this episode of Debugged, Medha Gupta sits down with Dee Nickerson, the managing director of Oracle PeopleSoft of Bart & Associates and the Vice-Chair of Girls in Technology, to discuss the importance of technology in the public sector as well as how HR leverages innovations in tech. She also describes how IT has evolved during her 30 years of experience in the sector and gives advice for those interested in IT. Furthermore, she emphasizes the importance of mentorship for young women interested in STEM and the need for these organizations to expand out of Silicon Valley all across the U...
2022-02-0123 min
How Tech Becomes Law10. Let's bring the government to the 21st Century. Discussing federal technology investments with Jake Kramer at FedTech.Let’s bring the government into the 21st Century. We chat with Jake Kramer, managing partner at FedTech, who tells us more about their work in the dual use technology space. With FedTech, Jake works with the Department of Defense, Department of Education, NASA, NIST, and more to incubate, invest in, and inspire new deep-tech startups who will turn around and sell their tools to the federal government, strengthening technical capabilities across the board. Jake highlights the effort the federal government is putting into innovation, the pace at which development is increasing, and new trends in the space. Finally, Ja...
2022-01-1934 min
Westminster Institute talksGeneral Robert Spalding: Stealth War: How China Took Over While America's Elite Slepthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtzHLM5Aocc
Robert Spalding is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. His work focuses on U.S.-China relations, economic and national security, and the Asia-Pacific military balance. Spalding has served in senior positions of strategy and diplomacy within the Defense and State Departments for more than 26 years, and is an accomplished innovator in government and a national security policy strategist. As Senior Director for Strategy to the President, he was the chief architect of the framework for national competition in the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy (NSS). He has ear...
2021-06-111h 11
She Said Privacy/He Said SecurityPrivacy, Security, and Artificially Intelligent DronesPramod Raheja is the Co-founder and CEO of Airgility, a top designer and manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Airgility is building the enterprise platform for aerial intelligence by enabling autonomous aerial robotics that solve real-world problems to improve and save lives. Outside of his work at Airgility, Pramod is a Captain for United Airlines and an active member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. He also serves as a coach and mentor for FedTech and the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, as well as a Member of the Board of Directors at Mindshare. In this episode… ...
2021-06-1029 min
Label Free: ”To live your best life, live label free.”Pulse Forward!What is Good Friends!
I have had technical difficulties this week and could not get me episodes out on time. Please welcome my next guest Karishma Bali. Karishma Bali was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. She completed her undergraduate and graduate education from Loyola University Chicago, Case Western Reserve University, and the University of San Francisco in the fields of Anthropology, Biology, Medical Physiology and Management. During her formal education, Karishma has consulted for startups, conducted and published a few different research projects, volunteered, mentored, and held several organizational leadership roles. Upon graduating, she i...
2021-04-1422 min
The Bourbon Friday Show0098 – FedTech // Trinity Torres & Bourbon and the FedsIn this episode, we talk to Trinity Torres of FedTech about their programs that help entrepreneurs work with the Government. Then Erik runs down the laws of bourbon and it's history.
2021-04-0322 min
To The Point - Cybersecurity2021 Insights And Predictions, Part 2We continue our review of 2020's top Government cybersecurity trends like how to deal with the insider threat and baked in AI Bias. Mike Gruss, Executive Editor, Defense News, and C4ISRNET & Phil Goldstein Sr. editor for FedTech and StateTech share their 2021 cybersecurity predictions. For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e113 Have a guest you think would be great for the podcast? Please email Carolyn cford@forcepointgov.com.
2020-12-2933 min
To The Point - Cybersecurity2021 Insights And Predictions, Part IWe review 2020's top Government cybersecurity trends, starting with Cozy Bear. We then look forward to what we think the big trends for 2021 will be with Mike Gruss, Executive Editor, Defense News, and C4ISRNET & Phil Goldstein Sr. editor for FedTech and StateTech. For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e112 Have a guest you think would be great for the podcast? Please email Carolyn cford@forcepointgov.com.
2020-12-2233 min
DC EntrepreneurJake Kramer, Managing Partner of FedTechJake Kramer, Managing Partner of FedTech is guest on this season's final episode of DC Entrepreneur. FedTech is a venture builder that thrives at the intersection of US entrepreneurship, breakthrough technologies, and mission-driven organizations. Since 2015, they've been driving forward deep tech ventures across the DoD, NASA, DoE, universities, and federal labs. Through their startup studios, accelerators, internal innovation and corporate venture programs, FedTech works with individuals, companies, and government agencies to stay at the bleeding edge of innovation.Kramer is concurrently a venture partner at NextGen Venture Partners and Thundermark Capital, formerly working at Goldman Sachs and...
2020-12-0443 min
Tough Tech Today with Meyen and MillerTough Tech Venture Capital and America's Innovation Engine with Orin HoffmanWhile aboard a plane nosediving into Baghdad, one may be forgiven for pondering how one’s life path could lead from vacuum cleaners to minesweeping robots. Yet, not only does Orin Hoffman, of MIT’s The Engine venture capital firm, share this humbling connection, but also how it advances an overarching narrative of the United States national industrial innovation base, VCs, and the crucial roles served by tough tech entrepreneurs. Public-private partnerships may not be what immediately comes to most people’s minds when asked about frontier tech, though government funding for basic scientific research has been commonp...
2020-10-0651 min
Tough Tech Today with Meyen and MillerVenturing into federal tech, featuring Will Dickson and Trinity Torres of FedTechWhat happens to the ideas generated across the United States federal government’s research initiatives? Will Dickson and Trinity Torres walk us through the pathways of taxpayer-funded technological advancements and opportunities for a diverse pool of private citizens-entrepreneurs to find commercial success licensing patents owned by the U.S. government.The United States government generates vast amounts of intellectual property across its many research organizations, national laboratories, and other technical divisions. Unbeknownst by many citizens, novel technologies are available for licensing and may be a boon to ‘proto companies’ (not-quite-yet-born startups). FedTech is an organization that conducts progra...
2020-09-2253 min
Minimum Viable Podcast (MVP)Defense Innovation Accelerator (Jake Kramer & Rose Butchart) - DEF Community Q&A #1This episode features a Q&A session with Jake Kramer at FedTech and Rose Butchart at the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN).
It explores the Defense Innovation Accelerator (DIA), a government program that finds breakthrough Department of Defense lab technology and leverages it to solve the real-world problems of DoD and commercial customers.
Teams of entrepreneurs, working with DoD lab scientists and technologists, assess the market viability and the potential to commercialize DoD lab technologies.
2020-06-191h 12
To The Point - Cybersecurity2020 Government Cybersecurity Predictions, Part 2 of 22020 Final Three Predictions, Part 2 of 2: Cloud smart not dumb, Mature approach to data and privacy, Indicators of Compromise IoC to Indicators of Behavior IoB. Nicolas Fischbach, Forcepoint's CTO, Phil Goldstein of FedTech and Mike Gruss of Fifth Domain weigh in on Forcepoint Cybersecurity Predictions and Trends for 2020. For more information about this episode, please visit https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e65, and be sure to check out Forcepoint's Cybersecurity Predictions Report here: https://www.forcepoint.com/blog/x-labs/2020-forcepoint-cybersecurity-predictions
2020-02-1829 min
To The Point - Cybersecurity2020 Government Cybersecurity Predictions, Part 1 of 22020 Predictions, Part 1 of 2: On Deepfakes and 5G. Nicolas Fischbach, Forcepoint's CTO, Phil Goldstein of FedTech and Mike Gruss of Fifth Domain weigh in on how Deepfakes and 5G will affect Government Predictions. For more information about this episode, please visit https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e64, and be sure to check out Forcepoint's Cybersecurity Predictions Report here: https://www.forcepoint.com/blog/x-labs/2020-forcepoint-cybersecurity-predictions
2020-02-1121 min
To The Point - CybersecurityPhil Goldstein Senior Editor of FedTech and StateTech discusses the biggest Cybersecurity Challenges we face todayPhil Goldstein, Senior Editor of FedTech and StateTech joins the podcast this week to discuss government cybersecurity challenges including election security, artificial intelligence and ransomware attacks.
2019-11-1922 min
The Contracting ExperienceThe Contracting Experience - Episode 17: Startup Innovation Fellowship with Eric Horan, Decisive Point Co-founderThe next two episodes of the podcast will focus on the Startup Innovation Fellowship program that podcast host, Amber Pecoraro, completed in June. The Startup Innovation Fellowship program is run by National Security Innovation Network and provides military and civilian employees with 4-15 years of experience an opportunity to embed with a startup company to explore a command issue for six weeks.
Amber was matched with the startup company, Decisive Point, in Washington D.C. which works with other startup companies to help them get emerging technologies into the government space. Her focus area was to better understand the challenges...
2019-08-2222 min
#AskTheCEO PodcastCloud Computing and Data Security With Kevin JacksonKevin Jackson is a globally recognized cloud computing expert, Thought Leader, Industry Influencer and Founder/Author of the award winning “Cloud Musings” blog. He has also been recognized as a “Top 100 Cloud Computing Influencer and Brand” by Onalytica 2017, and a “Top Federal IT Blog” (FedTech Magazine 2015,2016). Internationally recognizable firms that have sponsored blog posts authored by him include Cisco, Microsoft and IBM. He has also been featured in podcasts and online video with Dell, IBM, Intel, and National Public Radio. In May 2018 he was awarded an Information Security Leadership Award for his work in the US Federal Government Sector by the Presiden...
2018-09-2019 min