Shows
Drone Wars PodcastThe Unglamorous Tech Powering the Drone Revolution: Rob SladenRob Sladen is Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Zulu Pods, developing advanced fluid delivery systems for aircraft, drones, and high-performance platforms. Check out zulupods.com to learn more. About Drone WarsThe 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.
2026-05-2729 min
The Drone UltimatumJet Engines & Reinventing Oil Systems for Next-Gen Weaponry | Rob SladenRob Sladen is the Chairman and CEO of Zulu Pods, a company pioneering next-generation lubrication and fluid delivery systems for aerospace and defense. Before founding Zulu Pods, Sladen spent 13 years at Pratt & Whitney designing jet engines — experience that now fuels his startup’s role as the “picks and shovels” behind future weapon systems.In this episode, we talk about how Zulu Pods’ “Tide Pod for jet engines” was invented, the state of DoD procurement, and why small defense startups face such steep barriers breaking into military programs. Rob also dives into dua...
2025-10-251h 26
From the Crows' NestYoung Innovators Give a Glimpse Into EMSO’s FutureIn this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller sits down with the heads of two startups in the military space to get a glimpse at the cutting edge of military, warfare and EMSO operations.Ethan Thornton of Mach Industries and Rob Sladen of Zulu Pods are both young innovators in the military space, with Mach Industries focusing on pioneering unmanned systems and Zulu Pods aiming to improve fluid delivery systems in assets that support expendable assets like drones and missiles. Both entrepreneurs say their technologies can be...
2025-10-2243 min
The BIC Presents PodcastBIC Presents: Meet Zulu PodsIn this episode, PJ Moynihan sits down with Rob Sladen, co-founder of BIC Member company Zulu Pods, at their Northampton, Massachusetts facility. Rob shares how Zulu Pods began in 2020 with a “Tide Pod for the jet engine” — a patented, precision oil delivery system for short-mission gas turbine engines. By combining a pump and oil tank into one compact unit, the company addresses inefficiencies and reduces part counts for expendable jet engines used in drones and missiles.Since then, Zulu Pods has expanded into smart backup oil systems and AI-enabled corrosion prevention pods that automate maintenance for high-value defense...
2025-08-1930 min
BetterTechFrom Vision to Reality: The Power of NetworksIn this episode of Better Tech, Haseeb Khan speaks with Rob Sladen, Co-Founder of Zulu Pods, about revolutionizing one-time-use jet engine oil systems. Rob shares how his experience at Pratt & Whitney led to the creation of Zulu Pods' Tide Pod for jet engines, improving efficiency and cutting costs. He dives into Zulu Pods' unique fundraising approach, raising $5M+ from angel investors instead of venture capital, leveraging network effects. Rob also offers key insights for entrepreneurs on team building, capital efficiency, and proving product-market fit.Wrapping up, he teases Zulu Pods’ next big milestone—engine testing in 2025 and new...
2025-02-1221 min
DIB InnovatorsEP 16 — Zulu Pods’ Rob Sladen on Navigating Government Contracts as a Small BusinessOn this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Rob Sladen, Co-founder, Chairman, & CEO of Zulu Pods, to explore his entrepreneurial journey and the innovative technology behind their modular lubrication systems, including the challenges of raising capital and how creating prototypes to show potential investors made a huge difference in showing their vision.
Rob shares insights into the impact of building a resilient startup team and the importance of understanding market pain points. He also touches on navigating government contracts and leveraging SBIR topics to gain traction in the aerospace and defense se...
2024-07-1131 min
Venture LoungeZulu Pod's David Foster & Robert Sladen on Building Disruptive Tech, EOS System, & Extreme OwnershipZulu Pods™ is an aerospace company committed to providing high quality, innovative lubrication delivery solutions that radically simplify short-duration engine architecture to reduce weight, cost, and complexity while improving performance.
David Foster
https://www.linkedin.com/in/djfoster/
Robert Sladen
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-sladen-mba-9746b327/
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To learn more about what's happening at venture lounge, visit legacyangelnetwork.com .
Timestamps:
Intro
00:00 - 6:26
Working With A Family
6:27 - 9:23
Meeting Zulu Pods
9:24 - 11:15
Dave Foster: Working With Active Investors
11:16 - 15:20
Rob Sladen: Starting Zulu Pods
15:21 - 20:00
Early Partners - Building Relationships
20:01 - 31:05
Zulu Pod’s Merit
31:06 - 38:55
Full-Sprint Moments
38:56 - 45:51
“Don’t...
2023-08-251h 10
¿Quién Tú Eres?There's More to Life with Daniella SladenMost people think professionalism is about fitting in, but what if it’s actually the reason we feel disconnected from ourselves? This podcast explores the tension between who we are and who we feel pressured to be at work, in relationships, and in everyday life.Through candid conversations, we unpack how different environments shape our behavior, how limiting beliefs form, and what it looks like to actually understand yourself beyond the roles you play.Tools like Plurawl can help you break down your thoughts and understand what’s driving them → https://plurawl.com/----This we...
2023-03-2237 min
Aviation Growth PodcastAV | CHATS @ PBEXPO - Rob Sladen & Daniella Sladen - Zulu PodsBig thanks to Rob & Daniella from Zulu Pods for stopping by at the Partsbase PBEXPO in Miami. Zulu Pods was started in 2020, and they have designed a smart, compact product that delivers lubrication to engines without all of the components typically found in traditional lubrication systems. We discuss the design of this component, the 3D printing / additive manufacturing process, and how this product can deliver safety, cost savings, and efficiencies to aviation and beyond.
To learn more about Zulu Pods, visit https://www.zulupods.com/
To connect with Rob on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin...
2022-03-2210 min