Defence Startup Ideation

[hhour48]

I have an opportunity to pitch for a spot at a startup incubator cohort early 2023.

Even though I spent the last decade or so in direct-to-consumer products and services marketing, but after reading the news this year, plus the discussions in this forum, and the Ukraine thread: (ie. Ukraine - Superthread) I had a crazy idea of pivoting into something Defence-related, which would be outside of my "comfort zone" but if I could help solve a painful problem for the defence community, it would be amazing.

Right now I don't have any specific ideas, though, but from what I have read on the NATO Innovation Fund focus, and a few other VC's opinions, the focus is mostly on "dual-use technologies" (something that would be applicable to both civ and mil applications).

If you were launching such a startup, what would be some of the big painful problems that exist (or arose in light of the current war) that you would work on solving with dual-use tech, and something that civi investors would get excited enough about to want to get behind it?

 

[Navy_Pete]

The amount of government bureaucracy is absolutely astounding, and very different between countries, so you almost need specialists for each country. The bureaucracy kicks in at pretty low dollar values so a lot of companies refuse to even bother with it and will only use a reseller or act as a subcontractor.

With almost 20 years in, and about half of that doing 3rd line support where I deal with contracts/procurements all the time, I think I would focus on the commercial market. Generally it's bigger (unless you have a specific defence application) and easier to navigate. And the dual use products are usually picked because they are proven commercially, and may or may not even need any kind of hardening etc to be used for the military for the exact same purpose.

If you are interested in finding/developing a project and interested in Govermnet work, there's a program for that; it applies to all departments, including DND, and working with a company on that program at the moment. The really big thing is if you get into the program it comes with a supply arrangement contract so departments can do 'buy and tries' which is a huge hurdle.

Innovative Solutions Canada - Home

 

[hhour48]

Thank you for your insights, this is helpful.

I don't think I'm going to go down the physical product route (although i have been doing that in the consumer space for the last 6 years or so). I'm leaning more towards the SaaS/AI maybe.

Talking of dual-purpose solutions, prior to starting my own business I spent 6 years in mining inbound supply chain and logistics, so for example one crazy idea i had recently was, how it's becoming challenging to establish ammo depots within range of the enemy long-range systems, so perhaps developing something similar to the SCM LTL JIT shipping algorithm to get just the right amount of ammo just in time for the fire mission to the exact location. Here's just one wild idea

 

[daftandbarmy]

Thank you for your insights, this is helpful.

I don't think I'm going to go down the physical product route (although i have been doing that in the consumer space for the last 6 years or so). I'm leaning more towards the SaaS/AI maybe.

Talking of dual-purpose solutions, prior to starting my own business I spent 6 years in mining inbound supply chain and logistics, so for example one crazy idea i had recently was, how it's becoming challenging to establish ammo depots within range of the enemy long-range systems, so perhaps developing something similar to the SCM LTL JIT shipping algorithm to get just the right amount of ammo just in time for the fire mission to the exact location. Here's just one wild idea

Dude... an algorithm would be exponentially more difficult to sell to them than a new and improved spork, or something like that.

Just leave DND alone in the wonderfully terrifying mess of its own making and back away slowly, don't show fear, or I can foresee much 'forehead against the wall banging' in your future.

 

[Spencer100]

Dude... an algorithm would be exponentially more difficult to sell to them than a new and improved spork, or something like that.

Just leave DND alone in the wonderfully terrifying mess of its own making and back away slowly, don't show fear, or I can foresee much 'forehead against the wall banging' in your future.

wow....where do I start. Getting government work is hard even if the RFQ is for supply of Thingabob's. And you are the only supplier of Thingabobs. New ideas from a start up into the CDN DND......Jedi mind tricks would be easier.

 

[hhour48]

Well, the good thig, that it doesn't have to be DND - whole of NATO is on a spending spree and they pledged to invest something like 19 Billion on innovation projects - so if the problem being solved is painful enough, someone should raise their hand up.
And if it's dual-use, then even better.
But the key is identifying that problem first; product-market-fit comes next

 

[KevinB]

Generally Innovation in DoD Terms means a CRADA / National Lab JV with industry.

Few new companies are going to get in the door, unless they bring something really impressive to the table, and at that point one of the big boys is going to try to buy them up.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Well, the good thig, that it doesn't have to be DND - whole of NATO is on a spending spree and they pledged to invest something like 19 Billion on innovation projects that will be handed out directly to their political supporters and other Liberal Party lickspittle idealogues - so if the problem being solved is painful enough, someone should raise their hand up.
And if it's dual-use, then even better.
But the key is identifying that problem first; product-market-fit comes next

There, FTFY