Episode Description

Today on the show, Tyler is joined by the executive director at Silicon Valley Defense group, venture partner at Franklin Venture Partners and former defense innovation extraordinaire, Sam Gray. Sam has a diverse background as a Navy pilot, then working in the Pentagon with some of the most pressing innovation challenges and some of the most prominent leaders, and now navigates both the private capital and non-profit sectors of defense tech. In this episode, Tyler and Sam take a deep dive into raising capital: from what makes startups attractive to venture capitalists, to everything you should and should not expect from a dedicated and educated VC, and a whole lot more. You’re bound to learn a thing or two, so you’d better get a pen and paper handy. ‍‍

What’s Happening on the Second Front

• Assessing changes in the defense climate
• Common startup qualities that attract venture capitalists 
• Why it’s hard to sustain confidence in the government’s ability to scale tech
• Other measures of success aside from securing SBIR
• Life after defense tech: retirement goals 

Connect with Sam

• LinkedIn: Sam Gray

Connect with Tyler

• LinkedIn: Tyler Sweatt