In today’s world, the battlefield extends far beyond war zones—it’s embedded in our tech stacks, supply chains, and airspace security systems. So who better to solve these modern challenges than those who’ve served on the front lines? Recorded live at the third annual American Dynamism Summit in Washington D.C., this episode features a16z’s Matt Shortal—a veteran himself—moderating a conversation with three founders who transitioned from military service to building cutting-edge defense startups: John Doyle, founder & CEO of Cape David Tuttle, cofounder & CEO of Rune Grant Jordan, founder & CEO of SkySafe The panel covers their journeys from service to startups, how their time in uniform shaped what they chose to build, and whether veterans should go straight into entrepreneurship—or stop first at places like Palantir or Anduril. They also discuss how Ukraine changed the game, how dual-use tech is shifting the innovation landscape, and how to instill trust and culture in mission-driven companies. The big question: how do we win the next war—the asymmetric, fast-moving, tech-enabled kind—and build the industrial base we need to do it? Timecodes: 00:00: Introduction 00:31: Personal Stories: Joining the Service and Building Companies 04:36: Challenges and Opportunities in Military Logistics 05:43: The Impact of Drones on Modern Warfare 07:29: Lessons from Ukraine: Adapting to New Threats 14:52: Building a Startup Culture: Lessons from the Military 19:00: Balancing Dual-Use Technology and Company Values 23:42: Market Gaps for Startups and Innovation 26:27: Asymmetric Capabilities in Modern Warfare 28:01: Rapid Prototyping and Government Efficiency 32:33: Building Trust and Cohesion in Companies 36:39: Returning to Military Service Resources: See more from The American Dynamism Summit 2025: www. a16z.com/american-dynamism-summit Find John of LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-doyle-48633227/ Find David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidtuttle1/ Find Grant on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantjordansd/ Find Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-shortal/ Stay Updated: Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.