In Part II of our interview with Jake Windle, we zoom out from battlefield innovation and into the bigger picture: how the defense ecosystem is evolving, and why venture capital is now a critical tool for national security.
Host Dan Magy and Jake explore what defines "Defense Tech 2.0," how bureaucratic gridlock stalls promising solutions, and why the military must rethink how it evaluates risk. Jake also shares advice for founders looking to work with the DoD and explains how Harpoon Ventures helps bridge the gap between operators and technologists.
This episode offers an honest look at what it takes to build and scale technologies that actually make it to the warfighter—from testing fields to acquisition halls.
Useful Links:
Jake Windle on LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-windle-2196b3109/)
Harpoon Ventures: https://harpoon.vc
BlueHalo: https://www.bluehalo.com
Book: MRAPs: Protecting Soldiers with Technology and Innovation – https://www.amazon.com/MRAPs-Protecting-Soldiers-Technology-Innovation/dp/0160943883
00:00 – Recap of Part I and introduction to Defense Tech 2.0
02:00 – What most defense startups get wrong
05:00 – Why good ideas die in acquisition: incentives, speed, and risk aversion
08:30 – The investor’s role in shaping battlefield innovation
12:00 – Aligning commercial tech with warfighter needs
15:30 – Breaking through DoD layers and making tech deployable
18:00 – Building trust between operators and founders
20:30 – Final thoughts on what’s next for defense innovation

About Drone Wars

Firestorm Studios brings you The Drone Wars Podcast, a show that explores all facets of autonomous systems - ground, air, and sea - and their transformative impact on various aspects of human life, from agriculture to warfare. We feature interviews with CEOs, founders, and C-suite executives from the world's leading autonomy and robotics companies.