The Outpost

“A Day in the Life of The Red Tape Enthusiasts” ?? Morning: 9:00 AM – Stand-up meeting… about scheduling more meetings. 10:30 AM – Bureaucratic stretching exercises (mostly red tape untangling). 11:00 AM – Coffee break while reviewing last year’s unapproved innovation proposals. ?? Lunch at The Office of Strategic Stalling Special today: A slow-cooked "New Tech Approval" stew—it takes 7-10 years to be ready. ?? Afternoon: 1:00 PM – PowerPoint Party! Theme: "Why We Need More Process Before Making Any Decisions." 3:00 PM – Email crafting workshop: How to say “Let’s revisit this next quarter” in 17 different ways. 4:30 PM – Committee Vote: Should we approve a study on whether we need another study? Spoiler: Decision postponed indefinitely. #ProudlyStagnant #SlowAndSerious #MeetingsBeforeAction

I Shouldn’t Be Here—But I Am. And That Changed Everything. My first real experience with dual-use technology was getting shot at in Afghanistan. I was on a routine flight out of an undisclosed airfield, climbing fast after the first turn. Then, the warnings started blaring. In an instant, the sky lit up like the Fourth of July—Taliban fighters on the ground had locked onto us with shoulder-launched missiles. In moments like that, your world shrinks. Your brain starts counting: One Mississippi. Two Mississippi. Three Mississippi. Either you’re still here, or you’re not. I’m still here. The reason? Laser technology. The technology on that aircraft that day saved my life. That same kind of technology is used in hospitals, in industry, in ways most people never think about. But in that moment, it wasn’t just some abstract innovation—it was the difference between making it home and not. That experience changed me. It made me realize how critical it is to get the best technology into the right hands, fast. It made me ask: How can we do this better? How can we bring life-saving innovations from the private sector into national security? How can we cut through the red tape and make an impact? Those questions led me to drive the creation of AFWERX. And they drive me now at The Outpost and Outpost Ventures. I believe we can bridge the gap between cutting-edge tech and the people who need it most. We can do good and make money. That means focusing on capital investment, building strong funding pathways, and ensuring that groundbreaking technologies don’t just remain ideas—they transition from concept to operational use where they can make a real impact That’s why I do what I do. Because I know—firsthand—that technology saves lives. #InnovationForImpact #TechSavesLives #DualUseTech #NationalSecurity #DefenseInnovation #StartupScaling #AFWERX #TheOutpost #FutureOfWarfare #VentureCapital #GovTech #MissionDriven

Our very best Keith Michel from The Outpost will be attending the Emerging Technology Demo Day today! This event does a great job showcasing the latest advancements in technology, offering folks an up close and personal glimpse into new cutting-edge innovations. If you're planning to attend and would like to connect with Keith, feel free to reach out to him at [email protected] to arrange a meet up. Happy hump day! #EmergingTech #TheOutpost #Innovation2025

Government Shake-Ups Are Creating Big Openings—Will You Be Ready? Policy shifts, budget cycles, and bureaucratic slowdowns can derail unprepared investors and entrepreneurs—but for those who know where to look, they create prime opportunities. Join Dave Harden (The Outpost and Outpost Ventures) & Craig Cummings (Moonshots Capital) for an unfiltered conversation on how to time investments, bypass red tape, and land federal contracts in today’s uncertain government landscape. ?? March 19, 2025 | 1:00 PM ET Registration link in Comment section below. Don’t just navigate the chaos—capitalize on it. #GovernmentInnovation #DefenseTech #StartupScaling #VCFunding #FederalContracts #TechInvestment #GovTech #TheOutpost

Luck is great—but speed, innovation, and smart strategy are even better! ?? This St. Patrick’s Day, we’re raising a glass (of Guinness or green juice—your call) to startups, dual-use tech, and bold innovators who aren’t waiting on luck to break into DoD contracts. The fastest path to the warfighter isn’t a rainbow—it’s leveraging OTAs, CSOs, and agile acquisition pathways to transition cutting-edge commercial tech into defense at speed. ?? At The Outpost, we help startups navigate the federal maze, because real innovation shouldn’t rely on four-leaf clovers. Want to make your own luck? Let’s talk - message us in the Comment section below. #StPatricksDay #SpeedToContract #Innovation #DualUseTech #DoDContracts

The Outpost just wrapped up an incredible few days at SXSW, and what an experience. The energy, the ideas, the people pushing boundaries and solving big problems—it’s exactly why we show up. We didn’t come for the predictable. We came for the possible. Conversations with bold entrepreneurs, game-changers, and technologists weren’t about what’s safe—they were about what’s next. And that’s where we thrive. At The Outpost, we live at the intersection of innovation and execution. Ideas alone don’t change the world—they have to be built, tested, and brought to life. If you’re working on something that could change the game, let’s talk. Let’s build. Let’s make it real. SXSW AFWERX Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) SDI EY Capital Factory OpenTeams Red Cell Partners 8VC Little Place Labs John Hrivnak Bryton P. Alex Moore Chase Eiserman Jonathan Oggiono Aniza Brown Linh Hoang Vijay Sekhara Jay Coats, PMP, LSSBB Keith Michel Ian Randall #SXSW #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #FutureFocused #TechForGood #BuildingTheFuture #PushingBoundaries #SolveBigProblems #AdaptAndThrive #TheOutpost #LetsBuild #Tech

No Need to Rush—The Enemy Isn’t Innovating Either, Right? They’ll wait for us to catch up. Outdated tech is basically a tradition. If it ain’t broke, let’s still not fix it. ?? Or we could start acting like the warfighter’s success depends on speed, because it does. #FallingBehindIsFine #TimeIsRelative #BreakTheMold

The Outpost Welcomes Dr. Randy "Laz" Gordon, Colonel (retired USAF), PhD” to its Advisory Council. The Outpost is honored to welcome Dr. Randy “Laz” Gordon as the newest member of our Advisory Council. With a distinguished career at the intersection of technology, defense, and leadership, Laz brings a wealth of experience that will help drive our mission forward. As the former Chief Executive Officer equivalent for the United States Air Force’s test development enterprise, Laz managed $13 billion in assets and led a workforce of over 11,500 professionals across eight states. He was a founding Managing Partner for the MIT Artificial Intelligence Technology Accelerator and played a key role in launching AFWERX, the Air Force’s innovation arm. His academic credentials include Harvard Business School, MIT Military Fellow, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Fellow, Presidential Leadership Fellow, and a PhD from the US Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS). He is also a graduate of the US Air Force Institute of Technology and the United States Air Force Academy. Laz’s deep expertise in AI, national security, and emerging technologies aligns perfectly with The Outpost’s mission to bridge the gap between cutting-edge innovation and real-world impact. We are excited to have him on board and look forward to his insights and leadership. Please join us in giving Laz a warm welcome! #TheOutpost #Leadership #Innovation #AI #NationalSecurity #EmergingTech #DefenseTech #TechnologyLeadership #PushingBoundaries #RealWorldImpact #BuildingTheFuture #AdvisoryCouncil #AFWERX #MIT #HarvardBusinessSchool #WelcomeLaz

The honor is all ours, Sean Luangrath! Congrats on your success! Inergy ADA Technologies, Inc. Gravitics Inc Analytical Scientific Products LLC EmergenceMed, LLC Wright Electric The Outpost

New Webinar Announcement: Investing in a Turbulent Government Environment Uncertainty in government markets can be a challenge—or an opportunity for those who know how to navigate it. Join Dave Harden (Outpost Ventures, The Outpost) and Craig Cummings (Moonshots Capital) for a deep dive into investing, scaling, and thriving amid government transitions. ?? When? March 19, 2025 | 1:00 PM ET What You’ll Learn: ? How to time your market entry with government funding cycles ? Why breakthrough tech often stalls—and how to push past bureaucratic roadblocks ? A real-world case study on Red 6 and how it leveraged federal funding to scale Startups, investors, and government-focused entrepreneurs—this is a must-attend! ?? Register now to secure your spot! Link in the Comment section below. #GovernmentContracting #TechStartups #VCInvesting #DualUseTech #SBIR #DefenseInnovation #StartupFunding #FederalProcurement #TheOutpost