BMNT

We keep telling ourselves that better tech is the answer to our innovation challenges. But that's a lie. 🤥 There's much more to driving impactful change than chasing shiny objects. #innovationoperations

AI isn’t here to replace people—it’s here to cut the busywork so employees can focus on real problem-solving. BMNT CEO Peter Newell and BMNT, Ltd. CEO Ali Hawks, Ph.D., shares simple, practical ways to bring AI into government work. 💡 Key takeaways: 🔹 Start Small, Make a Big Impact: Use AI for time-consuming tasks like sorting old data so people can focus on important decisions. 🔹 Learn from the Private Sector: Companies have already figured out smart ways to use AI—government can adapt these solutions. 🔹 Invest in Your Team: The money saved with AI should go toward training employees so they feel confident using new tools. 🔹 Keep It Flexible: AI is always evolving, so choose solutions that can grow and change instead of getting stuck with outdated tech. #AIforGov #GovernmentInnovation #SmarterWork #MissionDriven #AI

AI & space innovators—this is your chance! On April 8 in Colorado Springs, pitch your AI solutions to NASA execs for the SBIR Ignite program and connect with industry leaders at an intimate networking social from 10:30 AM–12:30 PM (MT) to spark ideas and connections. 📅 Apply to pitch by March 19—spots are limited! 🔹 Apply to Pitch: https://lnkd.in/ekbeKmxM 🔹 Register for Networking: https://lu.ma/l4lg8tmf #AI #Space #SBIRIgnite #Startups #NASA #Networking

Ingenuity Wins Wars—Not Just Innovation Technology alone doesn’t guarantee success. The real advantage? People who think fast, adapt, and solve problems on the fly. BMNT CEO Peter Newell joined the Defense Mavericks podcast to break down why ingenuity—not just new tech—drives real progress. 🔥 Key takeaways: 🚀 Break the Red Tape: Bureaucracy slows solutions. Empower problem-solvers. ⚡ Speed Over Perfection: The best solutions come from those closest to the problem. 🔧 Action Beats Ideas: Stop the “innovation theater” cycle—deliver results, not buzzwords. #Ingenuity #ProblemSolving #DefenseTech #MissionDriven

The Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense - Material Readiness Division DASD(MR) with help from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), is working on a game changing effort to break through one of the biggest roadblocks preventing our military from rapidly adopting cutting-edge advanced manufacturing technology: the slow and redundant Authorization to Operate (ATO) process. 🚧 The Challenge: The current ATO process prevents warfighters from accessing advanced hardware solutions like 3D printers and robots when they need them the most. Right now it takes 18+ months and costs over $1 million per approval. In addition, DoD services often require multiple ATOs for the same hardware, leading to: ❌ Unnecessary duplication  ❌ Wasted resources ❌ Delays in fielding mission-critical technology 💡 The Solution: Stephen McKee, the Director of Maintenance Technologies at DASD(MR) with the help of BMNT (Tim Donoghue, PMP, Joseph May, Isaiah Lewis, B. Anders Ericsson, Sam Peterson, Andrew Wilson) has validated a streamlined ATO framework and brought in DLA (Adam Price), and DIU (Travis DeMeester) to advance the development of an Approved Product Library (APL) for advanced manufacturing hardware designed to enable reciprocity across the DoD and eliminate redundant ATOs. By reducing approval times and eliminating duplicative efforts, the DoD can: 🔹 Field mission-critical manufacturing technologies faster 🔹 Eliminate unnecessary costs 🔹 Increase interoperability and collaboration between military services Faster approvals mean faster innovation, stronger supply chain resilience, and a more agile defense force equipped with state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities. A huge shoutout to Chris Ghigliotti, Stoney Middleton, Boniface McGhee, Maurice Swinton, David Koch, Catrina Murphy, and Thomas Clapper for their invaluable support on this effort. #Innovation #DoD #AdvancedManufacturing #NationalSecurity #ManufacturingHardware

Successfully exiting a startup in the government sector comes with unique hurdles. Unlike the commercial world, navigating acquisitions in defense and national security requires a deep understanding of valuations, compliance, and long-term strategy. At BMNT Ventures’ last Naval Private Capital Bootcamp, experts from Lockheed Martin Ventures, America’s Frontier Fund, and Med Tech Consulting Partners unpacked what it takes to position your company for a smooth exit. 💡 Key insights for founders: 🔹 Profit Over Hype: Gov buyers want financial stability, not just fast growth. 🔹 Regulations Matter: ITAR, security clearances—plan for them early. 🔹 Pick the Right Investors: Experience in government markets can make or break your exit. 🔹 Network Now: Strong relationships ease due diligence later. Want to dive deeper? Check out the full discussion on our blog. Ellen M. Chang, Anushka Prasad, Chris Moran, Steve Weinstein, Jaime Tenedorio, Ph.D., Serdar Turac, Ph.D. #BMNTVentures #DefenseStartups #GovTech #NationalSecurity #StartupStrategy

In war, delay equals loss. In Afghanistan, 5,000 soldiers paid the price because our response was too slow—28 months to adapt while the Taliban took only 8. Today, in Ukraine and elsewhere, we're seeing the pace of adaptation in warfare only accelerating. Fixing this requires us to evolve our approach to military innovation and adaptation. This means rethinking traditional structures and processes, embracing a more agile and decentralized approach to problem-solving, and fostering a culture that values anticipation and rapid response to change.  🔗 Read more below. #DefenseInnovation #NationalSecurity #Warfare #MilitaryStrategy

📍 Afghanistan, 2010: Soldiers on the battlefield were untraceable the moment they stepped away from a vehicle, putting them at risk of friendly fire. The US Army had been working on a solution for over a decade with a $1.5B budget. Under Peter Newell’s leadership, the Rapid Equipping Force (REF) solved it in less than a year for $5M. The secret? A simple cable that connected Android phones to military radios. 💡 Lessons we still apply today: 🔹 Talk to the people experiencing the problem firsthand 🔹 Leverage commercial tech instead of reinventing the wheel 🔹 Move fast when lives are on the line This is how real #innovation happens in defense. #LessonsFromREF #DefenseInnovation #Leadership

Today on #NatSecTech, Sabra Horne, Entrepreneur in Residence at BMNT, joins host Jeanne Meserve for a discussion on the challenges and opportunities of innovation within the government and how to foster a culture of innovation. 🎧 You can listen to podcast here: https://lnkd.in/e3eVBZvR 🎙️ Make sure to subscribe to our Substack to stay up to date on all upcoming NatSecTech podcasts! https://lnkd.in/ecEmztd7

"The biggest obstacle to innovation in government? Culture." – Sabra Horne BMNT's Entrepreneur in Residence, Sabra Horne, recently joined Jeanne Meserve on the NatSec Tech podcast to discuss why government agencies must prioritize innovation—not just in technology, but in policies, strategies, and processes. She breaks down how agencies can adopt a startup mindset, take smarter risks, and drive mission impact faster. Special Competitive Studies Project - SCSP 🔊 Listen to the full episode below!