BMNT

📍 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!

In 2016, 9th Air Force (AFCENT) relied on physical whiteboards and Excel spreadsheets to manage air operations against ISIS—spanning multiple continents. The stakes were high, and inefficiency was costly. When a billion-dollar contract failed to solve the problem, AFCENT turned to BMNT. The result? Kessel Run and a revolution in how the U.S. military approaches software development. Learn how agile problem-solving delivered unprecedented results:  💡 Saved $390M  💡 Cut human error in half  💡 Reduced planning time by 88% 🔗 Explore the Kessel Run story on our blog! #AgileDevelopment #MilitaryInnovation #MissionDriven

"The toughest part of solving a problem isn’t coming up with a solution—it’s making sure you’re focused on the right problem in the first place." In mission-driven entrepreneurship, it’s essential to build a strong focus on the problem—not just jump to a solution. Without that focus, we risk wasting resources on ideas that don’t actually address the issue and end up slowing us down. BMNT, Ltd. CEO, Ali Hawks, Ph.D., takes a deep dive into why truly understanding the problem is so challenging, but absolutely necessary when tackling complex government issues. 💬 What do you think makes it so difficult to explore problems thoroughly? 🔗 Check out the full post below! #Innovation #ProblemSolving #MissionDriven

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At BMNT, we believe innovation is more than just new technology an redefined processes—it’s about developing exceptional talent. Hacking for Defense® (H4D) connects students with defense leaders, creating a talent pipeline of problem-solvers ready to serve their nation. The program’s success lies in its ability to bring together diverse perspectives to solve complex problems. As William Treseder notes, “H4D offers a path for people who may not think about the military… [but who] have skills to tackle some of the Pentagon’s hardest problems.” Learn how #H4D is inspiring the next generation of patriotic #innovators: #NationalSecurity #TalentPipeline #PublicService #NextGenerationTalent

"An innovation doctrine serves as a 'Bill of Rights' for employees and partners." Daniel McCoy, BMNT’s Head of Business Development, reflects on his time as Transportation Security Administration (TSA)’s Chief Innovation Officer and highlights why every government agency needs an innovation doctrine: 🔑 Builds systems for consistent, organic innovation. 🔑 Provide tools, training, and technology to empower employees. 🔑 Foster a culture where creativity thrives, even during crises. 🎙️ Listen to his insights on The Daily Scoop Podcast to learn how an innovation-focused mindset can transform your organization. #InnovationCulture #LeadershipInsights #GovernmentAgencies

In an era of limited resources, partnerships are no longer optional—they’re essential. As our Entrepreneur in Residence, Sabra Horne explains, “Leveraging two or more sources of funding, brainpower, and agency capabilities allows us to achieve more.” From NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s collaboration with SpaceX to NATO’s support for Ukraine, successful partnerships are reshaping what’s possible in #governmentinnovation. 💡 But what makes a partnership truly effective? Sabra outlines a practical roadmap, emphasizing trust, shared goals, and strategic alignment to overcome obstacles and drive mission impact. Discover how to create partnerships that achieve results:

💡 Can NATO keep up in the race for defense innovation? Drones disabling tanks. AI reshaping warfare. The battlefield is evolving fast—and NATO’s €1 billion Innovation Fund is a bold move to empower defense startups and unlock private capital across Europe. But can it overcome the challenges of bureaucracy and a less-developed investment ecosystem? As BMNT’s Jason Knudson puts it, “Without the right investment ecosystem, small tech investments become science projects.” The stakes are high, and the potential is huge. What’s your take: can Europe rival the U.S. in shaping the future of defense tech? #DefenseInnovation #NATO #EmergingTech #BMNT #FutureOfWar