The Case for Working in Defense Tech | In the Arena

In the first episode of In the Arena, Vannevar CEO Brett Granberg discusses what it really means to build technology for the national security mission.They discuss Brett’s personal path from consulting into defense, what led him to co-found Vannevar, and why working in public service can be both meaningful and urgent.The conversation explores:Why commercial tech doesn't always translate to defenseWhat motivated the founding of a new kind of defense tech companyHow Vannevar builds agentic AI and deployable tools for mission usersThe importance of public service in a representative democracyWhy the current geopolitical moment, especially competition with China, demands a new generation of engineering talentWhether you're an engineer curious about working in defense, a policymaker thinking about tech adoption, or someone just trying to understand this evolving space, this episode offers a candid look at the mindset and mission behind Vannevar.(00:00) - Introduction (00:29) - Starting in defense (02:21) - A message to defense skeptics (06:12) - Why now? (09:35) - How will defense tech change over the next decade? (13:09) - Misconceptions about defense tech (14:39) - Defense startups vs. big tech companies (16:06) - Defense startups vs. defense primes (18:45) - Why is deterrence important? (20:34) - What would surprise someone about Vannevar? Click here to watch a video of this episode.