As Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy proceed with their new Department of Government Efficiency under the incoming Trump administration, some are seeing it as an opportunity for smaller defense tech companies to forge new partnerships with the Department of Defense. While questions remain about how DOGE might affect these companies, it’s also a reminder that the world of defense tech can be a prosperous path for veterans seeking a place in business after their time in the military.
EdgeRunner AI co-founder and CEO Tyler Saltsman joins this week’s episode of Warrior Money to talk about these opportunities, and the work his own company is doing in the defense tech space.
Saltsman co-founded EdgeRunner AI after serving in the Army. The company develops generative AI technology for “the edge” — programs that can run locally on devices rather than relying on internet or cloud access, making them safer for military and defense teams to use. The company launched earlier this year with $5.5 million in seed funding.
Saltsman explains that AI technology offers the opportunity to standardize intelligence, and can serve as a tool for soldiers to consult in the field. “With that baseline intelligence, I think it allows us to be on the same page better,” he says.
However, an ongoing obstacle in defense tech is attracting investors willing to take risks. “I don’t have a traditional tech background like an AI founder typically does, with a PhD in computer science and all these accolades,” he says. “But in our world, you don’t need that sort of background. What you need to do is showcase you can lead, you can build a team, you have a vision, and that you can execute.
To Saltsman, those are all traits that are already instilled in people through the military. “I think as veterans, we’re wired that way,” he explains. “We’re thinking in reverse timelines. We’re thinking in ‘What problem are we solving’? We’re thinking ‘What is our mission’? And we’re thinking ‘What are the tools that we need to get there’? And that’s really how you run a business and how you build products.
“I would challenge veterans to get out there, have an idea, and go execute,” he adds.
Saltsman covers his own journey and the professional possibilities for fellow veterans in his conversation on Warrior Money.
Hosted by former Congressman Patrick Murphy and veteran investor Dan Kunze, Yahoo Finance’s Warrior Money is a weekly vodcast dedicated to uplifting military veterans transitioning into civilian life. Through insights from fellow veterans and high-ranking government officials, Murphy and Kunze are helping set vets up for success through financial education and inspiration.
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