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Here is a list of issues and discussion topics related to venture capital and technology. I am always looking for guest writers, links, reports, white papers, and other content related to these issues. I'd also like feedback on what issues you are dealing with that could be added to this list. Contact me to submit information.
- What emerging technologies are getting attention with VC investors or big defense companies? What is the next great technology in this sector?
- For experienced VC investors, have you witnessed a change in how the Government and agencies like CIA, NSA, DoD, etc interact with and engage the commercial sector? Are they more or less open than historically? Are they doing a good job working with the commercial sector in technology development?
- If you think the Government has been successful at leveraging the commercial sector to develop technologies, what examples of that success can you think of? What about Network Centric Warfare (C4ISR)?
- Does the Government benefit from 'narrow' technology development (i.e. deciding through internal R&D what technologies need to be developed and then communicating that to industry) or should the Government focus on adopting existing/emerging commercial technologies and adapting to their needs?
- Is the commercial sector better at technology development than the Government (i.e. Google vs DARPA)? Was the Government ever better at it? What has changed?
- How do you rate the effectiveness of Government VC and technology 'outreach' organizations like In-Q-Tel, DeVenCI, OnPoint, etc? Do they have a legitimate voice in the commercial sector?
- As an experienced VC, how important are Government/Defense customers to your portfolio companies? In advising your portfolio companies, do your encourage entrepreneurs to work with the Government or discourage it?
- What is the state of R&D and new technology development at the big defense firms? How would you rate their importance as technology buyers and/or developers? How are they perceived by commercial tech sector (Silicon Valley)?
- As major defense firms increasingly take on the role of 'lead systems integrators' for major programs, how does that alter their R&D or the importance of that R&D, if at all?
- Do the Government and the Defense industry have a PR problem? Are they winning or losing the competition for tech talent with Silicon Valley?
- Is there anything unique about the technology adoption cycle in the defense industry compared to the commercial sector (i.e. shorter/longer, more/less complex, more/less open, more/less narrow, etc)?
- Does the requirement for security clearances and general access/exchange of classified information hurt or help technology development in the Government/Defense market? For instance, some might argue that this slows development/adoption unnecessarily. The same technology that is classified at NSA is developed open source at Google. Is that true?
- Do VC's in the defense sector do anything differently in valuation methods (i.e. higher/lower hurdle rates) than with commercial technology companies? Anything unique about the due diligence process?