32. The Chance to Build Something Meaningful and Enduring with Benjamin Kohlman

In this episode, Brock talks with Ben Kohlman.

Ben is a former F18 pilot turned startup CEO after a few years working for Mckinsey. Ben led the Chief of Naval Operations Rapid Innovation Cell and is also the cofounder of the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum. In this episode we discuss the military from a startup lense and talk through some of the barriers to bringing innovation to today's battlefields. We talk about the founding of Defense Entrepreneurs Forum and the indicators you can look for when determining whether you have product market fit or not. Ben also talks about how he came to take over as CEO for the company now called Farcast, a company looking to deliver cargo from airplanes without landing. 

You can check out Ben and Farcast on the Farcast website. 

Resources:

Elon Musk's Master Plan for Tesla

Defense Entrepreneurs Forum

Farcast

Topics:

(01:58) - Why Ben started his podcast

(03:08) - What Ben is most proud of

(07:10) - "What government regulation would you repeal if you could take one away"

(17:58) - The military's product market fit

(26:28) - Taxpayer dollars to fund the military's 'product market fit'

(32:27) - Launching of Chief of Naval Operation Rapid Innovation Cell

(34:56) - 'The Military Needs More Disruptive Thinkers'

(43:25) - Military constraints on innovative leaders

(45:11) - Finding the most painful problem

(50:10) - Longevity as the missing key in military startups

(52:36) - Cofounding Defense Entrepreneurs Forum

(58:15) - Taking over Farcast

(01:07:10) - The Tesla Model

(01:13:15) - The business and pricing conversation at Farcast

(01:16:35) - Mentality taking over a business that isn't yours 

(01:22:45) - Finding product market fit

(01:28:37) - Riffing on product ideas

Whether you’re in the service for four years or twenty, you have learned skills, led teams, and learned what it takes to execute under pressure. While those past successes are valuable, they don’t always translate to a life or career when you get your DD214.

Join Brock in breaking down the skills and strategies current and former military members are using to build a successful careers on the outside the service.

Get a weekly episode breakdown, sneak peak of the next episode, and other resources in your inbox for free at https://scuttlebutt.substack.com/.

Follow along with us.
• Brock: @BrockHBriggs    
• Instagram: Scuttlebutt_Podcast  
• Send us an email: scuttlebuttpod1@gmail.com