Field of View (FOV) - June 2025

Comprised of experienced startup operators and former DoD, Approach Venture was formed to enable founding teams building the future of frontier technology to achieve their full potential.

Approach supports frontier technology startups across fundraise, business development, proposal writing and recruiting efforts as well as larger organizations with technology scouting, due diligence and market intelligence.

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EMERGING TRENDS

SCALING INTERCEPTORS FOR THE ERA OF SWARMS.

At the June 26 Pentagon briefing, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Caine detailed the DoD’s escalating efforts to counter the proliferation of low-cost, mass-produced missiles and drones deployed by near-peer adversaries. He underscored the pressing need to replenish U.S. interceptor inventories, pointing to recent naval operations in which stockpiles were nearly exhausted despite successful engagements. To meet this challenge, General Caine announced a suite of rapid acquisition initiatives aimed at accelerating the development and production of next-generation interceptors and directed energy systems, leveraging new authorities granted by Congress earlier this year. He also previewed expanded partnerships with allied nations to co-develop layered defense architectures across the Indo-Pacific and European theaters, alongside increased investments in resilient command-and-control networks to sustain operations under persistent attack. This marks a decisive shift toward scalable, distributed defense capabilities that can be produced and deployed at volume. Although there is a time and a place for exquisite systems, limited-quantity platforms on their own are no longer sufficient against adversaries manufacturing precision munitions at industrial scale.

We’d like to highlight and provide a special thank you to the two DTRA (Defense Threat Reduction Agency) gentlemen who dedicated 15 years of their lives studying the construction of Iran’s nuclear facilities and to all of our warfighters and experts who worked tirelessly with a single mission: keeping the world safe.

LOW-COST KINETIC PLATFORMS EMERGE FOR C-UAS.

Across multiple military branches, there is a clear shift toward acquiring affordable, rapidly-produced systems to counter the proliferation of mass-produced aerial threats. Leaders responsible for missile and space programs emphasized the urgent need for scalable interceptors capable of defeating large volumes of inexpensive drones and missiles while integrating seamlessly with established architectures like Patriot launchers and emerging Lower Tier Future Interceptor concepts. At the same time, commanders at the tactical edge are prioritizing lightweight, AI-enabled counter-drone solutions that autonomously detect and engage Group 1 and Group 3 threats using audio arrays and computer vision.

Small kinetic systems are quickly gaining traction as perimeter security and last-line defenses that deliver high kill probabilities with minimal collateral damage. Alongside these developments, laser and directed energy weapons are steadily rising in prominence as a complementary layer to intercept evolving offensive threats, although their cost and power requirements still limit widespread deployment. Collectively, these efforts reflect a broader trend: defense is moving away from exclusive reliance on exquisite, high-cost platforms and embracing adaptable, AI-driven, and scalable systems that can be fielded rapidly and produced in volume to keep pace with adversary innovation.

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TOP TALENT & JOBS

ALL JOB OPENINGS | RESUME DROP

HERE IS OUR LIST OF TIER I A&D INDUSTRY CANDIDATES.

DEEPFAKE THREAT TO STARTUP HIRING.

Approach is seeing a noticeable uptick in fake candidates, fabricated resumes, proxy interviewers, and AI-generated profiles crafted to slip past early hiring screens. Gartner estimates that by 2028, one in four job applicants could be fraudulent. This isn’t just a recruiting challenge, it’s a real security risk. For aerospace and defense startups working on sensitive systems, even a single malicious actor can put intellectual property, timelines, and funding at stake. In an already competitive hiring market, this trend adds another layer of complexity for founders and hiring managers.

Early teams are built to move fast, but that momentum can’t come at the expense of trust. When headcount is lean, it pays to invest in better verification without creating unnecessary red tape. Live ID checks, stronger screening questions, in-person meetings, and hands-on assessments can all help confirm who’s actually doing the work. As more companies adapt to remote and hybrid hiring, staying vigilant about candidate authenticity is becoming an essential part of building secure, resilient teams.

FEATURED JOB OPENINGS.

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TRACKED SOLICITATIONS

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ACTIVE.

UPCOMING.

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VENTURE UPDATE

GEODESIC LAUNCHES $250 MILLION ALLIANCE FUND FOCUSED ON US AND JAPAN.

Geodesic Capital has launched a new $250 million Geodesic Alliance Fund dedicated to backing early-stage U.S. startups developing AI, space, robotics, and cybersecurity technologies that strengthen the U.S. <> Japan security partnership. The fund is led by former U.S. ambassador to Japan John Roos, former In-Q-Tel investor Tom Gillespie, and former Canaan partner Rayfe Gaspar-Asaoka.

Key backers include the Japanese government and major corporations, giving startups unique access to regulatory and market channels in Japan. This move underscores growing investor interest in dual-use and defense technologies amid record venture funding in the sector.

FOUNDER TIP

BUILD A COMPELLING AND CALCULATED GTM STRATEGY EARLY.

If you’re launching an A&D startup, be sure to define a clear business development strategy before fundraising, ramping up hiring or moving into production. This includes pinpointing dual-use customers, end users and partners to ensure risk of any long-lead or critical components are mitigated and diversified.

Equally as important, ensure your product roadmap aligns with defense needs and priorities to secure clear champions. This disciplined approach signals to investors that you’re the right person to receive their capital and dominate your respective market. It will also instill confidence in your workforce in your ability to lead and drive the business in the direction.

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DID YOU KNOW?

APPROACH VENTURE OPERATES IN FOUR VERTICALS.

Our team supports startup founders across fundraise activity, business development, proposal writing & capture management as well as recruiting. Approach also supports larger commercial and government organizations with technology scouting and acts as a transition partner of innovative technologies critical to our nation’s security.

Link to Last Month’s Newsletter HERE.