Field of View (FOV) - March 2025

Early-Stage Aerospace & Defense Newsletter.

Author

Approach Venture
April 14, 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 with business development, proposal writing and recruiting as well as larger organizations with technology scouting, due diligence and market intelligence.

CONTACT APPROACH to learn more. Follow us on LINKEDIN.

EXECUTIVE ORDER AIMS TO MODERNIZE DEFENSE ACQUISITIONS.

In a significant move to streamline defense procurement, President Trump has signed an Executive Order (EO) directing the Department of Defense (DoD) to overhaul its acquisition process. The initiative emphasizes faster, more flexible contracting with a clear preference for commercial solutions. It also calls for cutting redundant tasks, centralizing decision-making, and eliminating outdated internal regulations that slow down execution.

As part of the reform, the DoD will reorient how it evaluates acquisition personnel—rewarding efficiency, innovation, and calculated risk-taking. All Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs) will undergo review, and those that are more than 15% over budget or behind schedule could face cancellation. The order represents a broader push to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base by fostering agility and innovation across the acquisition landscape. Additionally, the EO incorporates the Adaptive Acquisition Framework, allowing acquisition processes to be tailored to specific program needs instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all model. By streamlining approvals and centralizing decisions, the reforms aim to accelerate timelines and lower compliance barriers for smaller and non-traditional contractors.

TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS AND CIVILIANS LOOK TO JOIN STARTUPS.

The Deferred Resignation Program is creating a new dynamic in the national security innovation ecosystem by enabling highly skilled DoD personnel to plan transitions into the private sector. For venture capitalists and investors, this signals a valuable influx of experienced operators who understand DoD missions, acquisition pathways, and end-user needs. Many of these individuals are already being recruited by venture-backed startups with strong dual-use potential. For government leaders, this trend underscores the urgency of retaining top talent and providing clear career pathways within innovation units.

The deferred nature of these resignations offers a unique window for thoughtful transition planning and cross-sector collaboration. However, it also highlights the need for strong ethics guidance and transparent engagement between departing personnel and industry. If managed well, this movement has the ability to strengthen the bridge between government and startups, ultimately accelerating the delivery of cutting-edge capabilities to the warfighter.

A CALL FOR PATIENCE & PARTNERSHIP.

In recent months, the DoD has come under intense scrutiny regarding its allocation of resources, prompting increased oversight and internal restructuring. As result, many DoD personnel are participating in the Deferred Resignation Program, creating gaps in continuity and slowing response times. Industry partners may be feeling the effects through delayed communications, programmatic delays and mounting frustrations.

It’s important to recognize that these disruptions are not the fault of the individuals involved, who are operating under immense pressure and shifting priorities. Now more than ever, this is an opportunity for industry to offer patience and understanding—while avoiding the temptation to apply additional pressure under the misconception that this will expedite the DoD stakeholder’s internal process to advance relationships with industry.

INCREASED EFFICIENCY & AUTOMATION OF ROLES.

The DoD is accelerating the adoption of automation and AI to enhance efficiency across defense, public services, and infrastructure. Defense agencies are increasingly investing in software-enabled hardware and autonomous systems signaling a growing reliance on technology to augment warfighting capabilities. On the civilian side, agencies are using robotic process automation (RPA) to streamline back-office functions like claims processing, HR, and financial management. AI tools are also being tested for federal procurement—automating tasks like market research, RFP generation, and even vendor selection (might be a good thing to streamline the reviewer process since relationships are often times what ends up getting companies funded).

These shifts are creating significant opportunities for startups developing enterprise automation, LLMs and mission-critical AI. For investors and founders, this trend reflects a potential market signal if initiatives are successful: the DoD may no longer be just a customer or end user but also a willing partner in technology modernization. For government leaders, it underscores the need to engage with private-sector innovation while managing workforce transitions responsibly.

TALENT & JOBS

HERE is our list of active, Tier I industry talent actively seeking a new mission.

DOD SOFTWARE TALENT SURGE.

The DoD is moving to strengthen its software capabilities, launching targeted training programs and actively recruiting engineers from industry and academia. Through specialized learning tracks that combine digital coursework with hands-on experience, the goal is to quickly build a workforce fluent in modern software practices. The department also uses flexible hiring pathways by bringing in temporary industry experts, reservists, and special appointments to inject commercial thinking and technical expertise directly into defense programs.

For A&D startups, this talent push brings both opportunity and competition. As the government becomes more aggressive in hiring software talent, startups will feel the pressure. However, founders who lean into collaboration and position their companies as agile, mission-driven partners at the intersection of commercial innovation and national security will stand out. The teams that clearly communicate their unique value by offering impact, growth, and the chance to build meaningful technology will be best positioned to attract top-tier talent eager to shape the future of defense and deep tech.

FEATURED JOB OPENINGS.

SOFTWARE ENGINEER: Join a fast-growing Series A startup revolutionizing how deep-tech hardware teams harness telemetry, where you’ll help shape a powerful platform delivering real-time insights from mission-critical data, enabling space and defense companies to move faster, smarter, and with greater confidence.

  • Location: Los Angeles, CA (hybrid)

SENIOR PROCESS ENGINEER: Join a leader in aerospace sensor tech where your wafer process expertise will power the next generation of infrared, LIDAR, and optoelectronic systems, where you’ll own complex III-V semiconductor fabrication processes that enable high-reliability sensing technologies critical to U.S. security and aerospace dominance.

  • Location: Camarillo, CA (onsite)

DATA ENGINEER: Join a fast-growing defense startup where you’ll architect high-performance systems that transform raw data into mission-critical intelligence, helping some of the world’s most advanced machines move from prototype to orbit.

  • Location: El Segundo, CA (hybrid)

TRACKED SOLICITATIONS

ACTIVE.

  • The AFWERX 25.6 SBIR Open Topic Direct to Phase II (D2P2) solicitation is opening soon. To submit a proposal, startups must have an executed Customer Memorandum containing signatures from a DAF Customer, End User and Technical Point of Contact (TPOC). More information can be found on the AFWERX Open Topic page

    • Award Totals: $1.25mm SBIR

    • Solicitation Open: May 7, 2025

    • Submission Deadline: June 5, 2025

  • Several pre-released topics for the DoD SBIR/STTR 2025.4 and 2025.D Release 7 were announced on April 2. The extensive list of topics include AI/ML tools, Golden Dome, remote sensing, UAS detection and swarming, and many more.

    • Solicitation Open: April 23, 2025

    • Submission Deadline: May 21, 2025

  • The Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office has released an RFI in sam.gov calling for white papers that provide processes for Qualification of Additive Manufacturing Vendors for Airworthiness Parts

    • Submission Deadline: April 22, 2025

  • The Space Development Agency has released an RFI in sam.gov to recompete 10 Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Gamma (γ) Variant Space Vehicles

    • Submission Deadline: April 22, 2025

  • The Navy released an RFI in sam.gov targeting technologies that are TRL 5+ to collect energy, kinetic, capture and entanglement or electronic attack defeat capabilities in support of Counter Uncrewed Systems (C-UXS). Submissions will be reviewed for potential inclusion in future test events, demonstrations, and continuous monitoring of the C-UXS market

    • Submission Deadline: April 30, 2025

  • The Naval Postgraduate School is accepting proposals to participate in Joint Interagency Field Experimentation (JIFX) 25-4 at Camp Roberts. JIFX 25-4 will be August 11-15with a focus on Human Machine Integration. All JIFX experiments are self-funded by technologists

    • JIFX 25-4 Submission Deadline: June 5, 2025

UPCOMING.

  • The next SpaceWERX Orbital Prime solicitation is planned to be released Q2 2025 - more to follow as its focus is announced publicly

  • AFWERX announced their upcoming Manufacturing Challenge, which will include funded opportunities focused on building resilient domestic supply chains and revolutionizing defense manufacturing. Teams can register here to be kept in the loop

  • The FY26 Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) selection cycle will open in May 2025. APFIT provides $10-$50mm of procurement funding for innovative projects that have completed development and are ready to transition into operational use

VENTURE UPDATE

  • HQ: Washington, DC

  • Founded: 2020

  • Fund III Size: $300mm

  • Close Timing: March 2025

  • Investment Thesis: Manufacturing, logistics, mobility, critical infrastructure, and defense

FOUNDER TIP

LOBBYING IS A DOWN RANGE EFFORT.

Our team has received several inbounds from Pre-Seed to Seed stage founders since January 2025 seeking support for lobbying efforts on the Hill—not only is lobbying resource-intensive and expensive, now is also not the time to be focused on shaping policy this early in your lifecycle. Most lobbying efforts are aimed at shaping policy, budgets, or programmatic direction—processes that take years and rely on established relationships, sustained funding, high TRL solutions to point to and market credibility. Early-stage founders must focus on building product-market fit, proving technical feasibility, and securing non-dilutive funding or revenue-generating pilots.

Additionally, lobbying lacks a guaranteed return. Without a deployable solution or operational track record, startups rarely have enough influence to move the needle in DC or sway procurement priorities. A more effective strategy in the first 2-3 years of building a startup is to raise effectively and leverage non-dilutive funding opportunities (i.e. SBIR/STTR, DIU, DARPA, APFIT, AFWERX / SpaceWERX, Primes with IRAD budget, etc.) to buy down NRE and risk.

DID YOU KNOW?

APPROACH VENTURE IS HIRING.

Our team is hiring strong startup operators with business development and proposal writing experience to support some of the top A&D founders building technologies critical for our nation’s security.

Contact [email protected] with your resume if you’re looking to grow both personally and professionally.

Link to Last Month’s Newsletter HERE.