Brian Streem on Building a Startup in Ukraine

08/27/24 • 27 min

Brian Streem joins Patrick Blumenthal (@PatrickJBlum) to discuss building his startup in Ukraine and his thoughts on the conflict. Some highlights:

Brian's company Vermeer and its vision-based navigation system for GPS-denied environments
Brian's journey from film production and drone cinematography to defense technology
The impact of Russian electronic warfare on GPS-dependent systems
Why Brian decided to move to Ukraine to work on the ground
The challenges and opportunities of developing defense technology in an active war zone
Differences between US and Ukrainian defense tech entrepreneurs
The balance between innovation and immediate battlefield needs in Ukraine
Brian's perspective on the importance of the Ukraine conflict and its global implications

Brian Streem joins Patrick Blumenthal (@PatrickJBlum) to discuss building his startup in Ukraine and his thoughts on the conflict. Some highlights:

Brian's company Vermeer and its vision-based navigation system for GPS-denied environments
Brian's journey from film production and drone cinematography to defense technology
The impact of Russian electronic warfare on GPS-dependent systems
Why Brian decided to move to Ukraine to work on the ground
The challenges and opportunities of developing defense technology in an active war zone
Differences between US and Ukrainian defense tech entrepreneurs
The balance between innovation and immediate battlefield needs in Ukraine
Brian's perspective on the importance of the Ukraine conflict and its global implications

Previous Episode

Marian Tupy on Superabundance, Innovation, and Doomerism

Marian Tupy (@Marian_L_Tupy) joins Patrick Blumenthal (@PatrickJBlum) to discuss his book Superabundance, innovation, doomerism, and much more. Some highlights:

Do we already live in an Age of Superabundance?
Are the values of the Enlightenment getting stronger or weaker?
Why do we still have so many dormers?
Why is doomerism seemingly so embraced by elites?
The power of Malthusian ideas
Is underpopulation an existential risk?
Can technology save us from underpopulation?
What causes resource curses?
Will we have civilizational collapses in our lifetime?
How fragile is the world today?
Are we actually in a Great Stagnation?
The usefulness of Time Prices
Should we pause AI?
Which countries is Marian bullish/bearish on?

Next Episode

Corporal Dmytro on Serving on the Frontlines of Ukraine

Corporal Dmytro joins New Frontier to discuss his experiences in the Ukrainian military and the ongoing conflict with Russia. Some highlights:

Firsthand account of the Russian invasion's early days and the chaos of initial combat operations
Evolution of the conflict from early artillery dominance to drone warfare and trench combat
Comparison of Ukrainian and Russian military capabilities and adaptations over time
Impact of Western aid on Ukraine's defensive capabilities and morale
Realities of frontline combat, including the constant threat of artillery and drone strikes
Challenges of fighting against numerically superior Russian forces
Shift in global perception of the conflict's duration and Ukraine's resilience
Critical role of continued Western financial and military support