E58 – Dcode the Pentagon Buying Machine

<p>What does it actually take to get new technology into thehands of warfighters—and why is it still so hard?</p><p>In this episode, Mike sits down with the co-founders ofDcode, Meagan Metzger and Meg Vorland, to unpack the reality behind defense innovation, acquisition reform, and the flow of capital into the sector. </p><p>Dcode operates at a unique intersection—working withstartups, investors, and the Pentagon—giving them a rare, inside-out view of how the system really works.</p><p>We break down why most acquisition reform efforts fallshort, whether recent policy changes are hitting the right targets, and what conventional wisdom in defense innovation is simply wrong.</p><p>If you’re trying to understand how defense actually getsbuilt, funded, and fielded—this is the inside baseball.</p><p><br></p><p>Links</p><p>• Sign up for the <a href="https://www.themerge.co/">newsletter⁠</a>! </p><p>• Support us on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/the_merge">⁠Patreon⁠</a>! </p><p>• Dcode <a href="https://dcode.co/">website</a></p><p>• Dcode Capital <a href="https://dcodecapital.com/">portfolio</a></p><p>• Dcode <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/dcodethegov/">LinkedIn</a></p><p>• Meagan Metzger <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/meaganmetzger/">LinkedIn</a></p><p>• Meg Vorland <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganvorland/">LinkedIn</a></p><p>• CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE <a href="https://defensescoop.com/show/ctrl-alt-defense/">podcast</a></p><p><br></p><p>----</p><p> </p><p>Follow us on...</p><p>• <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge">LinkedIn</a></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter/">• Instagram⁠</a></p><p>• <a href="https://x.com/MergeNewsletter">⁠X⁠</a></p><p>• <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themergenews">⁠Facebook⁠</a></p><p>• <a href="https://www.themerge.co/">⁠Website⁠</a> </p><p><br></p><p>----</p><p> </p><p>00:00</p><p>00:44 intro</p><p>01:19 Dcode origin story</p><p>04:55 founders, funders, and fighters</p><p>09:27 acquisition reform</p><p>12:32 risk vs the no-monster</p><p>15:58 buying speed vs rigor</p><p>16:44 contracting officer shortage</p><p>17:55 bigger worse contracts</p><p>21:04 defense catalyst</p><p>21:57 leadership and training</p><p>23:05 the bigger picture</p><p>25:33 budget line-item consolidation</p><p>28:16 pass a budget</p><p>30:41 investing in companies</p><p>36:05 misconceptions</p><p>38:28 colors and fallout</p><p>39:33 conflicts of interest</p><p>41:03 RAIC</p><p>41:30 300</p><p>42:12 pilot programs</p><p>46:42 fielding</p><p>47:29 magic wand</p><p>48:49 crystal ball</p><p>50:19 outro</p>