The world is more volatile and unforgiving than ever—cyber warfare, autonomous weapons, and AI-driven conflict have transformed the battlefield into a relentless arena of power and precision. In this new era, software isn’t just a tool—it’s the heartbeat of every advanced defense system, and with hardware becoming cheaper and faster to build, the window for innovation has blown wide open. Just like the Cold War ignited a surge of game-changing tech, today’s startups have a rare shot to dominate by aligning with government needs. But to win this race, Silicon Valley must rediscover its roots in national security and lead the charge where the stakes couldn’t be higher.