E58 – Dcode the Pentagon Buying Machine

What does it actually take to get new technology into thehands of warfighters—and why is it still so hard?

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.

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.

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.

If you’re trying to understand how defense actually getsbuilt, funded, and fielded—this is the inside baseball.

Links

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• Dcode website

• Dcode Capital portfolio

• Dcode LinkedIn

• Meagan Metzger LinkedIn

• Meg Vorland LinkedIn

• CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE podcast

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00:00

00:44 intro

01:19 Dcode origin story

04:55 founders, funders, and fighters

09:27 acquisition reform

12:32 risk vs the no-monster

15:58 buying speed vs rigor

16:44 contracting officer shortage

17:55 bigger worse contracts

21:04 defense catalyst

21:57 leadership and training

23:05 the bigger picture

25:33 budget line-item consolidation

28:16 pass a budget

30:41 investing in companies

36:05 misconceptions

38:28 colors and fallout

39:33 conflicts of interest

41:03 RAIC

41:30 300

42:12 pilot programs

46:42 fielding

47:29 magic wand

48:49 crystal ball

50:19 outro