Matt Bigge, partner at Crosslink Capital and former 10th Mountain Division infantry officer, shares his unique perspective as a venture capitalist, military veteran, and deep tech investor on the revolution happening in defense technology & how modern defense technologies are evolving to meet today's security challenges. His MIR framework—modular, interoperable, responsive—offers a blueprint for effective military innovation in an era where asymmetric threats and machine-speed warfare are becoming the norm.

• Using low-cost expendable systems like drones against expensive platforms as demonstrated in Ukraine
• Building defense tech that's modular (plug and play), interoperable (communicates across systems), and responsive (quick development cycles)
• Moving from human-speed to machine-speed operations through AI and automation
• Overcoming hollowed-out supply chains through innovations like X-Bow's 3D-printed rocket motors
• Partnering emerging defense tech startups with legacy prime contractors for mutual benefit
• Investing in "plausible science fiction" that may seem futuristic but has overcome core scientific challenges
• Using the F.I.R.E. framework (Fun, Interesting, Rewarding, Entrepreneurial) for career and investment decisions
• The value of leadership skills developed through military or team-based experiences
• Creating systems with "five nines" reliability when lives depend on your technology
• Understanding how to see the world through others' eyes to engage in mutually beneficial transactions

As Ukraine demonstrates the stunning effectiveness of low-cost drones against multi-million-dollar platforms, Matt explains why the future of warfare demands operating at machine speed rather than human speed, and how AI-powered automation is making this possible.

We dive deep into fascinating case studies from Matt's investment portfolio, including X-Bow's 3D-printed rocket motors that can be manufactured in shipping containers anywhere in the world, and DarkHive's drone swarms that deliver reconnaissance capabilities at a fraction of traditional costs. These innovations aren't just disrupting defense—they're addressing critical gaps in America's industrial base and creating new possibilities for battlefield responsiveness.

Throughout, he emphasizes why leadership—the ability to set and achieve goals in a team-based setting at an elite level—remains the most crucial trait in founders he backs.

Whether you're fascinated by defense technology, interested in the venture landscape, or simply curious about how innovation happens at the intersection of multiple disciplines, this episode offers rare insights from someone who has viewed these challenges from nearly every possible angle.


Matt Bigge: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigge/

Matt's been in Venture Capital for over 25 years – he's backed winners like Verodin (sold to FireEye), ArcSight (sold to HP), and CloudShield (sold to SAIC). He was even a founding investor and Chair of MeshNetworks, which Motorola snatched up. Before he was writing checks and building tech empires, he was serving our country as an Infantry officer in the 10th Mountain Division. Armed with degrees from Georgetown and Harvard Business School, and based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Matt's also deeply committed to giving back through The Honor Foundation, helping Special Operations veterans transition to civilian careers.

Website: https://www.position2.com/podcast/

Rajiv Parikh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajivparikh/

Sandeep Parikh: https://www.instagram.com/sandeepparikh/

Email us with any feedback for the show: spark@postion2.com

In this eye-opening conversation, join host Rajiv Parikh as he unveils Arena AI – their revolutionary platform that's transforming how marketing campaigns are planned, executed, and optimized. Sajjan Kanukolanu (VP of Global Operations) and Vikrant V.(CTO) walk us through how their team has embedded 20 years of marketing expertise into a system that combines project management, unified analytics, and AI agents that execute real marketing work.

• Arena includes project management specifically designed for marketing workflows
• The Calibrate interface provides unified dashboards pulling data from 130+ platforms
• RPA technology connects even to custom platforms without APIs
• AI co-pilot powered by multiple agents that execute specific marketing tasks
• Built on what Position Squared calls their "Growth Language Model"
• Platform incorporates 20 years of industry-specific marketing expertise
• System provides 95% accurate predictive analytics using LSTM neural networks
• Campaign strategies incorporate industry data and competitor analysis
• Human oversight remains crucial at decision points for optimal results
• AI agents work together to handle everything from ICPs to ad creation

The marketing technology landscape has exploded with specialized tools, leaving marketers buried under mountains of disconnected data and endless manual tasks. What if there was a way to harness artificial intelligence not just for insights, but to actually do the work?

The most fascinating aspect of Arena isn't just its ability to connect data from hundreds of platforms (even proprietary ones without APIs), but how it deploys specialized AI agents to handle specific marketing tasks. Unlike generic AI tools that provide broad recommendations, Arena's Growth Language Model understands the nuances of different industries and buyer personas, delivering highly targeted strategies that have historically driven results.

What makes this conversation particularly valuable is how openly the team discusses their journey from service provider to software company. Their practical approach demonstrates that effective AI implementation isn't about theoretical capabilities, but about solving real problems that marketers face daily.

Sajjan Kanukolanu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sajjank/

Sajjan serves as Vice President of Global Operations & Strategy at Position². He has experience as a digital marketing, growth & digital experience strategist and previously led strategy & growth at Ogilvy, & Wunderman. Sajjan is an AI Advisor and Speaker, having accepted a role on the AI Advisory Board at the University of San Francisco School of Management. He holds a Ph.D. in Marketing, an MBA, and an MS Electrical Engineering.

Vikrant V.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikrantv/

Vikrant V is the Chief Technology Officer at Position². Prior to his current role at Position², he served as Chief Technology Officer at TiLa from July 2020 to September 2023. Vikrant has led large ecommerce and analytics teams at Amazons and Moneyview, a fast growing fintech company. Vikrant holds an MS in Software Systems from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani.

Website: https://www.position2.com/podcast/

Rajiv Parikh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajivparikh/

Sandeep Parikh: https://www.instagram.com/sandeepparikh/

Email us with any feedback for the show: spark@postion2.com

Chandar Pattabhiram, marketing maestro and Chief Go-to-Market Officer at Workato, shares his expertise on the agentic economy and the revolutionary impact of AI on go-to-market strategies.

• The rise of AI agents brings productivity without pause, enabling organizations to shift from reactive to proactive approaches
• Current AI implementation remains largely experimental and edge-focused rather than addressing core business processes
• Workato's approach focuses on cross-functional processes versus siloed applications to prevent agent sprawl
• Traditional go-to-market principles still apply – win more, win bigger, win faster – but AI provides unprecedented efficiency
• Enterprise context is crucial for AI effectiveness – it's not just about LLMs but Enterprise Learning Models (ELMs)
• AI enhances storytelling capabilities but emotional connection remains essential – "heart to head, not head to heart"
• Success requires identifying your "onlyness" and selling to markets that value your unique differentiation
• Bring philosophies rather than playbooks when moving between companies
• Balance technical understanding with human connection – "CTFO: chill the F out"
• Life ultimately comes down to health, experiences, and relationships (H-E-R)

Ready to master go-to-market strategy in the AI era? Chandar Pattabhiram reveals the secrets behind scaling companies into billion-dollar powerhouses:

🤖 The Agentic Economy Unveiled
"It's reigning agents everywhere," Chandar declares as he breaks down how AI agents are revolutionizing business operations. We're only in "the bottom of the first inning" of this transformation, but the potential is mind-blowing. Learn how these intelligent agents eliminate productivity pauses and shift organizations from reactive to proactive across every function.

🎯 Beyond "Agent Sprawl" – The Process Revolution
Forget siloed thinking. Chandar reveals Workato's competitive edge: cross-functional process thinking. "Don't think functionally, think process. The process grows across systems." Discover why this approach is crucial as companies face "agent sprawl" – a problem he warns will be "1000X worse than application sprawl."

💡 Marketing Fundamentals That Still Matter
Even in our AI-driven world, emotional connection reigns supreme. "People think hard to head rather than head to heart," Chandar observes. Learn his philosophy of identifying your "onlyness" and positioning to markets that value your differentiation – essential wisdom for scaling companies.

🚀 Career Transformation Insights
From mechanical engineering to marketing visionary, Chandar shares his personal journey and life motto: "Health, Experiences, Relationships." His advice to aspiring leaders? "Bring philosophies, not playbooks" when transitioning between companies.

Chandar Pattabhiram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandarp

With over 25 years in strategic marketing, Chandar has been the Chief Marketing Officer at companies like Marketo and Coupa, helping grow Coupa from $150 million to nearly $1 billion in revenue. He's been recognized by LinkedIn as one of the top 5 CMOs in the world to follow and he gained these insights while cutting his teeth at some great companies: Accenture & IBM. Originally from Chennai, Chandar did his undergraduate at PSG College of Technology in India with a background in mechanical engineering, and went to the University of Texas for Business School.

Website: https://www.position2.com/podcast/

Rajiv Parikh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajivparikh/

Sandeep Parikh: https://www.instagram.com/sandeepparikh/

Email us with any feedback for the show: spark@postion2.com