This is the untold origin story of the Fury Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), as told by those who lived it.Scott Bledsoe and Joe Murray join Mike to talk about Fury’s very beginning—way back to 2016.Now known as Anduril’s YFQ-44 and in testing with the Air Force, the Fury unmanned fighter jet originated as an SBIR project from Blue Force Technologies and may go on to become a poster child of SBIR success stories. But it’s not all good news.The experience—and the decision to sell to Anduril—motivated Scott and Joe to start a new type of investment fund called the DoD Accelerator. DoD Accelerator bridges the gap between venture capital and private equity, addressing the ‘funding valley of death’ they faced and the factors that led to the decision to sell their company—and Fury—to Anduril.This is packed with never-before-revealed details and serves as the backdrop for a broader conversation about the realities of having a company in the defense industry and working with the U.S. military.
Summary
This video presents the untold origin story of the Fury Collaborative Combat Aircraft, featuring Scott Bledsoe and Joe Murray discussing the program's beginnings in 2016. Currently known as Anduril's YFQ-44 and undergoing testing with the Air Force, the unmanned fighter jet initially emerged as a Small Business Innovation Research project from Blue Force Technologies. The discussion highlights how this venture may serve as a model for SBIR success stories, though it also addresses significant challenges faced by defense industry companies.
The conversation explores the motivations behind selling the company and the aircraft to Anduril, which led founders to establish the DoD Accelerator investment fund. This new entity aims to bridge the gap between venture capital and private equity, specifically targeting the funding valley of death that often hinders startups in this sector. The dialogue provides context on the realities of operating within the defense industry and working with the U.S. military. While specific technical details remain sparse in the provided summary, the overview focuses on the business dynamics, funding strategies, and policy issues affecting small businesses in aerospace innovation.
Watch “The Real Origin Story of the Fury Unmanned Fighter Jet” on YouTube
