DoD Contracting for Startups 101

An ideal DOD startup would be a custom JavaScript application shop. I don’t mean some React SPA nonsense but actual original applications that solve actual business problems beyond merely writing text to screen. If the applications are small and portable they can be easily transferred to places like SIPR and JWICS as almost no cost. There is tremendous value in that that pays for itself immediately and saves the government at scale.

The DOD operates on approved software lists which forbid installing applications outside a dedicated internal application store. There are also strict patch management policies for installed applications. JavaScript that executes in the browser bypasses that limitation entirely, and Node is in many approved software lists now.

Additionally, one of the greatest challenges to growing software teams in the defense space is hiring. You can’t just hire some kid fresh out of school who pretends to program with some framework. They typically require a security clearance, security certifications, and planning capabilities that are absent in the civilian employment. This automatically means you have to start with higher caliber candidates.

Why would any startup enter this space? Honest question. There are so many business in this space coupled with cyclic funding cycles. Seems like a bad market to invest in.