Under Secretary of War Jules Hurst appreciated the opportunity to join @ycombinator's Startup Industrial Base: Building for the next 250. He highlighted how greater budget transparency and timely execution data can help the @DeptofWar, Congress, and industry better align resources with priorities, thus moving proven capabilities to the warfighter faster. He also advised innovators to solve real problems, understand the acquisition path, and demonstrate to the Department they can deliver at scale. "Having the users like your products is incredibly necessary," Hon. Hurst said. "But it's the program offices and the [portfolio acquisition executives, or] PAEs who really have the power to make you successful. You have to provide the solution to them. "Again, they’ve made their budget. They made it a year and a half ago. They've made a plan to execute that budget. So anything you're bringing in is, at times, disruptive to them if they have an established program. So you've got to figure out how you can fit in.”