E423: Castelion CEO on Elon Musk, Hypersonic Missiles & the Future of Defense
David sits down with Bryon Hargis, co-founder of Castelion, to unpack why rebuilding America’s defense manufacturing capacity has become a national security imperative. Bryon explains why decades of consolidation and outsourcing weakened the defense industrial base, why America could struggle against an adversary with significantly greater manufacturing capacity, and why Castelion is betting that deterrence ultimately requires weapons that can be produced affordably by the thousands.
Highlights:
- Why America’s defense problem is increasingly a manufacturing problem.
- How the defense industry’s “Last Supper” reshaped the industrial base.
- What Bryon learned about speed and iteration at SpaceX.
- Why “the best part is no part” is more than an Elon Musk catchphrase.
- Why Castelion combines product and sales instead of separating them.
- How mission-driven hiring helps protect culture as a startup scales.
- Why Bryon left SpaceX even when defense hardware was considered nearly uninvestable.
- How Castelion survived almost 100 VC rejections.
- Why one major investor can completely change a startup’s access to capital.
- Inside Castelion’s plan to manufacture hypersonic weapons at massive scale.
Guest Bio:
Bryon Hargis is the co-founder of Castelion, a defense technology company focused on developing and manufacturing advanced hypersonic weapon systems in the United States. Before founding Castelion, Bryon worked at SpaceX, including on the Starshield program and in government satellite sales. His work focused on applying SpaceX capabilities to national security problems, an experience that helped shape Castelion’s hardware-first and customer-driven approach.
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Disclaimer:
This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as an offer to buy or sell any securities or to participate in any investment strategy. All opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Weisburd Pierce. Participants may hold positions or have financial interests in the companies, funds, or investments discussed. Any references to specific investments are for illustrative purposes only. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any third-party data or opinions have not been independently verified. Listeners should conduct their own research and consult their own advisors before making any investment decisions.
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Transcript
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