EXCLUSIVE: $3B Founder Reveals His Next Big Idea
About This Episode
Serial entrepreneur Brett Adcock discusses his new venture, Cover, which utilizes licensed NASA imaging technology to detect concealed weapons in public spaces. The conversation explores Adcock's unique philosophy that 'hard things are easier' to build because they attract more talent and capital, as well as his obsession with organizational speed and rapid iteration in hardware and robotics.
Episode Description
Show Notes
- 0:00Solving school shootings
- 3:15Cold calling NASA
- 6:14Spotting the mega-trend
- 8:37"Thinking big is easier"
- 12:42Brett's philosophy on company names
- 16:22Brett's ideas note app: genetics, super-sonic travel, synthetic foods
- 19:45"I just want to win"
- 21:46Brett's checklist for entrepreneurs
- 25:17Being fast in hardware
- 30:15Brett's framework for learning new things
- 33:00Who does Brett admire
Links
Check Out Shaan's Stuff
Check Out Sam's Stuff
Key Takeaways
Pursue highly ambitious 'hard' problems because they paradoxically simplify hiring and fundraising by attracting the best talent and high-risk venture capital.
Prioritize iteration speed over design perfection; shipping a 'Generation 1' product quickly allows for real-world testing that identifies flaws faster than prolonged theoretical planning.
Master new technical fields by building a 'trunk' of first-order principles until you can explain the core concept to a 12-year-old before moving on to complex details.