The Briefing Room
Inside The Briefing Room, an Australian venture capital podcast dedicated to Defence, Sovereign Capability and National Security Innovation.
Hosted by Peta Ellis, General Manager of Beaten Zone Venture Partners, and other members of the BZV team, each episode takes you behind the scenes with founders, veterans, investors, and operators who are key players in the Global Defence ecosystem that is building and supporting the future of Defence Innovation and Sovereign capability.
From battlefield innovation to boardroom execution, we uncover how ideas move from concept to capability, and what it really takes to build and fund critical technology in one of the world’s most complex sectors.
- Real conversations with Defence founders and venture investors
- Insights on early-stage capital, capability, and collaboration
- Stories from Australia’s growing sovereign tech ecosystem
This is not theory. It’s the reality of building companies that keep Australia in the fight.
Subscribe to stay briefed.
Beaten Zone Venture Partners | beatenzone.vc
GENERAL PRODUCT ADVICE/MARKETING DISCLAIMER (Fund)
Beaten Zone Investment Manager Pty Ltd ACN 667 064 208 and Beaten Zone Management Partnership 1, LP (The Beaten Zone Group) are corporate authorised representative’s (CAR) (CAR Numbers 1303229 and 1303953) of Boutique Capital Pty Ltd ACN 621 697 621 (Boutique Capital) AFSL 508011.
This document contains general advice only and has been prepared by The Beaten Zone Group for individuals identified as wholesale investors for the purposes of providing a financial product or financial service, under Section 761G or Section 761GA of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
The information herein is presented in summary form and is therefore subject to qualification and further explanation. The information in this document is not intended to be relied upon as advice to investors or potential investors and has been prepared without taking into account personal investment objectives, financial circumstances or particular needs. Recipients of this document are advised to consult their own professional advisers about legal, tax, financial or other matters relevant to the suitability of this information.
The investment summarised in this document is subject to known and unknown risks, some of which are beyond the control of The Beaten Zone Group and their directors, employees, advisers or agents. The Beaten Zone Group does not guarantee any particular rate of return or the performance of the Fund, nor does The Beaten Zone Group and its directors personally guarantee the repayment of capital or any particular tax treatment. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.
The materials contained herein represent a general summary of The Beaten Zone Group’s current portfolio construction approach. The Beaten Zone Group is not constrained with respect to any investment decision making methodologies and may vary from them materially at its sole discretion and without prior notice to investors. Depending on market conditions and trends, The Beaten Zone Group may pursue other objectives or strategies considered appropriate and in the best interest of portfolio performance.
There are risks involved in investing in the The Beaten Zone Group’s strategy. All investments carry some level of risk, and there is typically a direct relationship between risk and return. We describe what steps we take to mitigate risk (where possible) in the Fund’s Information Memorandum. It is important to note that despite taking such steps, The Beaten Zone Group cannot mitigate risk completely.
This document was prepared as a private communication to clients and is not intended for public circulation or publication or for the use of any third party, without the approval of The Beaten Zone Group. Whilst this document is based on information from sources which The Beaten Zone Group considers reliable, its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. Data is not necessarily audited or independently verified. Any opinions reflect The Beaten Zone Group’s judgment at this date and are subject to change. The Beaten Zone Group has no obligation to provide revised assessments in the event of changed circumstances. To the extent permitted by law, Boutique Capital, The Beaten Zone Group and their directors and employees do not accept any liability for the results of any actions taken or not taken on the basis of information in this report, or for any negligent misstatements, errors or omissions.
This document is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation for units in the Fund. Application for units in the Fund can only be made via the Fund’s Information Memorandum and Application Form.
Listen on:
Episodes
15 hours ago
15 hours ago
Martin Shaw, President & CEO of Wounded Heroes Australia, joins us in The Briefing Room with frontline stories from supporting veterans and Defence families facing crisis. We discuss the hidden challenge of veteran homelessness, programs like Exercise Stone Pillow and Horses 4 Heroes, and how Wounded Heroes built national trust without government funding. Martin reflects on balancing business experience with charity leadership, the role of innovation in veteran support, and what younger founders can do to create meaningful solutions for those who've served.
🔗 GUEST LINKS
Martin Shaw LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-shaw-94021052/
Wounded Heroes Australia: https://www.woundedheroes.org.au/
Host Links
Peta Ellis (Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/petaellis
Jake Bostock (Cohost) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake123456789/
BZV YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeatenZoneVenturePartners/videos
BZV Website: https://beatenzone.vc
Produced by The Podcast boss
Thursday Mar 19, 2026
Thursday Mar 19, 2026
Rob Nioa shares the remarkable story of how his parents started the family business in the 1960s selling produce from a roadside trailer, before eventually building one of Australia's most important defence manufacturing companies.
Today, Nioa Group is Australia's largest privately owned supplier of weapons and munitions, operating across Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.
Rob explains the company's work across ammunition manufacturing, weapons logistics, missile collaboration programs, and international defence partnerships. We discuss sovereign capability and why domestic manufacturing matters as global security dynamics shift, including the Benalla ammunition factory, guided weapons production capability, and international expansion into the US and UK defence markets.
Guest links
Rob Nioa LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertnioa/
Nioa Group Website, https://www.nioa.com.au/about
Rob Nioa Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NIOA
Host Links (for YouTube description / pinned comment):
Peta Ellis (Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/petaellis
BZV YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeatenZoneVenturePartners/videos
BZV Website: https://beatenzone.vc
Produced By The Podcast Boss
Thursday Mar 12, 2026
Thursday Mar 12, 2026
Kelly Hopkins leads Defence recruitment within one of the world's largest recruitment firms and works across the full spectrum of the industry, from global primes like Boeing and Northrop Grumman to fast-growing Australian defence SMEs.
Finding talent in defence is unlike any other industry. Much of the work is classified, the technology is highly specialised, and the people with the right skills often cannot publicly disclose what they do.
Kelly explains how recruitment in defence relies on deep trust, long-term relationships, and strong connections within the ecosystem. The conversation explores why recruiting for defence is one of the hardest talent challenges in Australia, how the defence sector has evolved from sustainment to advanced technology and innovation, and why recruiters must build genuine ecosystem knowledge to understand the technology they are hiring for.
Guest Links
Kelly Hopkins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyhopkinshays/
Host Links
Peta Ellis (Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/petaellis
BZV YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeatenZoneVenturePartners/videos
BZV Website: https://beatenzone.vcProduced By The Podcast Boss
Wednesday Feb 04, 2026
Wednesday Feb 04, 2026
In this episode of The Briefing Room, Sean Singleton, US Venture Partner at Beaten Zone Venture Partners, breaks down what Australian founders really face when entering the United States Defense market.
Sean’s role is simple but hard: to help portfolio companies open doors in the US and 'get on contract'. That means handling the nuance of how the US Department of Defense actually buys technology, not how founders assume it does.
We unpack why the US public sector defaults to what it already has on contract, why Australian founders underestimate the complexity of the US Defence ecosystem, and why relationships and credibility take time to build.
Sean explains the fastest paths to revenue. Why systems integrators like Lockheed Martin and Boeing matter. How master collaboration agreements can compress multi-year timelines down to 12–18 months. And why bringing experienced US operators onto your team is often the difference between progress and stall.
The conversation also covers where founders should actually set up in the US. Which states are business-friendly for Defence and manufacturing? Why incentives, congressional support, and proximity to Defence assets matter. And why staffers on Capitol Hill are often more important than elected officials.
Sean shares his own long career path, from the US Air Force Academy and the F-22 program, through counter-intelligence, federal sales, JP Morgan, and the Defense Innovation Unit. The result is a grounded, experience-led guide for founders serious about building in the US Defence market.
This episode is essential listening for Australian founders, investors, and operators looking to move beyond theory and execute in the US.
Guest Links
Sean Singleton – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean‐singleton‐b616292/
Beaten Zone Venture Partners: https://beatenzone.vc
Hosted by: Peta Ellis
Produced By The Podcast Boss
Thursday Jan 29, 2026
Thursday Jan 29, 2026
In this episode of The Briefing Room, Dr Will Crowe, Co‐Founder and CEO of HEO, walksthrough a non‐linear founder journey that ends in orbit.
Will started as a researcher in astrodynamics, completed a PhD at UNSW, explored asteroidmining, and realised his work had immediate, practical value. That insight led to HEO.
Today, HEO enables commercial, resolved non‐Earth imaging by acquiring and analysing satellitedata through proprietary software. The company helps satellite operators and governmentsmonitor space assets, manage debris, inspect damaged satellites, and protect both Earth andspace infrastructure.
This conversation covers the shift from research to execution, how deep technical work becomesa commercial platform, and what it really takes to build a space company with long timelinesand real consequences.
Episode Links• Dr Will Crowe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william‐crowe‐space
• HEO: https://www.heospace.com
Produced by The Podcast Boss
Thursday Jan 08, 2026
Thursday Jan 08, 2026
Veteran and entrepreneur Warwick Penrose reflects on a career spanning CIED and CBRN Army specialisation through to founding EPE, a company trusted to protect soldiers and first responders. We cover capability delivery in counter‑IED, counter‑drone, ISR, and ECM, the pitfalls of selling to Defence, and lessons from building businesses across Asia Pacific and the U.S.
Warwick shares candid thoughts on leadership, culture, and legacy, and advice for the next generation of veteran‑founders shaping Defence innovation.
Guest Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/warwick-penrose-8493a819/
Organisation: EPE – https://www.epequip.com/
Find out more:
Website: https://beatenzone.vc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeatenZoneVenturePartners/videos
Hosts & Cohosts:
Peta Ellis – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petaellis
Jake Bostock – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake123456789/
Produced by The Podcast Boss
Thursday Jan 01, 2026
Thursday Jan 01, 2026
Reservist officer and founder Ben Dullroy shares leadership lessons from leading 21 soldiers at 21, reflections from Iraq, and what end‑users actually need from startups. We discuss how to earn trust inside Defence, common mistakes founders make when pitching to the Army, and practical first steps for working with procurement pathways. Ben closes with candid thoughts on service, family, and the personal cost of a life lived between business and the Army.
Guest Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bendullroy/
Organisation: Bravo Delta https://bravodelta.com.au/
Find out more:
Website: https://beatenzone.vc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeatenZoneVenturePartners/videos
Hosts & Cohosts:
Peta Ellis – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petaellis
Produced by The Podcast Boss
Thursday Dec 25, 2025
Thursday Dec 25, 2025
Strategist, author, and former Commander of the Australian Defence College, Mick Ryan distils 35 years of service into sharp lessons on leadership, modern warfare, and innovation. We examine the realities of Ukraine, where technology truly changes war — and where it doesn’t — and the cultural work required to connect founders with end‑users. A wide‑angle conversation on sovereign capability, Australia’s role in great‑power competition, and preparing for the wars of tomorrow.
Guest Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mick-ryan-am-ba299540/
Organisation: https://mickryan.com.au/
Find out more:
Website: https://beatenzone.vc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeatenZoneVenturePartners/videos
Hosts & Cohosts:
Peta Ellis – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petaellis
Produced by The Podcast boss
Thursday Dec 18, 2025
Thursday Dec 18, 2025
Q‑Branch founder Marc Cervantes dives into the realities of building dual‑use companies that sell to the government. We cover the origin story, the craft of becoming an ‘acquisition ninja,’ and lessons from engagements spanning DIU to state and federal partners.
For founders, Marc maps the path past innovation theatre toward programs with budget, users, and urgency — and shares straight talk on entering the U.S. market from Australia. We close on how Q‑Branch and BZV can strengthen cross‑border deal flow and AUKUS Pillar Two collaboration.
Guest Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atx-maverick/
Organisation: Q‑Branch – https://www.q-branch.dev/
Find out more:
Website: https://beatenzone.vc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeatenZoneVenturePartners/videos
Hosts & Cohosts:
Peta Ellis – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petaellis
Sean Singleton – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-singleton-b616292/
Produced by The Podcast Boss
Thursday Dec 11, 2025
Thursday Dec 11, 2025
Policy veteran John Thomas outlines Station D.C.’s vision and how legal, regulatory, and policy strategies intersect with defence innovation.
We explore advising dual‑use companies, collaborating with DIU and IQT, and what Australians often misunderstand about entering the
Find out more:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmarkthomas04/
Website: https://beatenzone.vc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeatenZoneVenturePartners/videos
Hosts & Cohosts
Peta Ellis – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petaellis
Sean Singleton – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-singleton-b616292/
Produced By The Podcast Boss