Background
Usul is a technology startup founded in 2024, specializing in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline the process of securing defense contracts. The company emerged from Stanford University's Hacking for Defense program and is a graduate of Y Combinator's Summer 2024 batch. Usul's mission is to simplify the complex landscape of government defense procurement, enabling technology companies to deliver critical innovations to military personnel more efficiently. The name "Usul" translates to "the strength at the base of the pillar," symbolizing the company's role as a foundational infrastructure connecting defense innovation with government buyers.
Key Strategic Focus
Usul's strategic focus centers on addressing the challenges defense contractors face in navigating the intricate and often opaque government procurement process. The company's core objectives include:
- Opportunity Identification: Utilizing AI to automatically identify and rank defense contracts that align with a company's capabilities, thereby reducing time spent on irrelevant solicitations.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Connecting directly with program managers and contracting officers who control budgets in target areas, facilitating early engagement before formal requests for proposals (RFPs) are issued.
- Program Shaping: Identifying defense programs with substantial funding for specific capabilities and targeting high-value programs early in the acquisition cycle.
- Competitive Intelligence: Analyzing competitor award history and monitoring incumbent contract recompetes to inform strategic pricing and team-building decisions.
Usul's primary markets include defense contractors of various sizes, from emerging startups to established enterprises, seeking to expand their presence in government contracting. The company operates within the defense and space manufacturing industry, focusing on enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of defense procurement processes.
Financials and Funding
In May 2025, Usul raised $3.3 million in a seed funding round led by Scout Ventures, with additional participation from Bravo Victor Venture Capital, Y Combinator, and a group of prominent defense insiders, including Steve Blank, Peter Newell, Jack Shanahan, and Jacqueline Tame. The capital is intended to support the development and scaling of Usul's AI-driven platform, enabling the company to expand its services and enhance its offerings to defense contractors.
Pipeline Development
Usul's platform has demonstrated significant impact in a short period. By September 2025, the company reported that its customers had secured over $500 million in defense contracts within less than a year of using the platform. This achievement underscores the effectiveness of Usul's AI-driven approach in identifying and capturing relevant defense contracting opportunities.
Technological Platform and Innovation
Usul's technological platform is distinguished by several key innovations:
- Proprietary Technologies: The platform employs AI agents to analyze vast amounts of publicly available data, including Department of Defense contracts, budgets, and Program Executive Office (PEO) updates, to create comprehensive company profiles and generate daily recommendations for relevant opportunities.
- Scientific Methods: Usul utilizes machine learning algorithms to match defense contractors with government contract opportunities that align with their technical competencies and strategic interests, thereby streamlining the procurement process.
- AI-Driven Capabilities: The platform's AI capabilities extend to forecasting contract outcomes, tracking competitor activities, and providing insights into program funding, all aimed at enhancing decision-making and strategic planning for defense contractors.
Leadership Team
Usul's leadership team comprises individuals with diverse backgrounds in technology and defense:
- Jarren Reid: CEO and Co-Founder. Previously associated with Stanford University, Palantir, and MITRE.
- Joonghyun Lee: Chief Engineer and CTO. Formerly with the University of Michigan's Electrical and Computer Engineering department and Stanford University's Aeronautics and Astronautics department.
- Oliver Gomez: Co-Founder.
Competitor Profile
The defense procurement market is characterized by its complexity and opacity, often hindering the rapid adoption of innovative technologies. Usul's platform addresses these challenges by providing AI-driven solutions that simplify the identification and pursuit of relevant defense contracts.
Usul operates in a competitive landscape with other firms offering government contracting intelligence platforms. However, Usul differentiates itself through its AI-driven approach, comprehensive data analysis, and user-centric design, which collectively enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of defense contractors in securing government contracts.
Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships
Usul has established strategic collaborations with various stakeholders to strengthen its market position and innovation capacity:
- Y Combinator: As a graduate of Y Combinator's Summer 2024 batch, Usul has gained access to a network of resources and mentorship, facilitating its growth and development.
- Defense Insiders: The seed funding round in May 2025 included participation from prominent defense insiders, such as Steve Blank, Peter Newell, Jack Shanahan, and Jacqueline Tame, providing Usul with valuable industry insights and connections.
Operational Insights
Usul's platform offers several strategic advantages over major competitors:
- Comprehensive Data Integration: By aggregating and analyzing data from multiple government sources, Usul provides a unified view of defense contracting opportunities, reducing the time and effort required for contractors to identify relevant bids.
- AI-Driven Decision Support: The platform's AI capabilities offer predictive insights and recommendations, enabling defense contractors to make informed decisions and develop effective strategies for pursuing government contracts.
Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions
Usul's strategic roadmap includes:
- Expansion of Services: Enhancing the platform's capabilities to cover a broader range of defense contracting opportunities and integrating additional data sources to provide more comprehensive insights.
- International Growth: Extending the platform's reach to include international defense procurement markets, thereby broadening the scope of opportunities for defense contractors.
- Continuous Innovation: Investing in research and development to refine AI algorithms and user interfaces, ensuring the platform remains at the forefront of technological advancements in defense procurement.
Contact Information
- Official Website: usul.com
- LinkedIn: Usul (YC S24)
- Twitter: @usul_ai
- Facebook: Usul
- Instagram: @usul.ai
- YouTube: Usul
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
