Our Story
BMNT got its start in 2013 on a Silicon Valley driveway – four military veterans determined to take what they learned about innovating on the battlefield to change the way Silicon Valley and the US Department of Defense work together.
With methods and programs that emphasise the sociological aspects of change, BMNT defined a better way to "curate" national security problems to convince entrepreneurs to work on them; developed tools and processes that allow government organisations to innovate at speed and at scale; and supported "dual-use" startups in their entrepreneurial journeys.
BMNT also created an international academic program to solve critical real-world problems and engage a new generation of young technologists in national service; and a separate workforce development program to teach public sector innovators how to achieve mission impact.
In 2019, BMNT expanded to the UK, working with the Royal Navy, with the aim of bringing its years of experience and Silicon Valley best practices to the UK defence establishment. In 2020 we continued to grow our international presence with the establishment of our Australian office in Canberra.
In Australia
Jamie Watson
Jamie Watson is the founder and CEO of BMNT Australia. Prior to joining BMNT, Jamie spent more than 30 years working with Defence. As an operator and researcher, Jamie has unique insight into the application of novel solutions to complex problems. Having held strategic Defence science liaison roles within Australia and the United States he has extensive experience in translating problem statements into research and development activities. Jamie is an experienced innovation instructor, coach, and mentor. He is driven by a`n insatiable appetite to deliver meaningful outcomes to beneficiaries. He holds tertiary qualifications in Maritime Engineering, Technology, and Urban Planning.
Our Global Team
We're a tight-knit team of creatives, engineers, makers, veterans, and policy wonks linked by a common goal: to electrify the way governments solve incredibly hard problems.
Global Leadership
Peter Newell
Co-Founder & CEO, BMNT
Ali Hawks
CEO, BMNT UK