Rising Tide Partners
Logistics Wins Wars
Why It Matters
Effective logistics can determine the outcome of conflicts, yet the military has relied on antiquated methods that hinder rapid response. By digitizing and automating logistics, Rune helps the DoD achieve faster, more accurate supply chains, directly supporting emerging technologies like drones and hypersonic missiles. This episode is timely as defense agencies are accelerating procurement reforms, opening doors for innovative startups to impact national security.
Key Takeaways
- •Rune modernizes military logistics with digital data and sensors.
- •DoD logistics still relies on pen, paper, Excel spreadsheets.
- •New Department of War focus accelerates defense acquisition cycles.
- •Real-time sensor data enables predictive resupply and production planning.
- •Technology applicable to FEMA disaster response and other industries.
Pulse Analysis
Rune, founded by Peter Goldsboro, tackles a long‑overlooked gap in defense technology: military logistics. History shows that victories from World War II to modern conflicts hinge on supply chains, yet today many DoD units still track inventory on whiteboards, Excel files, and paper. Goldsboro, a former software chief at Anduril, observed this disconnect and built Rune to bring the same digital rigor that powers autonomous drones and hypersonic missiles to the logistical backbone that moves them. The shift promises cost savings and operational agility across joint forces.
The company's flagship platform, TIRS, digitizes every step of the supply chain. Sensors attached to fuel bladders, ammunition pallets, and vehicles feed real‑time data into a cloud‑based analytics engine, automatically flagging anomalies and projecting future demand. At Fort Carson, the 4th Infantry Division already uses TIRS to coordinate resupply routes, reducing the need for soldiers to toggle between six legacy systems. By turning manual counts into actionable intelligence, Rune enables commanders to make faster, more accurate decisions on the battlefield. The platform also supports degraded‑communication scenarios, ensuring data flow in contested environments.
Recent reforms in the Department of War—faster acquisition processes, Innovation Units, and a new logistics priority—have created a fertile market for startups like Rune. The alignment of mission urgency with procurement speed shortens the gap between prototype and fielded capability. Beyond the military, the same disconnected‑environment technology is attractive to FEMA for disaster logistics and to heavy‑industry players needing resilient supply‑chain visibility. As the defense sector embraces digital transformation, Rune’s sensor‑driven logistics platform positions it as a critical enabler for both warfighting and civilian resilience. Investors see logistics as the next frontier for defense AI integration.
Episode Description
Why software decides outcomes
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