Aug 28, 2026
Join us in this episode as Sara Blackmer, a seasoned technology executive and private equity leader, shares her perspective on building and scaling companies across defense and commercial markets. As Managing Member and Senior Partner at Solyco Capital and CEO of portfolio company FluidLogic, Sara brings a wide range of experience in executive leadership, strategic planning, business development, and technology investing.
This conversation covers:
-
How technology companies can succeed across defense and commercial markets.
-
The challenges of scaling businesses built around emerging technologies.
-
The importance of strong leadership and high-performing teams.
-
How private equity can support innovation and long-term growth.
Sara is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and Aircraft Maintenance Officer. She has served on advisory boards for organizations including NVIDIA, Intel, the University of Michigan, and the National Advanced Mobility Consortium.
Want to learn more about technology investing, defense innovation, and executive leadership? Tune in now as Sara shares her insights on building and scaling companies in rapidly evolving markets.
Connect with Sara:
🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C
🛍️ Recommended Books from this Episode
📖 Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your
Lawyer and Venture Capitalist – A practical guide to understanding
venture capital, term sheets, negotiations, financing, and the
deal-making process so entrepreneurs can navigate fundraising with
greater confidence.
👉 Get it here
📘 The Hard Thing About Hard Things:
Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers –
Straightforward lessons on the realities of entrepreneurship,
leadership, hiring, managing teams, making difficult decisions, and
navigating the challenges of building a company.
👉 Check it out
📙 Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make
It...and Why the Rest Don't – A practical framework for helping
businesses scale by focusing on people, strategy, execution, and
cash, while creating systems that support sustainable growth.
👉 Explore it here
📕 Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future – A
thought-provoking guide to entrepreneurship and innovation focused
on creating something genuinely new, building differentiated
businesses, and shaping the future.
👉 Discover it here
Note: These are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the podcast. Thank you!