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June 17, 2024 • 39min
EXCLUSIVE: $3B Founder Reveals His Next Big Idea
My First Million
In this episode, Sam Parr interviews Brett Adcock, the co-founder of companies like Vettery and Figure, about his latest ambitious project - a startup called Cover that is developing advanced imaging technology to detect weapons in public spaces like schools, stadiums, and hospitals.
EXCLUSIVE: $3B Founder Reveals His Next Big Idea
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Key Takeaways
- Brett Adcock has a unique ability to think big and tackle ambitious, complex problems, driven by a strong desire to "win" and create meaningful impact.
- He has a framework for rapidly prototyping and iterating on new ideas, focused on getting the core commercial and execution plan right rather than just the initial concept.
- Speed and agility are critical to Brett's approach - he designs entire companies and processes around moving as quickly as possible, even in hardware/robotics.
- Brett's learning process involves building a deep, fundamental understanding of a topic before exploring the details, with a focus on being able to explain complex concepts simply.
- He is inspired by visionary entrepreneurs like Elon Musk who have demonstrated that "incredible things can be done" through persistence and focus.
Introduction
In this episode, Sam Parr interviews Brett Adcock, the co-founder of companies like Vettery and Figure, about his latest ambitious project - a startup called Cover that is developing advanced imaging technology to detect weapons in public spaces like schools, stadiums, and hospitals.
Brett shares how his curiosity about this technology led him to cold call NASA and gain access to their prototype system. He also discusses his broader philosophy on thinking big, moving fast, and learning new domains quickly in order to tackle complex problems and create meaningful impact.
Topics Discussed
Solving the School Shooting Crisis (0:00)
- Brett is deeply concerned about the exponential rise in school shootings in the US, with over 200 incidents and hundreds of casualties in the last year alone.
- He believes the core issue is that students are able to easily bring handguns into schools, often leading to escalated fights turning into shootings.
- Brett discovered research from NASA on high-frequency radar technology that can detect weapons, even non-metallic ones, from a distance, and he is now licensing and commercializing this to create the "Cover" system.
Thinking Big is Easier (8:37)
- Brett believes that tackling ambitious, complex problems is often easier than more incremental efforts, as it allows you to attract better talent, offer higher risk/reward for investors, and build new industries.
- He contrasts his experience building Vettery, a successful but relatively straightforward job matching platform, with the grander visions he has for Figure and Cover.
- Brett's philosophy is that "harder things are easier" - the bigger the challenge, the more motivated and capable people will be to work on it.
Rapid Prototyping & Iteration (21:46)
- Brett has a rigorous process for evaluating new business ideas, focused on getting the core commercial plan and execution right rather than just the initial concept.
- His checklist includes factors like the go-to-market strategy, team, funding plan, and ability to rapidly iterate on the product.
- He designs entire companies and processes around the goal of moving as quickly as possible, even in hardware-focused industries like robotics.
Learning New Domains Quickly (30:15)
- Brett has a unique ability to learn about and understand a wide range of complex topics, from genetics to supersonic travel to synthetic foods.
- His framework involves first building a deep, fundamental understanding of the "trunk" or core concepts, before exploring the "branches and leaves" of the subject matter.
- A key skill is being able to explain even highly technical topics in simple, clear terms - he sees this as critical for effective communication and collaboration across disciplines.
Inspiration from Visionary Entrepreneurs (33:00)
- Brett is particularly inspired by entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk who have demonstrated the ability to create "incredible things" through persistence and focus.
- He believes that with enough willpower, an individual can go out and do amazing things, which gives him energy and motivation to tackle his own ambitious goals.
- Brett sees his role as continuing the legacy of these visionary founders and proving that even the most difficult challenges, like commercializing humanoid robotics, can be overcome.
Conclusion
Throughout the conversation, Brett Adcock showcases his unique ability to think big, move fast, and learn rapidly in order to tackle complex problems. His passion for creating meaningful impact, combined with a rigorous process for evaluating and executing on ideas, makes him a compelling example of the power of ambitious entrepreneurship.
Whether it's developing advanced weapon detection systems, exploring the frontiers of synthetic biology and supersonic travel, or building world-class robotics companies, Brett's mindset and approach offer valuable lessons for any aspiring entrepreneur looking to make a dent in the universe. His unwavering drive to "win" and create change serves as an inspiration for those willing to take on the biggest challenges.