For new nuclear tech, competing with cheap solar on cost is a losing battle. The winning strategy is targeting "premium power" customers—like the military or hyperscalers—who have mission-critical needs for 24/7 clean, reliable energy and are willing to pay above market rates. This creates a viable beachhead market.

The conflict in Ukraine exposed the vulnerability of expensive, "exquisite" military platforms (like tanks) to inexpensive technologies (like drones). This has shifted defense priorities toward cheap, mass-producible, "attritable" systems. This fundamental change in product and economics creates a massive opportunity for startups to innovate outside the traditional defense prime model.

The massive energy consumption of AI has made tech giants the most powerful force advocating for new power sources. Their commercial pressure is finally overcoming decades of regulatory inertia around nuclear energy, driving rapid development and deployment of new reactor technologies to meet their insatiable demand.

Luckey reveals that Anduril prioritized institutional engagement over engineering in its early days, initially hiring more lawyers and lobbyists. The biggest challenge wasn't building the technology, but convincing the Department of Defense and political stakeholders to believe in a new procurement model, proving that shaping the system is a prerequisite for success.

The key driver for military adoption of micro-reactors isn't cost savings, but eliminating the vulnerability of fuel supply chains. Fuel logistics accounted for 50% of casualties in Afghanistan. This frames the product's value around mission assurance and risk reduction, a more compelling proposition than simple energy provision.

Regulating technology based on anticipating *potential* future harms, rather than known ones, is a dangerous path. This 'precautionary principle,' common in Europe, stifles breakthrough innovation. If applied historically, it would have blocked transformative technologies like the automobile or even nuclear power, which has a better safety record than oil.

Tech companies often use government and military contracts as a proving ground to refine complex technologies. This gives military personnel early access to tools, like Palantir a decade ago, long before they become mainstream in the corporate world.

In sectors like finance or healthcare, bypass initial regulatory hurdles by implementing AI on non-sensitive, public information, such as analyzing a company podcast. This builds momentum and demonstrates value while more complex, high-risk applications are vetted by legal and IT teams.

A large government commitment, like the $80 billion nuclear development plan with Westinghouse, does more than create a single customer. It acts as a powerful catalyst for the entire industry. This de-risks the supply chain, signals market viability, and attracts massive private capital (e.g., Brookfield), creating tailwinds for all players.