Edgerun Industries growth playbook

Add one page, /evaluate, and link it from the homepage hero, the navigation and the contact page. It holds: (1) a short request form with organisation type (unit, program office, research lab, integrator, other), country, mission type using the homepage's own five (assault, CASEVAC, ascent, patrol, resupply), number of soldiers, typical carried load and timeline; (2) a one-page spec sheet PDF matching the homepage numbers, with the test conditions behind the 30-45% figure; (3) a 'for government buyers' block with the legal name, CAGE code, UEI and NAICS codes, naming the D.C. office as the contact; (4) the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces quote and the Balistyka integration as proof. Route US and allied government requests to D.C. within one business day and in-theatre requests to the Kyiv field team. Keep the contact email for everything else.

Defense buyers and innovation cells screen suppliers quietly before they write to anyone. A page with the right fields does three things at once: it qualifies the request, shows the company can be contracted, and replaces a cold email with an evaluation request the team can act on. Launch press is already sending readers to the site.

[ ] 'Request an evaluation' button in the homepage hero and nav
[ ] Form: organisation type, country, mission, soldiers, load, timeline
[ ] One-page spec sheet PDF with test conditions
[ ] Government buyer block: legal name, CAGE, UEI, NAICS, D.C. contact
[ ] Proof: unit quote and Balistyka integration
[ ] Routing: D.C. for government, Kyiv for in-theatre requests
[ ] /evaluate added to the sitemap
[ ] Contact page links to /evaluate

• Spam or unqualified requests

  Require organisation type and country, and screen before replying.

• Sharing too much detail publicly

  Keep the spec sheet to the numbers already on the homepage; share more only under NDA after screening.

• Your websiteHomepage: headline "MILITARY EXOSKELETONS"; specs "<10 lb" with batteries, "12+ hr" on "drone batteries, field-swappable", "30-45%*" assist ("less effort per step under load") and "<5 SEC" to put on, footnoted "Internal test data. Third-party verification underway."; missions ASSAULT, CASEVAC, ASCENT, PATROL and RESUPPLY; "Directly integrates with the kit you already wear"; offices in Palo Alto (headquarters), D.C. ("Government affairs") and Kyiv ("Field office"); a quote from the Head of Innovation Centre, 7th Rapid Response Corps, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces; integration partner Balistyka, a Kyiv body-armor maker founded in 2014; the only calls to action go to the Mission and Careers pages.Source
• Your websiteContact page: no form or fields; office clocks for Palo Alto, DC and Kyiv, a link to Careers, and one email address for "all other inquiries". There is no route for a unit, program office, partner or journalist to ask for an evaluation, a spec sheet or a briefing.Source
• Your websiteSitemap (checked November 9, 2026): four URLs (home, mission, careers, contact), all with the same lastmod of October 19, 2026, listed on the bare edgerun.com host while the site serves from www.edgerun.com; no product, specs, test, press or news pages. An automated crawl read the navigation link text as spaced letters ("M i s s i o n", "C a r e e r s", "C o n t a c t").Source
• Public recordsSAM.gov registration: Edgerun Industries, Inc., active since June 5, 2026 (to June 5, 2027) for all awards, CAGE 198E0; primary NAICS 541715 (engineering R&D), also 333998, 336413, 336999, 339113 and 541330; a manufacturer of goods incorporated in Delaware.Source
• PressRuntime Wire: launched August 25, 2026; about 10 pounds; claims 30-45% less metabolic effort and 12 hours of runtime; more than 100 field tests with Ukrainian soldiers since May; Y Combinator-backed. The article frames the bet as whether lighter components can revive a military exoskeleton category that has struggled with weight, endurance and field reliability.Source

Write the standard one-page capability statement: core capability (powered load-carriage exoskeleton), differentiators (weight, runtime, battery commonality, field-tested), past performance (100+ field tests with Ukrainian units, the Balistyka integration), company data (UEI, CAGE, NAICS) and the D.C. point of contact. Host it on /evaluate and bring it to every meeting.

Government buyers expect this format. It answers the 'can we contract them?' question in seconds and travels by email inside the buyer's organisation.

• Claims outrun verification

  Label internal numbers as internal until independent results are in.

• #1 Give units and program offices a way to ask for an evaluation: today every button on edgerun.com leads to the mission essay or careers

• Public recordsSAM.gov registration: Edgerun Industries, Inc., active since June 5, 2026 (to June 5, 2027) for all awards, CAGE 198E0; primary NAICS 541715 (engineering R&D), also 333998, 336413, 336999, 339113 and 541330; a manufacturer of goods incorporated in Delaware.Source
• Your websiteHomepage: headline "MILITARY EXOSKELETONS"; specs "<10 lb" with batteries, "12+ hr" on "drone batteries, field-swappable", "30-45%*" assist ("less effort per step under load") and "<5 SEC" to put on, footnoted "Internal test data. Third-party verification underway."; missions ASSAULT, CASEVAC, ASCENT, PATROL and RESUPPLY; "Directly integrates with the kit you already wear"; offices in Palo Alto (headquarters), D.C. ("Government affairs") and Kyiv ("Field office"); a quote from the Head of Innovation Centre, 7th Rapid Response Corps, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces; integration partner Balistyka, a Kyiv body-armor maker founded in 2014; the only calls to action go to the Mission and Careers pages.Source

Add /press with the approved fact sheet (weight, runtime, assist with test conditions, field test count, offices, partners), high-resolution photos cleared for OPSEC, the founder bio, logos, coverage so far and a press contact. Link it in the footer.

Reporters copy what is easiest to find. One official source keeps numbers consistent and makes the next story easier to write.

• Field photos reveal too much

  Review every image with the field team before it goes up.

• PressRuntime Wire: launched August 25, 2026; about 10 pounds; claims 30-45% less metabolic effort and 12 hours of runtime; more than 100 field tests with Ukrainian soldiers since May; Y Combinator-backed. The article frames the bet as whether lighter components can revive a military exoskeleton category that has struggled with weight, endurance and field reliability.Source
• PressExoskeleton Report (week 35 newsletter, August 30, 2026): an item titled "The 10 lb Military Exoskeleton" on a Y Combinator Summer 2026 company aiming to "add torque to every step under combat load"; the same issue covers consumer launches from Hypershell and others.Source
• Your websiteSitemap (checked November 9, 2026): four URLs (home, mission, careers, contact), all with the same lastmod of October 19, 2026, listed on the bare edgerun.com host while the site serves from www.edgerun.com; no product, specs, test, press or news pages. An automated crawl read the navigation link text as spaced letters ("M i s s i o n", "C a r e e r s", "C o n t a c t").Source

Use CSS letter-spacing on real words rather than spaced characters (or add aria-labels), generate the sitemap on the www host with true per-page dates, and fix the three accessibility issues. Add the new pages (evaluate, press) as they ship.

On a four-page site every link counts. Clean link text and a correct sitemap help search engines, AI assistants and screen-reader users understand and reach each page.

• Visual style changes

  Letter-spacing in CSS keeps the same look.

• Your websiteSitemap (checked November 9, 2026): four URLs (home, mission, careers, contact), all with the same lastmod of October 19, 2026, listed on the bare edgerun.com host while the site serves from www.edgerun.com; no product, specs, test, press or news pages. An automated crawl read the navigation link text as spaced letters ("M i s s i o n", "C a r e e r s", "C o n t a c t").Source
• PageSpeedPageSpeed (November 9, 2026): mobile score 63, desktop 96. Real visitors pass Core Web Vitals (75th-percentile LCP 1.7s, INP 72ms, CLS 0), though field LCP is trending slower. In the mobile lab test the main content appears at 8.1s; the homepage downloads 9.2 MB, about 8 MB of it in 14 requests from the Sanity image CDN; better image delivery would save 540 KB. Accessibility scores 89, with contrast, ARIA and heading-order issues.Source

Serve hero and carousel media at the size each device needs (responsive images, modern formats, a lighter video or poster frame on mobile), lazy-load the mission carousel, and remove about 170 KB of unused JavaScript. Set a page-weight budget of 2 MB for the homepage.

A lighter page loads reliably on weak connections and keeps the trend from turning into a Core Web Vitals failure.

• Lower visual quality

  Keep full quality on desktop; compress only mobile sizes.

• PageSpeedPageSpeed (November 9, 2026): mobile score 63, desktop 96. Real visitors pass Core Web Vitals (75th-percentile LCP 1.7s, INP 72ms, CLS 0), though field LCP is trending slower. In the mobile lab test the main content appears at 8.1s; the homepage downloads 9.2 MB, about 8 MB of it in 14 requests from the Sanity image CDN; better image delivery would save 540 KB. Accessibility scores 89, with contrast, ARIA and heading-order issues.Source
• Your websiteHomepage: headline "MILITARY EXOSKELETONS"; specs "<10 lb" with batteries, "12+ hr" on "drone batteries, field-swappable", "30-45%*" assist ("less effort per step under load") and "<5 SEC" to put on, footnoted "Internal test data. Third-party verification underway."; missions ASSAULT, CASEVAC, ASCENT, PATROL and RESUPPLY; "Directly integrates with the kit you already wear"; offices in Palo Alto (headquarters), D.C. ("Government affairs") and Kyiv ("Field office"); a quote from the Head of Innovation Centre, 7th Rapid Response Corps, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces; integration partner Balistyka, a Kyiv body-armor maker founded in 2014; the only calls to action go to the Mission and Careers pages.Source

Add one email field ('Get Edgerun updates') to the homepage, mission and careers pages, with a choice of interest: buying, partnering, joining or press. Send a short update every month or at each milestone: verification results, field test counts, new partners, open roles.

Defense sales cycles are long. A list keeps early interest warm until there is something to buy, and it also feeds hiring.

• Sharing sensitive progress

  Review each update for OPSEC before sending.

• Your channelsChannels: the YouTube channel has 21 subscribers, one video and 1,340 views; the site links X, Instagram and LinkedIn but has no blog, newsletter or news page.Source
• PressRuntime Wire: launched August 25, 2026; about 10 pounds; claims 30-45% less metabolic effort and 12 hours of runtime; more than 100 field tests with Ukrainian soldiers since May; Y Combinator-backed. The article frames the bet as whether lighter components can revive a military exoskeleton category that has struggled with weight, endurance and field reliability.Source

Publish a /proof page in two stages. Now: the protocol (load carried, speed, terrain, duration, how effort is measured, number of subjects, who the independent tester is). Later: the third-party results with the full report. Add field reliability data from the 100+ field tests: hours run, failures and fixes.

Publishing the method before the result shows confidence, and it lets evaluators compare Edgerun's numbers with their own protocols instead of ignoring them.

• Independent results come in below 30%

  Publish the conditions in which each level was achieved; honesty builds more trust than a range.

• Protocol reveals sensitive details

  Publish method and outcomes, not design internals.

• Your websiteHomepage: headline "MILITARY EXOSKELETONS"; specs "<10 lb" with batteries, "12+ hr" on "drone batteries, field-swappable", "30-45%*" assist ("less effort per step under load") and "<5 SEC" to put on, footnoted "Internal test data. Third-party verification underway."; missions ASSAULT, CASEVAC, ASCENT, PATROL and RESUPPLY; "Directly integrates with the kit you already wear"; offices in Palo Alto (headquarters), D.C. ("Government affairs") and Kyiv ("Field office"); a quote from the Head of Innovation Centre, 7th Rapid Response Corps, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces; integration partner Balistyka, a Kyiv body-armor maker founded in 2014; the only calls to action go to the Mission and Careers pages.Source
• PressRuntime Wire: launched August 25, 2026; about 10 pounds; claims 30-45% less metabolic effort and 12 hours of runtime; more than 100 field tests with Ukrainian soldiers since May; Y Combinator-backed. The article frames the bet as whether lighter components can revive a military exoskeleton category that has struggled with weight, endurance and field reliability.Source

Write one page per mission: the task and load, what the exoskeleton does in it, what was observed in field tests, battery life in that mission, how it works with the kit worn, and limits. Use the language evaluators use for tasks, loads and distances.

Evaluators score against task lists. Pages built on the same structure are easier to shortlist and easier to quote in internal memos.

• Overclaiming in combat roles

  State tested conditions and limits on every page.

• #7 Publish the test protocol now and the independent results when they land, so the 30-45% claim can be checked

• Industry researchJanes (March 2022): a US Army request for information on powered and unpowered exoskeletons listed tasks such as tactical movement carrying 99-136 lb, bounding rushes with a 75-90 lb fighting load, filling sandbags and dragging a 270 lb casualty 45 ft, and asked for demonstrated safety, integration with clothing and mission equipment, energy efficiency and readiness information.Source
• Your websiteHomepage: headline "MILITARY EXOSKELETONS"; specs "<10 lb" with batteries, "12+ hr" on "drone batteries, field-swappable", "30-45%*" assist ("less effort per step under load") and "<5 SEC" to put on, footnoted "Internal test data. Third-party verification underway."; missions ASSAULT, CASEVAC, ASCENT, PATROL and RESUPPLY; "Directly integrates with the kit you already wear"; offices in Palo Alto (headquarters), D.C. ("Government affairs") and Kyiv ("Field office"); a quote from the Head of Innovation Centre, 7th Rapid Response Corps, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces; integration partner Balistyka, a Kyiv body-armor maker founded in 2014; the only calls to action go to the Mission and Careers pages.Source

Test fit with the most common belt, plate carrier and pack systems the field team sees, and publish a compatibility table: fit status (tested, works with adapter, not compatible), notes and photos. Add a 'request a fit check' option for unlisted kit.

Fit with existing kit is a go/no-go question for logisticians. A list answers it before the meeting and shows real integration work.

• Naming third-party kit

  Describe fit factually and avoid implying endorsement.

• Your websiteHomepage: headline "MILITARY EXOSKELETONS"; specs "<10 lb" with batteries, "12+ hr" on "drone batteries, field-swappable", "30-45%*" assist ("less effort per step under load") and "<5 SEC" to put on, footnoted "Internal test data. Third-party verification underway."; missions ASSAULT, CASEVAC, ASCENT, PATROL and RESUPPLY; "Directly integrates with the kit you already wear"; offices in Palo Alto (headquarters), D.C. ("Government affairs") and Kyiv ("Field office"); a quote from the Head of Innovation Centre, 7th Rapid Response Corps, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces; integration partner Balistyka, a Kyiv body-armor maker founded in 2014; the only calls to action go to the Mission and Careers pages.Source
• Industry researchJanes (March 2022): a US Army request for information on powered and unpowered exoskeletons listed tasks such as tactical movement carrying 99-136 lb, bounding rushes with a 75-90 lb fighting load, filling sandbags and dragging a 270 lb casualty 45 ft, and asked for demonstrated safety, integration with clothing and mission equipment, energy efficiency and readiness information.Source
• HiringCareers page: nine open roles, six in Palo Alto (Principal Engineer, Embedded Systems; Mechanical, Electrical, Firmware and Software Engineers; Supply Chain Engineer) and three in Kyiv (Senior Field Engineer, Mechanical Prototyper, Software Engineer), posted September 11 to October 25, 2026; each Apply button opens a Notion page; "We are looking for world-class talent ready to tackle challenging projects that remove civilization-level constraints limiting the human body."Source

Agree a joint package with Balistyka: a tested carrier-plus-exoskeleton configuration, a shared spec sheet, a co-branded page on both sites and a referral arrangement so Balistyka's sales team can offer evaluations. Use the same model for one or two more kit makers.

A partner's sales team reaches buyers who already trust them, and a tested configuration removes an integration question.

• Dependence on one partner

  Add a second kit maker within two quarters.

• #9 Publish a kit compatibility list: which belts, plate carriers and packs it fits

• Your websiteHomepage: headline "MILITARY EXOSKELETONS"; specs "<10 lb" with batteries, "12+ hr" on "drone batteries, field-swappable", "30-45%*" assist ("less effort per step under load") and "<5 SEC" to put on, footnoted "Internal test data. Third-party verification underway."; missions ASSAULT, CASEVAC, ASCENT, PATROL and RESUPPLY; "Directly integrates with the kit you already wear"; offices in Palo Alto (headquarters), D.C. ("Government affairs") and Kyiv ("Field office"); a quote from the Head of Innovation Centre, 7th Rapid Response Corps, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces; integration partner Balistyka, a Kyiv body-armor maker founded in 2014; the only calls to action go to the Mission and Careers pages.Source

Publish the supported battery types and runtime per type, test the most common packs used by drone operators, and approach one or two battery makers for a 'certified compatible' listing and shared field data. Use battery commonality as a headline benefit in buyer materials.

Logistics burden is a common reason powered kit gets rejected. Showing that no new battery enters the supply chain answers that objection directly.

• Battery safety on untested packs

  List only tested packs and lock out unknown ones in firmware.

• Your websiteHomepage: headline "MILITARY EXOSKELETONS"; specs "<10 lb" with batteries, "12+ hr" on "drone batteries, field-swappable", "30-45%*" assist ("less effort per step under load") and "<5 SEC" to put on, footnoted "Internal test data. Third-party verification underway."; missions ASSAULT, CASEVAC, ASCENT, PATROL and RESUPPLY; "Directly integrates with the kit you already wear"; offices in Palo Alto (headquarters), D.C. ("Government affairs") and Kyiv ("Field office"); a quote from the Head of Innovation Centre, 7th Rapid Response Corps, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces; integration partner Balistyka, a Kyiv body-armor maker founded in 2014; the only calls to action go to the Mission and Careers pages.Source
• Industry researchJanes (March 2022): a US Army request for information on powered and unpowered exoskeletons listed tasks such as tactical movement carrying 99-136 lb, bounding rushes with a 75-90 lb fighting load, filling sandbags and dragging a 270 lb casualty 45 ft, and asked for demonstrated safety, integration with clothing and mission equipment, energy efficiency and readiness information.Source

Produce a short series: the same marcher with and without the exoskeleton over the same route and load, heart rate and time on screen; a five-second don/doff clip; a battery swap; a CASEVAC drag. Film in Palo Alto or on training ground, never in operational areas. Cut each into short clips for X, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Evaluators and reporters share video that shows the claim. Side-by-side tests are easy to understand and hard to fake.

• Footage reveals sensitive details

  Film only in controlled locations and review every frame.

• Your channelsChannels: the YouTube channel has 21 subscribers, one video and 1,340 views; the site links X, Instagram and LinkedIn but has no blog, newsletter or news page.Source
• PressRuntime Wire: launched August 25, 2026; about 10 pounds; claims 30-45% less metabolic effort and 12 hours of runtime; more than 100 field tests with Ukrainian soldiers since May; Y Combinator-backed. The article frames the bet as whether lighter components can revive a military exoskeleton category that has struggled with weight, endurance and field reliability.Source

Publish a short monthly report: tests run, hours logged, top three issues and the fix shipped, and one change requested by users. Keep it free of unit, location and tactic detail. Send it to the updates list and post a summary on LinkedIn.

Showing the iteration loop is the best evidence against the category's reputation for unreliable hardware, and it attracts engineers who want field-tested work.

• Admitting failures

  Pair each issue with the fix; that is the point.

• #6 Start a short updates list for buyers, partners, recruits and press

• Your websiteHomepage: headline "MILITARY EXOSKELETONS"; specs "<10 lb" with batteries, "12+ hr" on "drone batteries, field-swappable", "30-45%*" assist ("less effort per step under load") and "<5 SEC" to put on, footnoted "Internal test data. Third-party verification underway."; missions ASSAULT, CASEVAC, ASCENT, PATROL and RESUPPLY; "Directly integrates with the kit you already wear"; offices in Palo Alto (headquarters), D.C. ("Government affairs") and Kyiv ("Field office"); a quote from the Head of Innovation Centre, 7th Rapid Response Corps, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces; integration partner Balistyka, a Kyiv body-armor maker founded in 2014; the only calls to action go to the Mission and Careers pages.Source
• HiringCareers page: nine open roles, six in Palo Alto (Principal Engineer, Embedded Systems; Mechanical, Electrical, Firmware and Software Engineers; Supply Chain Engineer) and three in Kyiv (Senior Field Engineer, Mechanical Prototyper, Software Engineer), posted September 11 to October 25, 2026; each Apply button opens a Notion page; "We are looking for world-class talent ready to tackle challenging projects that remove civilization-level constraints limiting the human body."Source
• PressRuntime Wire: launched August 25, 2026; about 10 pounds; claims 30-45% less metabolic effort and 12 hours of runtime; more than 100 field tests with Ukrainian soldiers since May; Y Combinator-backed. The article frames the bet as whether lighter components can revive a military exoskeleton category that has struggled with weight, endurance and field reliability.Source

Keep a tracked list of US defense innovation and research funding channels and open topics relevant to soldier load carriage and human performance. Prepare a reusable proposal pack (technical summary, field data, test protocol, capability statement) and submit to the best two or three fits each quarter.

Small R&D awards are the usual route from foreign field trials to a US evaluation. They pay for testing and create a US customer reference.

• Proposal work distracts engineers

  Reuse one pack and cap engineering time per proposal.

• #2 Publish a one-page capability statement with the CAGE code, NAICS codes and the D.C. contact
• #7 Publish the test protocol now and the independent results when they land, so the 30-45% claim can be checked

• Public recordsSAM.gov registration: Edgerun Industries, Inc., active since June 5, 2026 (to June 5, 2027) for all awards, CAGE 198E0; primary NAICS 541715 (engineering R&D), also 333998, 336413, 336999, 339113 and 541330; a manufacturer of goods incorporated in Delaware.Source
• Industry researchJanes (March 2022): a US Army request for information on powered and unpowered exoskeletons listed tasks such as tactical movement carrying 99-136 lb, bounding rushes with a 75-90 lb fighting load, filling sandbags and dragging a 270 lb casualty 45 ft, and asked for demonstrated safety, integration with clothing and mission equipment, energy efficiency and readiness information.Source
• Your websiteHomepage: headline "MILITARY EXOSKELETONS"; specs "<10 lb" with batteries, "12+ hr" on "drone batteries, field-swappable", "30-45%*" assist ("less effort per step under load") and "<5 SEC" to put on, footnoted "Internal test data. Third-party verification underway."; missions ASSAULT, CASEVAC, ASCENT, PATROL and RESUPPLY; "Directly integrates with the kit you already wear"; offices in Palo Alto (headquarters), D.C. ("Government affairs") and Kyiv ("Field office"); a quote from the Head of Innovation Centre, 7th Rapid Response Corps, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces; integration partner Balistyka, a Kyiv body-armor maker founded in 2014; the only calls to action go to the Mission and Careers pages.Source

Define a fixed-price pilot: 10 devices, spare batteries and parts, two days of training, a field engineer on call, and a closing report built from device data (hours, distance, issues, user feedback). Credit the pilot price against a follow-on order. Offer it on /evaluate.

A defined, small purchase is easier to approve than an open-ended discussion, and it turns field tests into revenue and reference data.

• Production can't meet pilot demand

  Cap pilots per quarter to what supply chain can build.

• #1 Give units and program offices a way to ask for an evaluation: today every button on edgerun.com leads to the mission essay or careers

• HiringSupply Chain Engineer (Palo Alto): qualify partners for metal 3D printing, short-batch PCBA and CNC machining for prototypes, and build out production-scale factories for aluminum, titanium, mass CNC, SMT, composites and soft goods; qualifying US factories is preferred.Source
• HiringCareers page: nine open roles, six in Palo Alto (Principal Engineer, Embedded Systems; Mechanical, Electrical, Firmware and Software Engineers; Supply Chain Engineer) and three in Kyiv (Senior Field Engineer, Mechanical Prototyper, Software Engineer), posted September 11 to October 25, 2026; each Apply button opens a Notion page; "We are looking for world-class talent ready to tackle challenging projects that remove civilization-level constraints limiting the human body."Source
• Your websiteContact page: no form or fields; office clocks for Palo Alto, DC and Kyiv, a link to Careers, and one email address for "all other inquiries". There is no route for a unit, program office, partner or journalist to ask for an evaluation, a spec sheet or a briefing.Source

Move each role onto an edgerun.com page with what the role owns, what was shipped last month, pay and equity ranges, field travel (Kyiv), and how to apply. Add job-posting structured data so roles appear in job search. Add a short 'what working here is like' section with field photos and the mission.

Engineers choose hardware startups on mission, pay and proof of real users. Indexed roles reach passive candidates who will never see a Notion link.

• Publishing pay ranges

  Use bands, as the founder's own hiring post already did.

• HiringCareers page: nine open roles, six in Palo Alto (Principal Engineer, Embedded Systems; Mechanical, Electrical, Firmware and Software Engineers; Supply Chain Engineer) and three in Kyiv (Senior Field Engineer, Mechanical Prototyper, Software Engineer), posted September 11 to October 25, 2026; each Apply button opens a Notion page; "We are looking for world-class talent ready to tackle challenging projects that remove civilization-level constraints limiting the human body."Source
• HiringFounder's hiring post for principal engineers (YC S26): a wearable that reduces the effort of carrying heavy loads over distance, already with hardware on real users in the field; the software principal owns device-to-cloud telemetry, test and log databases, data pipelines and user applications, and firmware covers OTA updates; $200K–$250K salary plus equity, onsite in Palo Alto.Source

Build a unit-level report from telemetry: total hours and distance under load, average assist, battery swaps, uptime, faults and fixes, plus user feedback. Deliver it at the end of every pilot and monthly to customers, with no location data. Use aggregate numbers (with permission) on the proof page.

Commanders and program offices need evidence to justify the next purchase. A report from real use is that evidence, and it makes the device hard to replace.

• Telemetry raises security concerns

  Offer an offline export mode and no location capture.

• #15 Package a paid 10-unit pilot: devices, batteries, training and a field engineer for 60 days

• HiringFounder's hiring post for principal engineers (YC S26): a wearable that reduces the effort of carrying heavy loads over distance, already with hardware on real users in the field; the software principal owns device-to-cloud telemetry, test and log databases, data pipelines and user applications, and firmware covers OTA updates; $200K–$250K salary plus equity, onsite in Palo Alto.Source
• PressRuntime Wire: launched August 25, 2026; about 10 pounds; claims 30-45% less metabolic effort and 12 hours of runtime; more than 100 field tests with Ukrainian soldiers since May; Y Combinator-backed. The article frames the bet as whether lighter components can revive a military exoskeleton category that has struggled with weight, endurance and field reliability.Source

Create a two-day train-the-trainer course: fitting, the under-5-second don and doff, battery swaps, basic faults and care. Certify one or two soldiers per unit, give them a pocket guide and a direct line to the field team, and track usage by trained unit.

Unit trainers keep the device in use after the vendor leaves, which drives follow-on orders and lowers support cost.

• Trainers rotate out

  Certify two per unit and refresh each rotation.

• #15 Package a paid 10-unit pilot: devices, batteries, training and a field engineer for 60 days

• HiringCareers page: nine open roles, six in Palo Alto (Principal Engineer, Embedded Systems; Mechanical, Electrical, Firmware and Software Engineers; Supply Chain Engineer) and three in Kyiv (Senior Field Engineer, Mechanical Prototyper, Software Engineer), posted September 11 to October 25, 2026; each Apply button opens a Notion page; "We are looking for world-class talent ready to tackle challenging projects that remove civilization-level constraints limiting the human body."Source
• Your websiteHomepage: headline "MILITARY EXOSKELETONS"; specs "<10 lb" with batteries, "12+ hr" on "drone batteries, field-swappable", "30-45%*" assist ("less effort per step under load") and "<5 SEC" to put on, footnoted "Internal test data. Third-party verification underway."; missions ASSAULT, CASEVAC, ASCENT, PATROL and RESUPPLY; "Directly integrates with the kit you already wear"; offices in Palo Alto (headquarters), D.C. ("Government affairs") and Kyiv ("Field office"); a quote from the Head of Innovation Centre, 7th Rapid Response Corps, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces; integration partner Balistyka, a Kyiv body-armor maker founded in 2014; the only calls to action go to the Mission and Careers pages.Source

Secure one US unit or Army research lab to run a structured evaluation against its own task list: agreed protocol, 10-20 devices, a field engineer on site, independent measurement and a joint report. Build the device and documentation to US expectations (US-made parts where it matters, training material, safety data).

One US evaluation with an independent report changes the conversation with every other US buyer and is the usual step toward a program of record.

• Slow procurement cycles

  Run alongside allied evaluations so revenue doesn't wait on one buyer.

• #7 Publish the test protocol now and the independent results when they land, so the 30-45% claim can be checked
• #14 Build a US pipeline from defense innovation programs and open research topics on soldier load

• Public recordsSAM.gov registration: Edgerun Industries, Inc., active since June 5, 2026 (to June 5, 2027) for all awards, CAGE 198E0; primary NAICS 541715 (engineering R&D), also 333998, 336413, 336999, 339113 and 541330; a manufacturer of goods incorporated in Delaware.Source
• HiringSupply Chain Engineer (Palo Alto): qualify partners for metal 3D printing, short-batch PCBA and CNC machining for prototypes, and build out production-scale factories for aluminum, titanium, mass CNC, SMT, composites and soft goods; qualifying US factories is preferred.Source
• Industry researchJanes (March 2022): a US Army request for information on powered and unpowered exoskeletons listed tasks such as tactical movement carrying 99-136 lb, bounding rushes with a 75-90 lb fighting load, filling sandbags and dragging a 270 lb casualty 45 ft, and asked for demonstrated safety, integration with clothing and mission equipment, energy efficiency and readiness information.Source

Run one pilot with a firefighting or search-and-rescue team: the same device, a civil spec sheet, the mission-page task approach adapted to hose packs, rescue loads and ascent, and a joint report. Use it to test civil pricing and certification needs before committing to a product line.

A civil customer diversifies revenue, gives publishable results without OPSEC limits and starts the dual-use path the mission already promises.

• Distraction from the core defense market

  Limit to one pilot until defense pilots are paid.

• Your websiteMission page, "Upgrade the Human" by the founder and CEO (August 25, 2026): start with soldier load carriage, then expand into respiration, pressure and thermal control for energy, mining, construction, firefighting and rescue, then life support for space; the section heading is "The human is the bottleneck".Source
• Competitor researchRivals' own homepages: Hypershell sells consumer hip exoskeletons at $999–$1,999 (about 2.5 kg each), says it is the only consumer exoskeleton brand certified by TÜV Rheinland and SGS, and lists a "Rescue, Inspection, Security" use case; Dephy sells the Sidekick, a powered ankle wearable, with a 60-second quiz and free consultation booking.See the research Source

Design a per-device annual sustainment contract: spare batteries and wear parts, firmware updates, telemetry reports, field engineer visits and repair turnaround times. Price it as a share of unit cost and include the first year with every pilot conversion.

Recurring sustainment revenue smooths lumpy hardware orders, and buyers value predictable support for new kit.

• Support costs exceed price

  Price from measured field wear, and review after two quarters.

• #15 Package a paid 10-unit pilot: devices, batteries, training and a field engineer for 60 days
• #17 Turn device telemetry into a one-page report a commander can read after every pilot

• HiringFounder's hiring post for principal engineers (YC S26): a wearable that reduces the effort of carrying heavy loads over distance, already with hardware on real users in the field; the software principal owns device-to-cloud telemetry, test and log databases, data pipelines and user applications, and firmware covers OTA updates; $200K–$250K salary plus equity, onsite in Palo Alto.Source
• HiringSupply Chain Engineer (Palo Alto): qualify partners for metal 3D printing, short-batch PCBA and CNC machining for prototypes, and build out production-scale factories for aluminum, titanium, mass CNC, SMT, composites and soft goods; qualifying US factories is preferred.Source
• Your websiteHomepage: headline "MILITARY EXOSKELETONS"; specs "<10 lb" with batteries, "12+ hr" on "drone batteries, field-swappable", "30-45%*" assist ("less effort per step under load") and "<5 SEC" to put on, footnoted "Internal test data. Third-party verification underway."; missions ASSAULT, CASEVAC, ASCENT, PATROL and RESUPPLY; "Directly integrates with the kit you already wear"; offices in Palo Alto (headquarters), D.C. ("Government affairs") and Kyiv ("Field office"); a quote from the Head of Innovation Centre, 7th Rapid Response Corps, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces; integration partner Balistyka, a Kyiv body-armor maker founded in 2014; the only calls to action go to the Mission and Careers pages.Source

Build an allied evaluation kit: the field record (what can be shared), the test protocol and independent results, the kit compatibility list, a pilot offer and translated summaries. Pick two allied countries whose buyers are already evaluating soldier-load equipment and run the paid pilot model there.

A combat-tested record travels well among allies, and the same paid-pilot package can be reused country by country.

• Export control limits

  Get counsel's view before any shipment or data sharing.

• #7 Publish the test protocol now and the independent results when they land, so the 30-45% claim can be checked
• #9 Publish a kit compatibility list: which belts, plate carriers and packs it fits
• #15 Package a paid 10-unit pilot: devices, batteries, training and a field engineer for 60 days

• PressRuntime Wire: launched August 25, 2026; about 10 pounds; claims 30-45% less metabolic effort and 12 hours of runtime; more than 100 field tests with Ukrainian soldiers since May; Y Combinator-backed. The article frames the bet as whether lighter components can revive a military exoskeleton category that has struggled with weight, endurance and field reliability.Source
• Your websiteHomepage: headline "MILITARY EXOSKELETONS"; specs "<10 lb" with batteries, "12+ hr" on "drone batteries, field-swappable", "30-45%*" assist ("less effort per step under load") and "<5 SEC" to put on, footnoted "Internal test data. Third-party verification underway."; missions ASSAULT, CASEVAC, ASCENT, PATROL and RESUPPLY; "Directly integrates with the kit you already wear"; offices in Palo Alto (headquarters), D.C. ("Government affairs") and Kyiv ("Field office"); a quote from the Head of Innovation Centre, 7th Rapid Response Corps, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces; integration partner Balistyka, a Kyiv body-armor maker founded in 2014; the only calls to action go to the Mission and Careers pages.Source

Publish an open benchmark: standard loads, speeds, terrain, durations and measures, based on published military task lists, plus Edgerun's own results under it. Invite labs and other makers to run it. Host results on the site.

Whoever defines the benchmark shapes how buyers compare products, and it earns links and citations from researchers and press.

• Seen as self-serving

  Co-author with an independent lab and publish all results.

• #7 Publish the test protocol now and the independent results when they land, so the 30-45% claim can be checked

• Competitor researchRivals' own homepages: Hypershell sells consumer hip exoskeletons at $999–$1,999 (about 2.5 kg each), says it is the only consumer exoskeleton brand certified by TÜV Rheinland and SGS, and lists a "Rescue, Inspection, Security" use case; Dephy sells the Sidekick, a powered ankle wearable, with a 60-second quiz and free consultation booking.See the research Source
• Industry researchJanes (March 2022): a US Army request for information on powered and unpowered exoskeletons listed tasks such as tactical movement carrying 99-136 lb, bounding rushes with a 75-90 lb fighting load, filling sandbags and dragging a 270 lb casualty 45 ft, and asked for demonstrated safety, integration with clothing and mission equipment, energy efficiency and readiness information.Source
• Your websiteHomepage: headline "MILITARY EXOSKELETONS"; specs "<10 lb" with batteries, "12+ hr" on "drone batteries, field-swappable", "30-45%*" assist ("less effort per step under load") and "<5 SEC" to put on, footnoted "Internal test data. Third-party verification underway."; missions ASSAULT, CASEVAC, ASCENT, PATROL and RESUPPLY; "Directly integrates with the kit you already wear"; offices in Palo Alto (headquarters), D.C. ("Government affairs") and Kyiv ("Field office"); a quote from the Head of Innovation Centre, 7th Rapid Response Corps, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces; integration partner Balistyka, a Kyiv body-armor maker founded in 2014; the only calls to action go to the Mission and Careers pages.Source

Bring a small fleet of units to two veteran-led rucking or load-march events: participants carry the same load with and without the device over a measured stretch, with heart rate and time recorded. Collect feedback and video with consent, and invite interested participants to the updates list.

Veterans are credible messengers to units and procurement staff, and public trials produce content and word of mouth that a four-page site cannot.

• Device failure in public

  Bring spares and a field engineer; publish what happened either way.

• #6 Start a short updates list for buyers, partners, recruits and press

• Your channelsChannels: the YouTube channel has 21 subscribers, one video and 1,340 views; the site links X, Instagram and LinkedIn but has no blog, newsletter or news page.Source
• Competitor researchRivals' own homepages: Hypershell sells consumer hip exoskeletons at $999–$1,999 (about 2.5 kg each), says it is the only consumer exoskeleton brand certified by TÜV Rheinland and SGS, and lists a "Rescue, Inspection, Security" use case; Dephy sells the Sidekick, a powered ankle wearable, with a 60-second quiz and free consultation booking.See the research Source
• PressExoskeleton Report (week 35 newsletter, August 30, 2026): an item titled "The 10 lb Military Exoskeleton" on a Y Combinator Summer 2026 company aiming to "add torque to every step under combat load"; the same issue covers consumer launches from Hypershell and others.Source