Defense technology companies seem to be playing an increasingly influential role in US government, but it’s not necessarily easy for these firms to get funding. While technology such as artificial intelligence is expanding rapidly, traditional venture capital firms remain wary of investing.

EdgeRunner AI CEO Tyler Saltsman offers his take on a new episode of Warrior Money, hosted by Patrick Murphy and Dan Kunze. To Saltsman, the “biggest problem” with VCs investing in the defense technology space is that they lack leaders with the proper backgrounds.

“They get an MBA from Wharton or GSB, and they’re now the gatekeeper of a bona fide VC firm,” Saltsman explains. “And if they’ve never built anything and they’ve never really had life experiences, how is this person the gatekeeper into a potential seed round, or a Series A? I think that’s very concerning.”

Saltsman suggests that these firms could benefit from recruiting employees with more diverse experiences. “I would challenge VCs to look for folks with different types of backgrounds, rather than just MBAs,” he says. “Let’s get some military people. Let’s get some folks that have actually built things.”

Saltsman goes on to note that most venture capital firms follow each other’s lead in this way, avoiding taking risks. “I’d like to see some different contrarian VCs,” he says.

In addition to expanding their ranks, VCs must learn to embrace risk. Saltsman says these firms “are too afraid to lose. And when you’re afraid to lose, you will just lose.”

On this week’s Warrior Money, Saltsman also outlines the defense technology he is developing as CEO of EdgeRunner AI. Hosted by former Congressman Patrick Murphy and veteran investor Dan Kunze, Yahoo Finance’s Warrior Money is a weekly vodcast dedicated to uplifting military veterans transitioning into civilian life. Listen to full episodes of Warrior Money here or wherever you get your podcasts.

This post was written by Nick Riccardo.