Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review — Gecko's $71M contract with U.S. Navy, BuzzFeed doubts its business viability, and Amazon offers faster delivery
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Mar 20, 2026 Anita Ramaswamy, financial analysis columnist at The Information, breaks down big tech business moves. She covers Gecko’s $71M Navy contract and its drones and wall-climbing robots. She explores BuzzFeed’s shaky finances and AI pivot. She examines Amazon’s push for one- and three-hour delivery and what faster shipping means for retailers and consumers.
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Startups Replacing Legacy Defense Maintenance
- The U.S. Navy is awarding startups like Gecko big contracts to digitize maintenance with drones and wall-climbing robots.
- Gecko will inspect ship defects and use AI to model current and future structural issues, replacing some legacy contractors' roles.
Policy Push Is Accelerating Startup Defense Deals
- The Biden administration is prioritizing rapid modernization by shifting large contracts to younger defense tech startups.
- Anita notes this mirrors other deals like Anduril's massive Army contract and raises untested security and operational risk questions.
Robotics Could Spur U.S. Shipbuilding Comeback
- Gecko's tech could also support U.S. shipbuilding and reindustrialization efforts amid geopolitical competition with China.
- Anita ties this to job creation and strategic priorities as the U.S. seeks more domestic manufacturing capacity.