

Founder Greenlight: NatSec & Dual-Use Happy Hour & Founder Showcase hosted by Founder Institute, National Innovation Quarter, and GO VA
Founder Institute, National Innovation Quarter, GO Virginia, Fluet Law, Pineland Ventures, and 5Side Strategy present Founder Greenlight, an evening of rapid-fire pitches from the next wave of defense and dual-use founders, the night before Fed Supernova DC.
Up to 16 founders from the Founder Institute Defense & National Security Accelerator and the broader national security startup ecosystem get three minutes each to show what they're building. No monologues. Just the problem, the tech, the traction, and the ask.
Then you decide who gets the greenlight. The audience votes live, and we announce the Audience Choice winners on stage.
Who should come: Founders, investors, DoW and federal innovation leaders, primes, and anyone who wants an early look at the companies that are on the cutting edge of NatSec.
Schedule
5:00 PM: Doors open, check-in, networking
5:30 PM: Welcome
5:40 PM: Pitch Block 1
6:10 PM: Break and networking
6:30 PM: Pitch Block 2
7:00 PM: Audience vote and winners
7:10 PM: Networking
Location: National Landing Experience Center, 241 18th St S, Arlington, VA (Plaza Level). Parking is very limited. Take Metro to Crystal City (Blue/Yellow) or use the Crystal Drive garage.
Hosted by Founder Institute in partnership with National Innovation Quarter and GO Virginia.
This project was funded in part by GO Virginia, a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that strengthens and diversifies Virginia's economy and fosters the creation of higher-wage jobs in strategic industries.