Chicago Defense and National Security Tech Social

​Chicago's defense tech moment is here. Come be part of it.

​Join Alumni Ventures and Frontier Mission Network during Chicago Tech Week for an evening connecting the founders, investors, and operators building the next generation of defense and national security technology — right here in the Midwest.

​We'll be discussing efforts to grow the region's presence in the defense innovation industry and showcasing local startups competing in the space and building technologies of critical national security importance.

​Alumni Ventures was recently recognized as a Top Investor on the 2026 NatSec100 by the Silicon Valley Defense Group, with 20+ portfolio companies among the top venture-backed defense and dual-use tech companies shaping U.S. national security. The AV portfolio includes companies building across aerospace, AI, energy, and critical infrastructure — including Impulse Space, Picogrid, Radiant, Firestorm, NODA AI, Northwood Space, Pacific Fusion, and Aalo Atomics.

​Frontier Mission Network bridges the region's research laboratories, startups, capital investors, and federal acquisition authorities — moving technologies from the lab into the hands of the U.S. military and intelligence community and growing Chicago's role as a defense innovation hub.

​Whether you're a founder, investor, government official, operator, or simply someone who cares about American national security and the technology shaping it — come ready to connect with others who take this work seriously.