Defense Tech and Dual Use Conference
Defense Tech is a mission-driven summit designed for founders building with purpose, and for the government and investors who support them.
Our goals are to:
Highlight early- and growth-stage defense tech/dual-use startups.
Foster public-private collaboration.
Equip founders with the insights, access, and community to succeed in defense innovation.
Agenda
09:00-09:30AM: Keynote & Sponsor Acknowledgements
09:30-10:30AM: The Defense Tech Investor Perspective | VCs on evaluating and supporting defense tech companies
10:30-11:00AM: Networking
11:00-12:00PM: From Zero to One: Building a Defense Tech/Dual-Use Startup | Early-stage founders share lessons learned entering the defense tech market.
12:00-1:30PM: Lunch & Networking
01:30-3:00PM: Frontline Founders: Live Pitches & Expert Feedback | Founders pitch their companies to a panel of investors, government leaders, and operators.
03:00-03:30PM: Networking
03:30-04:30PM: Buying Power: How the Government Shapes Innovation | Insights on government capital, procurement, and their impact on defense innovation
04:30-05:30PM: Closing Remarks & Networking
Joining Us At This Year's Defense Tech and Dual Use Conference:
Investors
Ryan Micheletti – The Veteran Fund
Larsen Jensen – Harpoon Ventures
Nick Snoad – Marlinspike
Kevin Higgins – Snowpoint VC
Manveer Sandhu – Plug and Play Tech Center
David Hartford – IronGate Capital
Celeste Ford – Stellar Solutions
Founders/Operators
Jim Lose – The Military Veteran
John Price – Highground Market
Mack Ohlinger – Dunedain AI
Kris Sandor – Readyly
Thomas Li – Deepnight AI
Adam Warmoth – Chariot Defense
James Brown – Schemata
Neal Rickner – Airloom Energy
Thomas Higginbotham – Kestrel Intelligence
Joel Nelson – Raptor Dynamix
Sasha Seymore – Learn To Win
Nuri Golan – Version Bravo
Rachel Olney – Arkenstone Defense
Alex Moffitt – Clara Copilot AI
Government
Michael Nordhausen – Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
Evan Karlik – Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
Thank You to Our Sponsor: