Mission Briefings #04: Defense Tech Matchmaking

Date & Time

Nov. 4, 2026, 8:15 a.m. - Nov. 4, 2026, 11 a.m.

Cost

$0

Location

Arlington, VA


Sign Up


Description

​Applications Close Thursday, October 22 at 5PM EST

​Mission Briefings are curated, small-group conversations designed to give defense and dual-use startups access to the experts that can help them scale.

​The fourth session provides 25 startups with direct access via 1:1 matchmaking to 25 experts from the Department of War, primes, venture capital firms, accelerators, and service providers.

​Each startup will have several matchmaking sessions with pairings driven by a preference-based process that connects founders with the experts most relevant to their technology and stage. Before and after the sessions, startups can connect with fellow founders and additional experts on-site.

​Space is limited due to the matchmaking format.

​EXPERTS

  • ​Army FUZE

  • ​AWS

  • ​Beacon Global Strategies

  • ​CSC Leasing

  • ​Energy Innovation Capital/EIC Virtus

  • ​Enlightenment Capital

  • ​FedTech

    • ​Sevan Araz, Program Manager, Defense and Commercial Innovation

  • ​Fuse Ventures

  • ​Knobbe Martens

  • ​Leonid Capital

  • ​Lockheed Martin Ventures

  • ​NASA

  • ​Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division

  • ​Noblis Ventures

  • ​Nooks

  • ​Northeastern University/Kostas Research Institute

  • ​Northrop Grumman

    • ​Paige Anderson, Sr. Analyst, Technology Scouting & Strategic Innovation

  • ​Pillsbury

    • ​Steve Ryan, Partner, ECVC Practice Group Leader

  • ​Plug and Play

    • ​Sean Rybus, Venture Analyst, Aerospace and Defense

  • ​SAIC

  • ​Sage Global Advisors

  • ​Second Front Systems

    • ​Matt Conner, Field Chief Information Security Officer

  • ​SpaceWERX

  • ​VC in DC

  • ​Veteran Ventures Capital

  • ​Virginia Tech National Security Institute

​

​AGENDA

  • ​8:15-8:50 - Registration + Networking

  • ​8:50-9:00 - Welcome + Directions

  • ​9:00-10:30 - Matchmaking Sessions

  • ​10:30-11:00 - Networking

​

​THE HOSTS

​National Innovation Quarter

​An innovation district in National Landing at the intersection of national competitiveness and technology.

​Virtus Innovation Center

​A physical hub in National Landin purpose-built for founders advancing dual-use technologies at the intersection of defense and global industry.

​JBG SMITH

​JBG SMITH owns, operates, and develops mixed-use properties concentrated in amenity-rich, Metro-served submarkets in and around Washington, DC, most notably National Landing.

​Arlington Economic Development

​Arlington Economic Development (AED) is committed to helping Arlington thrive as an economically vital, competitive and sustainable community.