Hack Factory
Hack Factory is a privately-held start-up studio and growth lab in Reston, Virginia that builds AI-native startups in cybersecurity, national security, and dual-use technology, providing venture capital, mentoring, and co-working space to founders in the DC Metro area.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersReston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Hack Factory does
Hack Factory is a privately-held start-up studio, growth lab, and brainstorming community headquartered at 11921 Freedom Drive, Suite 730, in Reston Town Center, Virginia. Founded by entrepreneur Matt Devost and affiliated with DEV Capital, the studio concentrates on building AI-native companies in three verticals: artificial intelligence, national security (including dual-use technologies mapping commercial capabilities to NATSEC requirements), and cybersecurity. The organization operates three integrated offerings — a start-up studio that builds companies from new ideas with rapid technology prototyping and deploys venture and developmental capital; growth labs and co-working that provide mentoring, growth and strategy advisory, networking, office space, and access to expert coaches in a secure, 24/7 environment with gigabit internet; and a brainstorming community that runs educational events and a Substack newsletter covering topics such as quantum security, digital innovation in Ukraine, AI, and venture investing.
The studio's core "product" is its portfolio construction engine. As of the input data, nine companies are being built or supported at Hack Factory, including Blackwire Labs (cyber resilience and domain-specific cybersecurity AI models), Kovr.ai (AI-native cybersecurity compliance automation for FedRAMP/CMMC), Tidal Cyber (adversary-behavior security tooling), Ramagine (on-demand malware analysis), Rainf4ll (physically-connected NFT technology), ODA (global risk management), DEVSEC (cyber intelligence and investigations), Ocient (hyperscale data analytics), and DarkLight AI. Notable portfolio milestones include Kovr.ai achieving first-customer Authority to Operate (ATO) readiness in approximately two weeks versus traditional multi-month timelines, and Kovr.ai closing a $3.6 million seed round in May 2025 with Hack Factory participating as a non-lead investor alongside IronGate, Xfund, OODA Ventures, and McLean Capital.
Hack Factory's business model combines long-duration equity returns from portfolio investments with subscription/recurring revenue from growth labs and co-working memberships. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; each start-up studio, growth lab, or co-working engagement is custom, contact-based, and structured as a multi-year contract, with co-working capacity described as intentionally limited. Distribution is regional, focused on the Washington DC Metro area, and go-to-market is community-led through social channels (X, Facebook, LinkedIn), the Substack newsletter, and curated events. The studio has 1-10 employees, no public listing, and no disclosed studio-level funding rounds, operating instead under the umbrella of DEV Capital.
Hack Factory firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hack Factory
- Legal name
- Hack Factory
- Website
- https://hackfactory.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hack Factory is a privately-held start-up studio and growth lab in Reston, Virginia that builds AI-native startups in cybersecurity, national security, and dual-use technology, providing venture capital, mentoring, and co-working space to founders in the DC Metro area.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hack Factory industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Incubation and Venture Studio Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Penetration Testing, Red Team & Ethical Hacking (EDAOAIAH)
Keywords
Where Hack Factory is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Reston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hack Factory business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Start-up Studio Investment: Provides venture capital, developmental capital and other investment funding to build companies based on new ideas
- Growth Labs and Co-working Services: Provides mentoring, growth strategy advisory, networking support, capital, office space, and access to expert coaches for established companies or new ideas. Co-working includes 24/7 secure access, conference rooms, gigabit internet, and amenities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom engagement based on startup stage and needs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Hack Factory product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hack Factory is a DC Metro-based start-up studio, growth lab, and brainstorming community that builds and supports new companies through rapid technology prototyping, venture and developmental capital, mentoring, growth and strategy advisory, and access to expert coaches. It also provides secure 24/7 co-working office space with gigabit internet and conference amenities, alongside educational events on AI, cybersecurity, quantum security, and disruptive technology. The studio's focus areas are AI/data science/ML, national security and dual-use technologies, and cybersecurity entrepreneurship.
Product overview
Hack Factory is a start-up studio, growth lab, and brainstorming community rather than a product company. It provides venture capital, developmental capital, investment funding, mentoring, growth and strategy advisory, networking support, office space, and access to expert coaches to entrepreneurs and start-ups in the DC area. The organization also hosts educational programs and community events on topics like quantum computing, AI, cybersecurity, and disruptive technology. No standalone software products or modules are offered.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Blackwire Labs: Cyber resilience solutions providing domain-specific cybersecurity AI models
- Kovr.ai
- Tidal Cyber
- Ramigine
- Rainf4ll
- ODA
- DEVSEC
- Ocient
Products and services
- Start-up Studio Builds companies based on new ideas through rapid technology prototyping, providing venture capital, developmental capital, and investment funding to enable disruptive solutions in AI, cybersecurity, national security, and dual-use technology markets. Intended for entrepreneurs and early-stage founders looking to develop ideas into operating companies.
- Growth Labs Provides meaningful mentoring, growth and strategy advisory, networking support, capital introductions, office space, and access to expert coaches for established companies or new ideas seeking an extra boost. Targets growth-stage founders and operators in the DC region.
- Co-working and Office Space Offers a limited number of co-working offices and open desks in a trusted, secure, and curated environment at the Reston Town Center location, featuring 24/7 access, conference rooms, Zoom rooms, gigabit fiber internet, and amenities. Intended for founders, remote workers, and teams needing a secure DC Metro workspace.
- Brainstorming Community and Educational Programs Community membership and educational programming covering disruptive technology, entrepreneurship, and cybersecurity topics, delivered via events and a Substack newsletter. Targets hackers, thinkers, strategists, leaders, technologists, and creators interested in disruptive technology and national security subjects.
Quantifiable outcome
- Achieved first customer ATO (Authority to Operate) readiness in approximately 2 weeks vs traditional multi-month timelines (Kovr.ai)
Companies that use Hack Factory
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hack Factory technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Hack Factory partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Second Front (2F)coreKovr.ai announced partnership with Second Front (2F) to deliver joint solutions accelerating software accreditation for government agencies
- AWS MarketplacecoreKovr.ai integrated with AWS Marketplace to deliver their AI-native cybersecurity compliance automation platform
- Blackwire LabscorePortfolio company providing cyber resilience solutions and domain-specific cybersecurity AI models, built at the Hack Factory start-up studio
- Kovr.aicorePortfolio company reinventing cyber compliance automation with AI-native platform for cloud and hybrid systems, built at Hack Factory
- Tidal CybercorePortfolio company providing the Tidal Platform giving defenders and enterprises tools to tailor security programs to adversary behaviors
- RamaginecorePortfolio company providing on-demand malware analysis designed to revolutionize how individuals and organizations combat cyber threats
- Rainf4llcorePortfolio company dedicated to bringing physical and digital worlds together through pcNFT (physically connected NFT) technology
- ODAcorePortfolio company helping clients identify, manage, and respond to global risks and uncertainties while developing robust and adaptive strategies
- DEVSECcorePortfolio company transforming data into actionable insights and providing advanced cyber intelligence and investigations services
- OcientcorePortfolio company enabling organizations to pursue new opportunities with transformational value from solutions tailored for hyperscale data sets
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hack Factory competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Founders Factory: Global startup studio and venture fund that builds and scales companies with corporate partners; directly comparable to Hack Factory's studio-plus-community-plus-capital model across multiple sectors.
- Idealab: Pioneer technology startup studio that creates and launches multiple internet and software companies; shares Hack Factory's model of in-house ideation, prototyping, and capital deployment.
- Betaworks: Startup studio that builds and invests in early-stage internet, AI, and culture companies from inception; directly comparable studio structure with a curated community and recurring event programming.
- Pioneer Square Labs: Seattle-based startup studio that founders and funds new companies from inception; comparable studio-plus-co-working structure and a thematic focus on enterprise and AI software.
- Atomic: Venture studio that partners with operators to build startups from scratch; shares Hack Factory's thesis of co-building companies with domain expert founders and providing operating support.
- High Alpha: Indianapolis-based venture studio that conceives, launches, and invests in B2B SaaS startups; directly comparable to Hack Factory's verticalized SaaS-and-AI studio approach.
- Science Inc. Operator-led startup studio that builds, funds, and scales digital businesses; comparable studio model combining capital, operating talent, and portfolio support.
- Antler: Global early-stage venture firm and founder residency program that builds companies from day zero; comparable founder-incubation model with thematic focus on AI and emerging tech.
Regional players
- 1871: Chicago-based tech hub and startup incubator offering co-working, mentorship, and programming; comparable community/growth-lab model but serves a different geographic market than Hack Factory's DC focus.
- 1776: Startup incubator and venture hub historically focused on regulated industries and government-facing startups in the DC region; directly comparable community-and-incubator model serving a similar founder audience.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hack Factory social profiles
Digital presenceHack Factory financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hack Factory leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Hack Factory funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hack Factory M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hack Factory
What does Hack Factory do?
Hack Factory is a DC Metro-based start-up studio, growth lab, and brainstorming community that builds and supports new companies through rapid technology prototyping, venture and developmental capital, mentoring, growth and strategy advisory, and access to expert coaches. It also provides secure 24/7 co-working office space with gigabit internet and conference amenities, alongside educational events on AI, cybersecurity, quantum security, and disruptive technology. The studio's focus areas are AI/data science/ML, national security and dual-use technologies, and cybersecurity entrepreneurship.
Is Hack Factory a public or private company?
Hack Factory is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hack Factory founded?
Hack Factory was founded in 2024. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hack Factory based?
Hack Factory is headquartered in Reston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hack Factory make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Start-up Studio Investment is the primary driver. The others are growth Labs and Co-working Services.
Who are Hack Factory's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Founders Factory, Idealab, Betaworks, Pioneer Square Labs, Atomic, High Alpha, Science Inc. and Antler. Regional players are 1871 and 1776.
Does Hack Factory have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hack Factory.
What industry is Hack Factory in?
Hack Factory's product category is Startup Incubation and Venture Studio Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOAIAH, Penetration Testing, Red Team & Ethical Hacking.