Silicon Valley Defense Group

What Silicon Valley Defense Group does

Silicon Valley Defense Group (SVDG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit convening organization founded in 2015 as an informal working group at Senator John McCain's request, headquartered in Silicon Valley with a sustained presence in Washington DC. SVDG bridges the gap between the US national security community and the venture-backed innovation ecosystem by connecting three stakeholder groups — Government (DoD, Hill, DoW), Industry (defense primes and non-traditional startups), and Capital (VC and PE firms) — through curated events, research reports, and policy engagement.

SVDG's core products are content-driven rather than technology-driven. The NatSec100 is an annual ranked list of the top 100 venture-funded national security-focused and dual-use startups, launched in 2023 and distributed via a dedicated site (natsec100.org) with JPMorganChase as primary sponsor. The 2026 DoW Directory is an open-source acquisition-pathway guide detailing DoW offices, points of contact, funding programs, and go-to-market routes for defense startups, co-produced with Stanford's Gordian Knot Center, America's Frontier Fund, and BMNT. The Industry Collaboration Toolkit, launched in 2025 with Fenwick & West LLP, provides standardized legal templates (NDAs, MOUs, Venture Financial Riders) intended to lower friction in partnerships between startups and primes. SVDG also publishes policy papers, hosts salon dinners, public conferences, panels, webinars, and the SVDG Industry Council.

Revenue mechanics rely on Industry Council sponsorships and event sponsorship rather than product sales — all three flagship products are provided free of charge. The 30+ visible sponsor ecosystem includes defense primes (Lockheed Martin, Boeing, RTX), hyperscalers (Microsoft, AWS), defense-tech integrators (Second Front, Shield AI, Anduril ecosystem players), and capital allocators (Franklin Templeton, Crosslink Capital, Baird, Booz Allen Ventures). Pricing tiers are not publicly disclosed; contact is routed through [email protected]. The organization operates with a lean core staff of 1-10 employees, anchored by Executive Director Mike Keating (joined March 2025 from Deep Labs AI), Director of Strategy/COO Merritt Ogle, and Senior Associate Simone Montandon, alongside volunteer Executive and Advisory Boards.

Name

Silicon Valley Defense Group

Legal name

Silicon Valley Defense Group

Website

https://siliconvalleydefense.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Silicon Valley Defense Group is a 501(c)(3) non-profit convening organization, founded in 2015, that bridges the US national security community with the venture-backed innovation ecosystem across Government, Industry, and Capital through curated events, the NatSec100 report, the DoW Directory, and the Industry Collaboration Toolkit.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Industry Advocacy and Ecosystem Coordination

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation (BPAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Defense innovation ecosystem
• National security convening
• Venture-backed defense startups
• Defense policy advocacy
• Dual-use technology research

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Sponsorships: SVDG generates revenue through organizational sponsorships. Companies can join the Industry Council as sponsors to support SVDG's role in shaping ecosystem conversations. Sponsorship model enables access to curated network and influence over national security innovation discussions.
2. Donations: Individual and organizational donations fuel SVDG's mission, fuel initiatives, and support organizational growth. The donate page encourages quick and meaningful impact on the mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Silicon Valley Defense Group is a 501(c)(3) non-profit convening organization that connects government, industry, and capital stakeholders to address barriers to national security innovation adoption. Its core offerings include the annual NatSec100 research report ranking the top venture-funded defense and dual-use startups, the Industry Collaboration Toolkit providing standardized legal templates for defense partnerships, and the DoW Directory detailing Department of War acquisition pathways. SVDG supplements these publications with curated events (salon dinners, conferences, webinars), policy advocacy, and ecosystem coordination.

Product overview

Silicon Valley Defense Group (SVDG) is a non-profit organization that serves as a convening platform connecting national security practitioners with the innovation ecosystem. SVDG's core offerings include the NatSec100 annual research report ranking top defense tech startups, the Industry Collaboration Toolkit providing standardized legal templates for partnerships, and the DoW Directory offering acquisition guidance for defense startups. The organization also hosts events, webinars, policy discussions, and produces white papers to bridge the gap between government, industry, and capital in the national security space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NatSec100: Annual ranked list of the top 100 venture-funded national security-focused and dual-use startups
• DoW Directory
• Industry Collaboration Toolkit

Products and services

• NatSec100 Annual Report Annual ranked list of the top 100 venture-funded, national security-focused and dual-use startups, providing data-driven analysis of the evolving techno-security ecosystem. Distributed publicly via natsec100.org.
• Industry Collaboration Toolkit Foundational documents and templates developed in collaboration with Fenwick & West LLP, aimed at reducing friction and streamlining industry partnerships across the national security innovation base. Includes NDA templates, Memoranda of Understanding, and Venture Financial Rider templates.
• DoW Directory A publication detailing government acquisition entities, points of contact, funding opportunities, and go-to-market pathways for defense startups. Includes tutorials, directories of government offices, VC/PE firm lists, SBIR programs, OTA consortia, and defense accelerators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tripling of dual-use venture funding from $5B to $15B over 5 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Stanford Gordian Knot Center for National Security InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced the 2026 DoW Directory with SVDG. Steve Blank serves as SVDG Advisor and co-founder of the Gordian Knot Center. Joe Felter is Executive Director of the Center.
• America's Frontier FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced the 2026 DoW Directory. Steve Weinstein, General Partner at America's Frontier Fund, acknowledged for contributions.
• BMNTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced the 2026 DoW Directory. Pete Newell, CEO of BMNT, acknowledged for contributions.
• Fenwick & West LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDeveloped the Industry Collaboration Toolkit in collaboration with Fenwick & West LLP lawyers. The toolkit provides standardized legal templates (NDAs, MOUs, Venture Financial Riders) to reduce partnership friction.
• DLA PiperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted 'The New Space Equation' event in Palo Alto exploring partnership and capital formation for space innovation.
• Naval War College Foundation (NWCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for symposiums including the 2023 NWCF & SVDG Symposium on U.S.-China Relations with LTG (Ret.) H.R. McMaster keynote. Also partnered on AI and National Security events.
• Arlington Economic DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted 'Missions + Markets #03: Inside the NatSec100' event featuring live demos from NatSec100 companies in Arlington, VA.
• AIN VenturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted 'Defense Innovation + Investment Happy Hour' at the International Spy Museum with Long Knife, Washington Harbour Partners, P72 Ventures, and SVDG.
• Playground GlobalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted HASC Congressional Delegation at Playground Global offices. Jacqueline Tame is Operating Partner at Playground Global. SVDG has multiple events at Playground facilities.
• Georgetown UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored Georgetown Technology & National Security Conference (April 2026) and hosted 'Generation Maverick - Georgetown' event.
• Harvard Business School / MIT SloancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVDG is Founding Sponsor of annual Technology and National Security Conference. Co-sponsored 2026 conference at Boston, MA.
• European Commission / European Investment Fund / European Investment BankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted EU delegation dinner in Palo Alto with EU Ambassador to the US and Vice-President of EIB for transatlantic dialogue on defense and dual-use technologies.
• Forge Group, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted Lunch and Learn on INDOPACOM Innovation Security Cooperation Landscape covering foreign military sales and international security cooperation.
• TechstarsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVDG moderated conversation with Tanagra Enterprises founder at Techstars Space Cohort visit to Washington, DC.
• Second Front SystemsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership. Tyler Sweatt (CEO) featured in multiple NatSec100 webinars and panels. SVDG and Second Front co-hosted ATO webinar.
• Shield AIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in autonomous systems webinar. Chief of Staff Biz Peabody participated in APFIT webinar. NatSec100 company.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on SXSW 2023 panel 'Unicorns vs. Stallions: Are We Thinking About Defense Tech Investing Wrong?'
• MicrosoftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted SVDG Lunch and Learn on Digital Warfare at Microsoft facilities. CTO William Chappell participated in APFIT webinar.
• Alumni VenturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on webinar exploring defense tech investment opportunities for non-institutional/Main Street investors.
• Ronald Reagan InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted National Security Innovation Base Roundtable to inform 2026 NSIB Report Card.
• Friends of the House Defense Modernization CaucusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted reception with Reps. Rob Wittman and Pat Ryan to discuss moving defense innovation from promise to practice.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Association of the United States Army (AUSA): AUSA is a major professional association for the U.S. Army community, including defense industry partners. It shares SVDG's Industry/Government convening orientation but is scoped to a single service rather than cross-cutting national security innovation.
• Atlantic Council: Atlantic Council is an international affairs think tank with substantial defense, technology, and geo-economic programs. It overlaps with SVDG on defense tech convening and policy analysis, particularly its transatlantic scope (which SVDG is beginning to mirror via EU engagement).
• Hudson Institute: Hudson is a think tank with deep defense, technology, and national security policy work. It is comparable to SVDG as a defense-policy thought leader producing research and convening stakeholders, though its policy advocacy is broader and more politically oriented.
• Defense Innovation Unit (DIU): DIU is the DoD entity responsible for accelerating commercial technology adoption into the military. It shares SVDG's mission of bridging commercial innovation with defense users, but operates as a government program with paid staff rather than a non-profit convener.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): CSIS is a major bipartisan defense and foreign policy think tank that produces authoritative analysis and convenes senior government, industry, and policy audiences — overlapping with SVDG's research publication and convening function but at much greater scale.
• Aerospace Industries Association (AIA): AIA is the major U.S. aerospace and defense industry trade association representing traditional primes. It serves a similar convening function but at the incumbent prime tier rather than SVDG's venture-backed and dual-use focus.

Direct peers

• National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA): NDIA is the largest defense industry trade association in the U.S., convening primes, suppliers, and government stakeholders on policy, acquisition, and innovation — directly comparable to SVDG's Industry/Capital/Government convening mission at a broader scale.
• National Security Innovation Network (NSIN): NSIN is a DoD program office that connects venture-funded startups with national security problems. It is a direct functional peer to SVDG's mission of bridging innovation ecosystems with defense needs, though it operates as a government program rather than a 501(c)(3).
• America's Frontier Fund: AFF is a non-profit organization advancing U.S. leadership in critical and emerging technologies. It is a close peer to SVDG in scope (national security tech innovation, multi-stakeholder convening) and is even a documented co-production partner on the DoW Directory.
• Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP): SCSP is a non-profit successor to the National Security Commission on AI, focused on maintaining U.S. leadership in critical technologies. It overlaps with SVDG on tech-and-national-security policy advocacy and convening the Industry/Capital/Government ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/silicon-valley-defense-group
• Xx.com/SVDG_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Silicon Valley Defense Group