Silicon Valley Defense Group is proud to partner with the Naval War College Foundation to host, “U.S. and China Relations: Tension in the Indo-Pacific Region” on May 16th, 2023. 25th United States National Security Advisor, LTG (Ret.) H.R. McMaster will join in person to provide the keynote address.

Rapid advancements in technology, coupled with the evolving nature of threats, require the DOD to constantly explore and integrate new and innovative commercial solutions to stay ahead. Flexible funding is one way in which the Department of Defense (DOD) can create an emerging tech readiness ecosystem to foster innovation. In this conversation, SVDG Executive Director Sam Gray and SVDG West Coast Director Sarah Hess discuss flexible funding with Mac Thornberry, former Chairman of the United States House Armed Services Committee.

In the age of rapid technological advancement, the landscape of warfare is evolving at a breathtaking pace, opening doors to a future brimming with possibilities and challenges. As we embrace this new era, we witness the transformative power of trade, cyber-security, non-state actors, and social media algorithms, reshaping the very nature of conflict and national security.

SVDG Executive Director Sam Gray, along with SVDG Co-Founders James Cross and Chris O’Donnell, discuss Foreign Direct Investment with Jeff Field, Special Agent in Charge, San Francisco FBI Field Office, in the wake of Silicon Valley Bank’s failure. This conversation was recorded live at SXSW23 prior to the joint statement issued by the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve, and FDIC outlining the protection of depositors at SVB.

Success in venture capital is often measured by a portfolio company achieving ‘Unicorn’ status (the company being valued at over $1B). As VCs invest more heavily in defense tech and the U.S. government cultivates increased commercial technology into its ecosystem, this conversation will explore whether this indicator will lead to the transformation the defense sector is in dire need of. With participant experience across Congress, VC-backed defense tech companies, venture capital firms, and the military, this will be a can’t-miss conversation.

This month the nation’s most prominent thought leaders from across the defense, congressional, technology innovation, and private capital communities convened once again at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California. Their charter was identical to that of years past: review and assess policies that strengthen America’s national defense in the context of the global threat environment. 

Whether you’re a software company entering the federal market or a government leader responsible for making sure your team has the best tools to accomplish their mission, the Authority to Operate (ATO) process can be a critical enabler, or a massive roadblock.

Join Silicon Valley Defense Group and Second Front Systems as we host an open conversation about the current state of ATOs and the implications it has for stakeholders across the software acquisition landscape. Register here.

During this exclusive six-hour event, “Harnessing AI to Advance National Security,” SVDG and our partners at the Naval War College Foundation (NWCF) will assemble leaders from the business, technology, academic and defense sectors to raise awareness and discuss national security considerations presented by advances in AI. Registration is now open.

The Silicon Valley Defense Group (SVDG) would like to congratulate Harvard Business School’s Aerospace & Aviation Club and MIT Sloan’s Defense Technology Club for hosting an incredible conference last weekend in Cambridge, MA. The conference featured opening remarks by Ash Carter, 25th Secretary of Defense, and 35th Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

How strong is America's Defense Industrial Base (DIB) today? Where is it headed? How will trends in the DIB affect the venture ecosystem? How will economic drivers affect our national security? To explore the the debate over these crucial economic and military issues, Silicon Valley Defense Group (SVDG) is teaming up with NDIA to host a virtual event featuring the authors of the Vital Signs report.

The Silicon Valley Defense Group recently launched the SVDG Academy, a stage agnostic pipeline for initial entry into the federal market for high growth commercial companies and their investors. SVDG has identified an opportunity to help top-tier emerging technology companies enter government markets earlier in their lifecycle. Cohort companies gain access to office space and networking assistance in various markets across the United States.

On July 20th, 2021, the Silicon Valley Defense Group convened leaders from traditional VC, corporate venture, and government-funded efforts to discuss how the Department of Defense and Defense Industrial Base can better leverage the venture community. The event was held at Stanford University, in partnership with the Gordian Knot Center for Innovation and National Security. A small group, consisting of members of both the venture community and Stanford’s academic community, was invited to attend the event in person. The event was also broadcasted via Zoom for the public as well.

A new generation of technologies is transforming the nature of warfare, and the Department of Defense (DoD) must change decisively in the next five years to meet the rising challenge of artificial intelligence (AI). The National Security Commission on AI hopes that DoD will be “AI-ready” by 2025, meaning that “warfighters [are] enabled with baseline digital literacy and access to the digital infrastructure and software required for ubiquitous AI integration in training, exercises, and operations.”[1] But can DoD reach that goal in just five years? What relationships and capabilities will be needed, at home and abroad, to enable the United States to effectively lead on the new digitized frontier of national security? 

SVDG, along with 2 other alliances and 44 leading technology companies, recently wrote a letter to the White House and Office of Management and Budget encouraging the Biden Administration to reconsider the procurement process. Rather than developing technological and software solutions from scratch, which can be a costly process, SVDG and its cosignatories emphasized the benefits of selecting commercially available products. These alternatives are often more cost-effective and technologically advanced, thereby representing a better value for American taxpayers and government agencies.

The Silicon Valley Defense Group (SVDG) recently wrote a letter to Congressional Leadership expressing their strong support for the congressionally proposed Warfighter Innovation Fund (WIF). The WIF is a vital tool for ensuring our forces have the agility and resources necessary to access the advanced technologies our nations need to maintain our security in an era of great power competition. The WIF represents a critical, immediate step to current efforts in Congress and DoD to revitalize national security acquisition policy.

At the request of Congressman Banks, SVDG conducted a survey of members and compiled feedback. Of the report’s recommendations, SVDG views the following as the most valuable, and critical, to achieving the Task Force’s objectives.

SVDG looks forward to bringing an industry viewpoint as the Task Force continues to develop and implement policies and legislation designed to address the issues identified in the report.

In fall 2020, Silicon Valley Defense Group hosted a series of discussions to explore the challenges to developing a sustained, durable techno-security advantage in the face of a increasingly competitive environment. This report summarizes our findings.

A consortium of partners, led by SVDG and UC San Diego, are proposing to strengthen U.S. Joint Professional Military Education.

The nature of conflict has changed as the United States pivots towards a new period of continuous competition with geoeconomic adversaries.

The paper starts by offering an overview of venture funding trends in areas of DOD interest both generally, and then in the Artificial Intelligence category.