The Future of NatSec100

Lunch and Learn
Written By Dayton Segard

March 31, 2026 @ San Mateo, CA

The Future of NatSec100 brought together founders, investors, defense prime executives, and Department of War leaders for a forward-looking discussion on where defense and dual-use innovation is gaining momentum.

Hosted by Silicon Valley Defense Group in partnership with Franklin Templeton and RTX Ventures, the event spotlighted high-growth companies building capabilities across autonomy and sensing, deep tech development and manufacturing, and battlespace integration.

Through ecosystem briefings, a fireside chat on corporate venture as a catalyst for national security innovation, thematic pitch showcases, and curated networking, the program highlighted the companies and technologies shaping the future of the U.S. and allied national security industrial base.

We are grateful to Franklin Templeton for hosting us on its San Mateo campus and to RTX Ventures for partnering with us to bring this convening to life. We also want to thank the participating companies that shared their work and perspectives: Darkhive, Axilon, Lumafield, Dirac, Valinor, Code Metal, NODA AI, and Integrate.

The conversations throughout the day reinforced a central theme behind the NatSec100: defense innovation is no longer just about promising technologies. It is about identifying the companies that are scaling, engaging government and industry partners, and translating innovation into real-world impact for the warfighter.

Look out for the NatSec100 release on May 26, 2026 at www.natsec100.org.

Dayton Segard

I have been building websites & apps for over a decade and have done everything from providing middle-of-the-night on-call support to managing the development of insurance quoting apps.

Today, I build websites for businesses across a variety of industries and consult on website development, information architecture, and digital marketing strategy.

Regardless of size, my primary focus is helping businesses communicate their brand story—and connect with their audiences on the web—by creating engaging digital experiences.

https://thebookclubco.com
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