Defending the Next Horizon 2.0

August 18, 2026

On August 18, Silicon Valley Defense Group joined NightDragon, Capital Factory, and GDIT to host Defending the Next Horizon 2.0, an invite-only defense technology showcase held alongside Fed Supernova in Austin, Texas.

Returning for its second year, Defending the Next Horizon brought together more than 200 senior leaders from government, the military, investment, and industry to connect some of the most promising national security technology companies with the people who can help them scale.

Hosted at Capital Factory, the program showcased companies working across defense, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, autonomy, and other mission-critical technologies. The afternoon was designed to highlight companies at different points in their growth journeys—from early-stage innovators developing new capabilities to more established defense technology companies positioned to deliver at national scale.

That range reflected one of the central challenges facing the defense innovation ecosystem: breakthrough technology alone is not enough. Companies must be able to move from prototype to production, attract the capital necessary to grow, navigate government acquisition, and ultimately deliver capabilities at the speed and scale national security demands.

Defending the Next Horizon created a forum for those different parts of the ecosystem to meet. Founders had the opportunity to put emerging capabilities in front of investors, government customers, and established industry leaders, while conversations throughout the afternoon explored how the broader defense ecosystem can better identify, finance, adopt, and scale the technologies shaping the next generation of national security.

Following the innovation showcase, attendees continued the conversation during a networking reception and a smaller executive gathering bringing together leaders from across government, industry, and the investment community.

For SVDG, events like Defending the Next Horizon are an extension of our broader mission: connecting the people, companies, capital, and government stakeholders necessary to accelerate innovation in support of national security.

Thank you to our partners at NightDragon, Capital Factory, and GDIT, as well as the founders, investors, government leaders, and industry partners who joined us in Austin. We look forward to continuing to build on the conversations—and partnerships—that emerged from Defending the Next Horizon 2.0.