Roundtable Capital Solutions to Scale Defense Startups
June 5 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm EDT
| Share:
Join a roundtable addressing the growing disconnect between venture investment in defense startups and the realities of DoD demand, procurement, and budget constraints.
This focused discussion will convene key stakeholders from across the capital markets ecosystem—venture capital, private equity, corporate leaders, and defense entrepreneurs—to share their unique perspectives on overcoming these critical challenges.
Discussion Format:
An intimate, solutions-oriented discussion with 20-25 selected leaders from across the defense capital ecosystem, concluding with a networking social hour with light refreshments.
Key Topics
1. DoD Market Capacity & Capital Allocation
- Realistic budget availability and flexibility for new entrants and technologies
- Alignment challenges between venture return expectations and program of record timelines
2. Strategic Inflection & Market Consolidation
- Assessing the potential for a “Second Last Supper” scenario
- Identifying structural dynamics that could drive consolidation among VC-backed defense tech companies and/or a significant exodus of private capital from defense tech
- Strategic preparation opportunities for capital allocators and founders in this evolving landscape
3. Beyond Funding: Scaling Through Strategic Partnerships
- Learning from post-Cold War defense industry consolidation: opportunities for improvement
- Why capital alone is insufficient: navigating the critical prototype-to-production journey
- Leveraging M&A, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships to accelerate deployment
We look forward to your participation and insights in this important conversation.
Cost: $Free
Organizer:
AVolp@bens.org
Registration

More Events
A Conversation on Beijing’s Influence in the United States
Join a luncheon discussion on Beijing’s influence in the United States with author and expert on China, Isaac Stone Fish. We will discuss the relationship between the American business community and China – both recent history and emerging issues. Speaker BackgroundIsaac Stone Fish is the CEO and founder of Strategy Risks, a business intelligence firm which quantifies corporate exposure to China, and helps companies and entities manage and reduce their China risk. He is the author of America Second, a…
Luncheon with BENS President and CEO, General Timothy Ray
Join BENS President and CEO, General Timothy M. Ray, USAF (Ret.) for a lunch where he will provide an update on the organization and discuss 2025’s progress on the roadmap implementation. Gen. Ray will also answer questions about recent events and the state of our national defense.
Private Dinner with Brigadier General Mark Clingan
Join us for a private BENS dinner with Brigadier General Mark Clingan, Commanding General of MAGTF Training Command and the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. General Clingan has invited BENS members for a roundtable discussion on the challenges facing his Command, infrastructure modernization and human capital performance. Special thank you to BENS Chicago Member Paul Darley, President and CEO of Darley, for sponsoring this event. RSVPs are required and space is limited. Please contact Natalie Callone directly to reserve…
REFUNDS: Event Registration Fees are fully refundable up to 3 business days before the event. After that time, they are non-refundable as BENS has already incurred the expense of registration. Contact your Regional Director, the event coordinator, or email BENS@bens.org to withdraw from an event and begin the refund process. For additional information on refunds and payment policies, please visit our payment information page.