“If you’re looking to create an opportunity for yourself financially, but also to make a difference for the country, the defense tech or dual-use ecosystem is a great way to do it, and it’s an important way to do it.” — Peter R. Dixon, Founder & CEO, Arkenstone Defense
On June 24, 2026, the historic War Memorial Veterans Building in San Francisco became the meeting point for founders, investors, military leaders, policymakers, engineers, researchers, and technology innovators committed to advancing the next generation of dual-use innovation.
Hosted by Silicon Valley Highpoint Capital (SVH Capital) and Co-Hosted by The Future of Tech, Dual Tech Summit 2026 brought together an exceptional community of entrepreneurs, government leaders, venture capitalists, defense experts, and startup founders to explore one central question:
How can breakthrough commercial technologies accelerate national security while creating scalable businesses that benefit society?
Throughout the day, conversations extended far beyond traditional defense technology. Speakers explored artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, robotics, aerospace, cybersecurity, venture funding, resilient infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and the growing partnership between Silicon Valley and government agencies.
The summit wasn’t simply about discussing emerging technologies—it demonstrated how collaboration between startups, investors, defense organizations, and policymakers is creating a faster path from innovation to real-world deployment.
Watch the Event Highlights: https://youtu.be/M-udPU41MzY?si=93CaygilEHgtg3D4
Explore Dual Tech Summit 2026 Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY1yaC9rcPxA
Setting the Stage for Innovation
The summit opened with welcoming remarks from Shawn Flynn, Managing Director of SVH Capital, who emphasized the importance of creating stronger connections between founders, investors, government agencies, and defense organizations. He highlighted the role of events like Dual Tech Summit in bringing together diverse stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies and foster meaningful partnerships across the innovation ecosystem.
Sponsored opening remarks followed from Peter R. Dixon, Founder and CEO of Arkenstone Defense, who reflected on how rapidly the global defense landscape is changing and encouraged entrepreneurs to view dual-use innovation as an opportunity to build companies with both commercial success and national impact.
Drawing from his experiences supporting defense technology initiatives, Dixon encouraged attendees to pursue mission-driven innovation, reminding founders that building technologies for national security is not only a business opportunity but also a chance to contribute to something larger than themselves.
Keynote Conversations and Featured Speakers
The morning keynote featured Sam Eckholm, Founder of SE Media and creator of Access Granted, alongside producer Swayne Martin.
Their conversation explored the power of storytelling in defense innovation and the importance of helping the public better understand the technologies shaping the future of national security. The discussion emphasized that effective communication is essential for connecting innovators, operators, policymakers, and the communities these technologies are designed to serve.
One of the day’s most compelling conversations focused on Ukraine’s rapidly evolving defense technology ecosystem and the lessons it offers the global innovation community. Reflecting on the pace of innovation driven by necessity, a Ukrainian representative explained:
“We understood that the only thing we could be successful in fighting is to be much quicker, much faster.”
Speakers highlighted how rapid testing, direct feedback from frontline operators, and streamlined procurement processes have enabled Ukraine to accelerate the deployment of new technologies. They also discussed the growing collaboration between Ukraine and Silicon Valley, where startups and established technology companies are working together to develop, test, and refine solutions for both defense and commercial applications.
Later in the day, attendees also joined Shawn Flynn for a special keynote and live recording of The Silicon Valley Podcast, where conversations explored entrepreneurship, venture capital, and the future of dual-use innovation.
Panel Discussions and Expert Conversations
Throughout the summit, attendees heard from founders, investors, policymakers, veterans, and technology leaders across a series of insightful panel discussions addressing the opportunities and challenges shaping the dual-use ecosystem.
Sessions explored topics including
- The Bridge: Where Startup Innovation Meets Government Reality — Speakers discussed how startups navigate procurement, align with mission needs, and bring technologies into government use.
- Smart Cities: The Future of Urban Innovation — Panelists explored how emerging technologies are improving infrastructure, transportation, and public services to build more resilient communities.
- Defense is Silicon Valley’s Oldest Business — A fireside chat reflecting on the evolving relationship between defense, venture capital, and innovation.
- Resources for Veteran Businesses & Supporting the Veteran Startup Community — Discussions focused on programs, mentorship, and support systems helping veteran entrepreneurs grow and succeed.
- Dual Tech and Capital: Funding the Future — Investors shared insights on funding strategies and evaluating opportunities across dual-use sectors.
- Human Performance, Autonomous Systems & Robotics — Experts examined how robotics and intelligent systems are enhancing human capabilities across industries.
A recurring theme throughout the discussions was that innovation alone isn’t enough—execution, collaboration, and understanding government procurement are equally critical. As Michael Nafzinger, Vice President of Lotus Petal.AI, explained:
“Government cares a lot about process… You could literally have the best product… but if you aren’t doing what’s required to get evaluated appropriately… they won’t select you.”
From navigating procurement pathways and securing investment to advancing smart infrastructure and supporting veteran entrepreneurs, the panels reinforced that the future of dual-use innovation depends on strong partnerships, disciplined execution, and technologies that solve real-world challenges.
This keeps the section concise while highlighting the most memorable and newsworthy takeaway from the panel discussions.
Founder Spotlights and Startup Showcase
Throughout the summit, founders presented breakthrough innovations across aerospace, cybersecurity, robotics, autonomous systems, AI, and advanced manufacturing.
The Startup Showcase created valuable opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect directly with investors, strategic partners, and industry leaders seeking technologies with both commercial and defense applications.
Founder Spotlight sessions offered attendees an inside look at the entrepreneurial journeys behind emerging dual-use companies, highlighting the persistence, adaptability, and long-term vision required to transform ambitious ideas into scalable businesses.
Technology in Action: Dual Tech Demo Showcase
The summit also featured a series of live demonstrations that allowed attendees to experience innovation firsthand.
Companies showcased technologies spanning autonomous systems, robotics, cybersecurity platforms, intelligent software, aerospace innovation, and advanced manufacturing.
These demonstrations transformed abstract concepts into practical applications, giving attendees a closer look at how emerging technologies are already solving complex challenges across industries.
Beyond the Stage: Building Community Through Shared Experiences
While the stage delivered world-class insights, many of the summit’s most valuable conversations happened between sessions. Attendees explored the Startup Showcase, connected with founders during networking breaks, and exchanged ideas throughout the venue.
The ClawCamp Campout offered hands-on opportunities for builders interested in autonomous agents, giving participants practical exposure to emerging AI workflows and automation technologies.
Meanwhile, the popular Tesla Experience allowed attendees to explore advanced mobility technologies while experiencing firsthand how intelligent transportation continues to evolve.
The day concluded with an energetic Happy Hour networking reception where founders, investors, military veterans, operators, policymakers, and technology leaders continued conversations that began on stage.
These informal interactions reflected one of the summit’s greatest strengths: bringing together people from different industries who share a common goal of accelerating meaningful innovation.
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Partners
Dual Tech Summit 2026 would not have been possible without the support of an incredible community of sponsors, hosts, venue partners, exhibitors, and ecosystem collaborators.
Sponsors:
Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Silicon Valley: The premier community for middle-market deal professionals, ACG Silicon Valley connects investors, executives, entrepreneurs, and advisors through education, networking, and business growth opportunities.
Arkenstone Defense: Arkenstone Defense helps innovative technology companies navigate the U.S. national security ecosystem by simplifying federal contracting, compliance, workforce management, and operational execution.
RapidSOS: RapidSOS is an intelligent safety platform that connects emergency responders with critical real-time data, enabling faster, smarter emergency response for communities, enterprises, and public safety agencies.
ShareVault: ShareVault provides secure virtual data room solutions that simplify due diligence, fundraising, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic transactions through enterprise-grade document security and collaboration.
Venue Partner:
American Legion San Francisco Post 1 & Post 599: Dedicated to supporting veterans, strengthening communities, and preserving a legacy of service, the American Legion provided an inspiring venue for leaders across defense and technology.
Beverage Partners:
Tequila ELREY: An award-winning premium tequila crafted from 100% Blue Weber agave, Tequila ELREY brought authentic hospitality and celebration to the summit experience.
AI BARMEN: AI BARMEN is redefining hospitality with AI-powered robotic bartenders that combine automation, smart inventory management, and personalized guest experiences.
GNUS.AI: GNUS.AI develops blockchain-powered infrastructure and decentralized GPU solutions, helping power the next generation of AI and Web3 innovation.
Host
Silicon Valley Highpoint Capital (SVH Capital): SVH Capital combines deep investment banking expertise with modern technology to help companies raise capital, execute transactions, and accelerate strategic growth.
Co-Host
The Future of Tech: The Future of Tech is a global platform connecting founders, investors, enterprises, and innovators through impactful events and ecosystem collaborations. Powered by Orbis86, OffChain Global, and BrandPR, it brings together communities across AI, Web3, and emerging technologies to foster meaningful conversations, partnerships, and innovation shaping the future of technology.
Event & Community Partners
Dual Tech Summit 2026 is supported by a growing network of organizations advancing innovation, entrepreneurship, defense technology, artificial intelligence, and veteran success.
WAVV Music, Access Granted, Stars and Stripes, Tesla, Aiify.io, ClawCamp, National Veterans Transition Services (NVTSI), DataCurve, Pharus Consulting Group, TGY Advisors, Circuit Launch, Founder & Co, VetsinTech, Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP, OVAL, Funding Breakthrough Lab, Army FUZE xTech, BytePlus
Looking Ahead
Dual Tech Summit 2026 demonstrated that the future of innovation is built on collaboration between startups, investors, government, industry, and defense leaders. Throughout the day, one message remained clear: the most impactful technologies emerge when bold ideas are matched with strong partnerships and real-world execution.
More than a conference, Dual Tech Summit served as a catalyst for new connections, investment opportunities, and collaborations that will continue long after the event.
We look forward to welcoming the global innovation community back for future editions of Dual Tech Summit as we continue to shape the future of dual-use innovation together.
