YV Host Powerful Defense Tech Summit

YV, along with partners Defense X and Innovation Ranch welcomed defense tech leaders from across the nation to Defense Tech Focus ‘24 in Milwaukee Wisconsin. TSGT David Brown wins top honors / Patriot Award.

- (Milwaukee, WI) - This August, Defense Tech Focus ‘24 was held at the iconic War Memorial Center on Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, WI. The event hosted defense leaders, innovators, supporting organizations and venture capital / private equity firms from around the country.

Defense tech innovators from the midwest where showcased and demonstrated their technologies. Companies ranged from pre-revenue startups, tech firms with $3M plus revenue, and prime contractors with over $100M in revenue. The event also marked the start of cohort number three for YV’s Defense X Navigator program which features six dual-use tech companies from the United States and Israel. Def X is an eight week, non-dilutive navigator program that gets cohort members “DoD ready”, helping the compete for and win United States defense contracts.

YV also welcomed Silicon Valley based venture firm StealthPoint and Chicago based private equity group NATSEC Capital Partners to help build and support midwest defense tech ecosystem growth.

The evening was capped off with Michael Adam presenting the Patriot Award to TSGT David Brown for his outstanding commitment in advancing defense technology. TSGT Brown leads ForwardWERX, an Air National Guard innovation spark cell based at the 115th Fighter Wing and 128th Air Refueling Wing.

Defense Tech Focus ‘25 will be held next summer at the War Memorial Center and will offer even more opportunities for defense tech stakeholders to interact and collaborate.