2026 Cohort Selection

The Combine

Designed to validate funded and emerging technology with operators and mission owners close to the requirement.

We match funded defense tech to champion problem owners. One week, in person, with structured operator feedback and clear next steps.

Looking for partners, a team, or problems to solve? Join Defense Builders →
Funded and need validation? Apply to The Combine →
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Open Access
Defense Builders
Selection-Based
The Combine
Next Cohort

Timing and location TBD

Selection-based · In person

Request updates

Apply Now
The Week

One Week. Operator Feedback. Clear Next Steps.

The Combine compresses months of discovery into five days of focused validation with the people who own the problem.

Day 1–2
Problem Immersion
Deep-dive sessions with mission owners. Understand the operational context, constraints, and urgency behind each problem set.
Day 3–4
Solution Demos & Feedback
Present your technology directly to operators. Get candid, structured feedback on fit, feasibility, and deployment path.
Day 5
Match Decisions
Final presentations, match decisions, and next-step commitments. Leave with a clear path or a clear answer.
Eligibility

Who Should Apply

The Combine is for teams with real technology and real traction. Leave your slide deck at home.

  • Funded or revenue-backed teams with a working product
  • Emerging tech aligned to Indo-Pacific problem sets
  • Founders and builders ready to commit to one week, in person.
  • Teams ready for direct, unfiltered operator feedback

Not funded or ready yet? Join Defense Builders to meet fellow builders and validate problems with end users.

Track Record

Past Cohorts

Cohort 01
Tulsa, OK
Combine 01 · 83 companies
Finalists Round
Honolulu, HI
21 matched companies · Honolulu + distributed locations
Outcomes

What You Get

Every team leaves with clear signal — validation, introductions, and a defined next step.

Operator Validation
Direct feedback from operators close to the requirement — not analysts, not middle management.
Warm Introductions
Connections to relevant program offices, primes, and deployment partners — when there's genuine fit.
Guild Listing
Combine alumni earn a verified Guild listing — a signal to the ecosystem that your tech has been operator-tested.
Alumni Network
Join a growing network of validated defense builders sharing deal flow, lessons, and operator access.
Next Cohort

Ready to validate with real operators?

If you have funded technology solving Indo-Pacific problems, The Combine is the fastest path to operator validation and deployment.

Next Cohort

Timing and location TBD

One week · In person · Selection-based

Request updates

Apply Now Join Defense Builders