Program · Fellowship
Insight Partners Defense Ventures Fellows
Insight Partners Defense Ventures Fellows is Insight Partners' fellowship offering immersive training for military and DoD personnel to understand venture capital and innovation.
- Application state
- Not published
Overview
What Insight Partners Defense Ventures Fellows offers
What Insight Partners Defense Ventures Fellows is
The Defense Ventures Fellows program is an immersion program for active military and civilian members of the Department of Defense who spend two weeks in cohort-based training and development, then six weeks embedded in a venture capital firm or portfolio company. Insight Partners participates in the program, hosting multiple cohorts. Participants return to government service with new insights about the innovation economy and commercial technology. The program creates knowledge exchange between VC, defense, and startup communities to address national security challenges.
Operational profile
Program status and context
Program status describes the program itself. Application availability and deadlines remain separate.
- Operational status
- Active
- Program type
- Fellowship
- Host organization
- Insight Partners
- Last reviewed
- March 16, 2026
Terms and economics
Published program terms
- Price
- Free
- Compensation
- Unknown
Focus and fit
Who the program is for
Eligibility
Active duty military; reserve and guard members; Department of Defense civilians; DoD personnel with interest in understanding commercial innovation and venture capital; members of federal agencies including Space Force, Air Force, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
- Sectors
- Defence Tech
- Regions
- United States
Format and cadence
How participation works
- Presence
- Hybrid
- Main location
- Washington DC area, United States
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Engagement
- Full Time
Delivery model
The program includes both in-person training and embedded experiences at VC firms or portfolio companies.
Participation expectations
Participants are expected to fully engage in the program for its duration, which includes both training and embedded experiences.
Availability and engagement
Application timing and route
- Application state
- Not published
- Admissions
- Unknown
Published timeline
The program lasts for a total of 8 weeks, consisting of 2 weeks of training followed by 6 weeks of embedded experience.
Value and support
What participation may provide
Publicly described support is context, not a guarantee of current delivery or future benefit.
What participants may receive
2 weeks cohort training; 6 weeks embedded in VC firm or portfolio company; hands-on investment evaluation methodology training; exposure to portfolio company growth strategies; networking between defense and VC communities; understanding of startup ecosystem; return to government service with innovation perspective.
Outcomes and track record
What the public record shows
Historical activity and reported outcomes provide context, not a guarantee of future results.
Reported outcomes
Notable participants include Colonel Eric Lyon (special forces), Captain Dave Kurtz (F-18 pilot), Jamie Johnson (Space Force acquisitions officer), Michael Baird (Air Force FAO), Georgia Bass (NGA researcher).
Common questions
Program details at a glance
Insight Partners Defense Ventures Fellows is published in Upseed as a fellowship program hosted by Insight Partners. Upseed treats the Program and its host Organization as separate records so each can have its own status and sources.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 16, 2026
Known limits
Terms, deadlines, and application states can change. Confirm current details at the published destination before acting. Upseed does not yet classify every Program destination as official.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or the official representative of this program or its host.