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About Hacking For Defense™

WHAT IS​
HACKING FOR DEFENSE?

Hacking for Defense™ is a university-sponsored class that allows students to develop a deep understanding of the problems and needs of government sponsors in the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. In a short time, students rapidly iterate prototypes and produce solutions to sponsors' needs.

For universities, it keeps their programs attached to real-world problems and provides students with an experiential opportunity to become more effective in their chosen field, with a body of work to back it up. For government agencies, it allows problem sponsors to increase the speed at which their organization solves specific, mission-critical problems. Learn more and watch video below

WHAT WE DO

WE TRAIN EDUCATORS & SPONSORS
​TO TEACH HACKING FOR DEFENSE

We host a series of conferences across the country to train educators and prepare sponsors. Attending educators hear from experienced H4D instructors, get access to highly-vetted teaching materials, and practice to teach in H4D's hallmark Relentlessly Direct style. Problem Sponsors learn about the H4D program, prepare to meet their students' needs, and meet the educators who will be teaching their teams. The next Educators & Sponsors Course will be held at Georgetown University from 1/17 - 1/19. Click the below to learn more about upcoming H4D Conferences.
Educators & Sponsors
​Conference

WE ARE BRINGING
​H4D TO UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE US

Our team of former military officers, entrepreneurs, educators, and emerging innovators is scaling Hacking for Defense to universities across the country. We are hard at work developing the curriculum and its supporting teaching materials, vetting the proposed national security problems, and preparing educators to teach upcoming H4D.
Learn about bringing
​ h4d to your university

WE CONNECT THE
DOD/IC TO THE NATION'S​ BRIGHTEST MINDS

The Hacking for Defense Program enables a new means to combat hundreds of critical national security problems each year. Government Problem Sponsors are partnered with the nation’s top students who are eager to harness their skills to address national security issues. Sponsors work closely with and guide their students while they utilize lean business practices to rapidly create and deploy solutions.
Learn About
​Government ​Sponsors

WE PAIR STUDENTS WITH
​CORPORATE MENTORS AND TECHNICAL ADVISORS

The Hacking for Defense program combines rapid problem sourcing processes developed in Afghanistan with innovative Silicon Valley business models. Students utilize the Lean Methodology, and we challenge them to understand the pressure and stress of starting a company. Corporate Sponsors support and mentor students during this process and develop close bonds with their teams.
Learn ABout Corporate
Sponsorship

BOARD

Colonel Pete Newell
Colonel Pete Newell, U.S. Army, (Ret.) is the former director of the Rapid Equipping Force and has over 30 years of experience in the military.
Steve Blank
Steve Blank is an 8-time serial entrepreneur and the creator of the Lean Launchpad.
Dr. Joe Felter
Dr. Joe Felter​​, U.S. Army, (Ret.) is a retired Special Forces and Foreign Area Officer and a senior CISAC research fellow at Stanford University.  Dr. Joe Felter is President of the board, and also runs the Hacking For Defense Project at Stanford.
Dr. Tom Byers
Dr. Tom Byers is an Engineering professor at Stanford University and Director of the Stanford Technology Ventures program.

PARTNERS

H4Di
Hacking For Defense Inc.

A non-profit platform that sources, translates, and vets problem statements for use in H4D networked universities and sprints.


​

​
Stanford University Crest
Hacking For Defense Project, Stanford University

Students form teams and pick a government problem to work on for the length of the course

Government sponsors communicate weekly with teams to give advice and feedback
MD5 National Security Technology Accelerator
National Security Technology Accelerator (MD5)

Develop innovators and human-centered networks who create high-tech ‘ventures’ relevant to national security.

Provides funding and government outreach for the expansion of H4D to other universities.
BMNT Partners
BMNT Partners

Conducts public/private partnership outreach in Silicon Valley on behalf of government agencies

Provides H4D education to build innovation platforms inside commercial and government organizations



Hacking for Defense: Stanford Management Science and Engineering 297 from Stanford Tech Ventures Program on Vimeo.

NO ENDORSEMENT OF H4Di BY THE US GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, OR ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IS INTENDED OR IMPLIED.

  • About
  • Government
  • Educator
    • Educator Information
    • Educators Course
    • H4D Problems
    • Course Materials
  • Corporate
  • Submit
  • Contact
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