Will there be pitches or sponsor talks?

No. The organizers say the event has no sponsors, no pitches and no asks. It is a networking gathering.

Where is the event held?

In Washington, DC. The exact address is shared only with registered guests.

Is registration automatic?

No. You request to join on Luma and your registration is subject to host approval.

Defense Tech DC 021 – StartDMV Events

Name: Defense Tech DC 021
Start: 2026-11-24
End: 2026-11-24
Location: Washington, DC (exact venue shared with registered guests)

This edition of the Defense Tech DC evening meetup brings together innovators, policymakers, government stakeholders, entrepreneurs and technologists working on national security technologies. The hosts include Margaret Roth of Squadra and Stephen Babcock of Intake Media. It starts at 5:30 PM, with no sponsors, no pitches and no asks.

What to expect

Defense Tech DC 021 is the latest edition of a recurring Washington meetup for people working on defense and national security innovation. The format is simple: people come to network over a drink. The organizers describe it as "No sponsors, no pitches, no asks, just community," so expect conversation rather than presentations or a sales program.

Who should attend

The gathering draws policymakers, government stakeholders, entrepreneurs and technologists. If you are building a dual-use or defense technology startup and are new to the DMV, this is a low-pressure way to meet people who work across the government and startup sides of the field, from program and policy staff to founders and engineers.

Hosts

Margaret Roth
Stephen Babcock
Dominic Ventimiglia

The event is presented by Defense Tech DC. No agenda or speakers are published, which fits the networking-only format.

Venue and access

The meetup is in Washington, DC. The exact address is not public and is shown only to registered guests, so check your registration confirmation for the venue before you head out.

How to register

Request a spot on the Luma event page. Registration is subject to host approval, so submit your request early and wait for confirmation before planning to attend. The event page does not list a ticket price.

Defense Tech DC 021