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The Firestarter Fellowship supports individuals with innovative projects.
The Firestarter Fellowship supports individuals with innovative projects.
The Firestarter Fellowship encourages the work of intrapreneurs on the leading edge of solving the most critical challenges in national security innovation. We identify and invest in individuals and ideas that have the potential to positively impact defense and national security missions. We connect directly to individuals, creating new opportunities for those who might not otherwise be able to pursue projects and ideas that could deliver results.
Fellowship Process
Fellowship Process
Each year we select a group of fellows who have ideas and projects with the potential to make a positive difference. Firestarter applicants pitch DEF on a project to develop a prototype which meets a unique need in the national security community.
Firestarter Fellowship One-PagerPast Fellows Focused on:
Past Fellows Focused on:
Negotiations & idea pitches; building communities of military personnel using artificial intelligence; creating coding resources for those interested in cyber fields.
Phase 1
Phase 1
Over the course of 6 months, selected Fellows receive tailored mentorship, advocacy, and initial funding up to $1,000 to develop their idea into a tangible solution. Firestarter Fellowship funding is used for the Fellows’ in support of their proposed project and its impact. Fellows meet twice a month to discuss project development, challenges and successes, along with the opportunity to participate in mentoring sessions and virtual roundtables with other thinkers in the national security space.
Phase 2
Phase 2
Fellows present project outcomes to the community at the DEF annual conference, and those projects with results and the highest potential for community impact are then selected for additional funding and sponsorship through the network of donors and leaders supporting our virtuous insurgency.
What this Means for DEF Members
What this Means for DEF Members
The efforts of the DEF community lay the groundwork for Firestarter Fellows’ ideas to spark, connecting them to organizations, opportunities, and individuals who can help shape their ideas into solutions. Recognition and support from DEF can positively impact the careers of Firestarters and, over the course of time, the Department of Defense and national security community as a whole.
By investing directly in members, DEF is enriching the community and amplifying the impact of change agents.
Interested in learning more or helping out?
Interested in learning more or helping out?
Contact the Firestarter Fellowship Team to get started.
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