top of page

DEF Agoras

In ancient Greece, the agora was the public square — where citizens gathered to argue, trade, and decide things together. DEF Agoras are that square, rebuilt for the national security ecosystem. Local chapters where the uniformed, the civil servant, the founder, the investor, the technologist, and the academic sit at the same table. 

DEF2025_Finals-4.jpg

What is an Agora

An Agora is a DEF chapter gathering. They are informal, local, and recurring. DEF is a non transactional community in that we show up for one another to be of service. 
 
DEF works to "increase the surface area for serendipity in national security" and Agora's is where that happens on the regular. 
​
​
Companies have been founded and funded, critical path introductions made and community found . 

The value is in the mix. Active duty and industry. Primes and startups. Policy and product. The ecosystem's hardest problems live in the seams between these groups, and the seams are exactly where people don't normally meet.​

Connect Locally, Reach Globally

Find the Agora event in your city and show up once. From there, the network doesn't stop at the city limits — from the Afghan evacuation to Ukraine, when something breaks, DEF members are already in it because they knew each other before it happens and the high trust relationships requisite to move at speed are already in place. 

  • Fri, Oct 23
    Dickerson
    Oct 23, 2026, 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM
    Dickerson, Dickerson, MD 20842, USA
    Just a fun night out with the community to tromp through an immersive 1mile fire twirling demon ridden town - just like doing business with the government - but there is food and drink!
agora-map-dark-2400.png

Find Your Agora — or Start One

Agoras exist because someone decided to convene one. If there's a chapter in your city, show up once — that's the whole ask. If there isn't, connect with us and we'll walk you through what it takes to start one.

bottom of page