Fall 2026 Cohort · El Segundo, CA
Discipulus Cohort
Two week residency in El Segundo with 10 other early-stage, value-aligned founders building hard tech and software for the national interest.
Cohort
Featured Cohort Founders.
It's safe to say that the Discipulus Cohort was a game changing experience. The opportunity to learn from established entrepreneurs, dedicate time to creating my initial pitch deck and presenting it to world class investors was an incredible opportunity that every defense tech founder needs.
What an incredible experience with Discipulus last week. Alongside 9 other focused, aligned, and moral young people I propelled myself and my startup with an intensity lacking most everywhere else. Excited for what is next for Discipulus!
DV packed more value into a week than others could in a quarter. The intensity, a hallmark of El Segundo, was exceptional, propelling our company forward. The DV team quarterbacked our fundraising efforts, orchestrating back-to-back meetings with world-class operators and investors. If you're looking to generate significant momentum in your company's early stages, this is the definitive program.
Discipulus Cohort was the launchpad Vanguard needed to transform our vision into reality. Since joining, we've raised a pre-seed round, initiated a CRADA partnership, and are in talks with some large customers for our product integration. The guidance, network, and momentum we gained through Discipulus have been instrumental in driving both our tech and partnerships forward.
Everyone in our cohort was mission aligned from day one and it created a profound bond between everyone in the batch. DV condensed several months of value in just a week. It set the stage immensely well for our pre-seed round and the team was there throughout the process to help us succeed. Discipulus will be ground-zero for many generational companies and will definitely be a significant factor in restoring western prosperity.
Jakob is a patriot, whose intense dynamism throughout the program was infectious. Beyond the Cohort, DVs mix of industry acumen and extensive network has allowed us to grow quickly without compromising our core mission. Can't wait to see what's next for El Segundo!
From day one, Discipulus brought together founders who were deeply mission-aligned and serious about building enduring American companies. That alignment created trust, speed, and an uncommon sense of purpose. It's rare to find a program that pushes this hard while staying true to first principles.
Selected Past Speakers
Selected Past Speakers.
After the program
After You Leave The Program.
- ●Get mentorship from mission-aligned unicorn founders in El Segundo
- ●Clear plan to raise a funding round with help from HF0 and in-person access to 100+ top investors through the Demo Day for the American Interest
- ●Become an El Segundo insider and get to know the key players in the ecosystem
- and more…
Example day
What a day looks like inside the Cohort.
The most productive 10 days of your company's life.
Our Team.
Advisors
Common questions
Frequently asked questions.
We welcome founders in the early stages of building or seriously exploring building hard tech and software for the national interest. We seek individuals driven by a unique set of values that motivates them to solve the West's hardest problems and attracts them to the culture of El Segundo. We've worked with student founders, full-time founders, and those balancing full-time jobs, so we don't exclude any particular persona.
The in-person part of the program runs for two fully paid weeks in El Segundo, CA, with attendance required for the entire duration. Other programming will be provided both before and after the Cohort. Founders will also be invited to yearly retreats with other founders.
No, you just need to take two weeks off for the program. However, we look for founders who are interested in pursuing their ventures full-time or already doing so.
No, it isn't.
No, only one team member needs to complete the application.
No, it isn't.
Yes, we welcome international applicants. However, please note that the in-person program requires travel to El Segundo, CA for two weeks.