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Category: Manifest West 2026
About Manifest West
Join leaders from government, venture partners, and defense techinnovators for two days of collaboration focused on reindustrializing America, mobilizing capital, and accelerating mission-driven technologies. Hosted by Southwest Mission Acceleration Center (SW MAC), Connected Capital, and Franklin Templeton, Manifest West 2026 creates a dynamic environment for cross-sector collaboration, and accelerated connection between innovators and decision-makers.
Featuring speakers from the Department of War, leading venture firms, and frontier-technology companies, Manifest West 2026 convenes the people and organizations shaping the next era of U.S. industrial strength
1.
Defense Tech Experience at Dillon Aero
We brought together investors, founders, and defense technology innovators for live technology demonstrations, a fireside chat on UAS and counter-UAS priorities, and two panels on securing Joint Force advantage and how the Army is transforming to win the future fight.
Panel – Securing the Advantage for the Joint Force
Moderator: Dan Madden – Partner, Squadra Ventures
Panelists: Ted Chavis – Sr. Advisor, JIATF-401; COL Nate Huston – Rapid Experimentation Joint Task Force, U.S. Central Command; Davey Gibian – Deputy Director, Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, U.S. Department of War
Panel – How the Army is Transforming to Win the Future Fight
Moderator: Drew Trojanowski – CEO, Southwest Mission Acceleration Center
Panelists: COL Nick Ryan – U.S. Army T2COM; COL Doug Jones (Ret.) – U.S. Army Office of Strategic Advantage; Dr. Matt Willis – Director, U.S. Army FUZE
2.
WM Phoenix Open – TPC Scottsdale
We convened investors, founders, and defense technology leaders for a fireside chat on industry prioritization for manufacturing superiority and a panel discussion on mobilizing capital to accelerate mission-driven technology development and integration.
Fireside Chat – Industry Prioritization for Manufacturing Superiority
Moderator: Jack Selby – Managing Director, Thiel Capital
Speaker: Fatih Ozmen – CEO, Sierra Nevada Corporation
Panel – Mobilizing Capital to Accelerate Mission-Driven Technology
Moderator: James Cross – Managing Director, Franklin Templeton
Panelists: Steve Bowsher – CEO, In-Q-Tel; Delian Asparouhov – Partner, Founders Fund; Matt Grimm – Co-Founder, Anduril
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