Small defense-tech teams. One room. Real bids.
WarTechCon puts Southern California's small autonomy, AI and robotics teams in a room with buyers, primes, investors and engineers. Then it helps them team up and bid together.
- Mess NightsInvitation-based evenings around Southern California. First one in Long Beach, December 2026
- Cohort 190 days from strangers to a submitted CSO, OTA or SBIR bid. Opens January 21, 2027
- FlagshipOne day and one evening in 2027. Date coming
Register
Free. Takes 30 seconds. We'll invite you to the next Mess Night that fits.
You're on the list.
Invitations go out about three weeks before each Mess Night. Know a team that should be in the room? Send them this page.
Everyone in the room needs someone else in it.
Teammates and buyers
Meet the leads, subs, shops and program people you need to win work you can't win alone. Leave every night with three introductions.
Market research without the industry day
Talk to dozens of small teams in one evening and see working hardware, not slides.
Vetted small companies
Subcontractors for set-aside goals and deal flow that peers have already checked.
Jobs at companies that build
Engineering students and transitioning service members meet the teams that are hiring.
Mess Nights find the team. Cohorts get the bid in.
The room
Hosted evenings around Southern California with good food, a bar and a program under 20 minutes. Ambassadors make introductions based on what you said you can give and what you need.
From December 2026
The work
12 to 20 companies, 90 days. Cells of one lead with past performance and two or three subs form around a named CSO, OTA or SBIR call. An APEX Accelerator counselor and outside teaming counsel check every cell. You finish with a submitted bid.
Cohort 1 opens Jan 21, 2027
The show
One day and one evening. Cohort demos at the bench, program offices pitching builders for a change, and a public debate on autonomy.
2027 · Date coming
Should the robot decide?
An operator, a lawyer and an ethicist argue it with DoD Directive 3000.09 on the screen. The room votes before and after, and we publish how many minds changed. Pick a side when you register, or skip it. Answers are only reported as totals, never by name.
The short answers.
What is WarTechCon?
WarTechCon is a Southern California program for small teams building autonomy, AI and robotics for defense, logistics and sustainment. It runs Mess Nights, where builders meet buyers, primes, investors and engineers, and paid 90-day capture cohorts, where small companies team up and submit bids on named CSO, OTA and SBIR solicitations.
What is a capture cohort?
A paid 90-day program for 12 to 20 companies. Each capture cell is one lead company with past performance plus two or three subs, built around a named solicitation. An APEX Accelerator counselor and outside teaming counsel check affiliation and teaming terms. The cohort ends with submitted bids and a showcase day. Cohort 1 opens January 21, 2027.
Who should come?
Founders and engineers at startups under about 100 people building autonomy, AI, robotics, comms, power or sustainment for defense. Also machine shops and contract manufacturers, program offices and operators, prime small-business liaisons, defense investors, engineering students and transitioning service members.
Where and when?
Across Southern California. Mess Nights are invitation-based and start in Long Beach in December 2026; registering on wartechs.com puts you on the invitation list. Capture cohort 1 opens January 21, 2027. The flagship event is planned for 2027, with the date to be announced.
What does it cost?
Cohort seat prices will be published with the cohort 1 application in November 2026. Registering is free.
Is controlled technical data discussed?
No. There is no controlled technical data in talks, demos or problem statements, and every cohort cell works under its own confidentiality agreement.
How do I partner or sponsor?
Email hello@wartechs.com, or register and choose the company or sponsor role. Founding partners get a talent and supplier pipeline: engineering students, new grads, transitioning service members and vetted small suppliers.