Discipulus Ventures Opens Applications for Fall Cohort, Emphasizing "Real Problems" in El Segundo

El Segundo, CA – Discipulus Ventures, a hard-tech startup accelerator, has announced the opening of applications for its upcoming Fall Cohort, inviting founders to build companies addressing what it terms "real problems" for the nation. The program, led by General Partner Jakob Diepenbrock, is centered in El Segundo, a burgeoning hub for defense and deep technology startups.

Diepenbrock underscored the program's mission in a recent social media post, stating, "America's the best country in the world. But we need more founders working on real problems." He further asserted the importance of the El Segundo location for early-stage builders, adding, "If you're in the early stages of building something that actually matters, you have to be in El Segundo. 🇺🇸" The application deadline for the Fall Cohort is August 31st.

Discipulus Ventures aims to cultivate a new generation of entrepreneurs focused on hard tech, defense, and industrial sectors, a movement often referred to as "American Dynamism." This initiative seeks to counter a perceived diversion of innovation towards less critical areas, advocating for a return to values such as patriotism and societal obligation in entrepreneurship. The accelerator's website emphasizes a call for "virtuous, futurist, and renegade" founders.

The program offers a two-week residency in El Segundo, providing participants with mentorship from experienced founders and access to a network of investors. Past cohorts have seen significant success, with companies like Durin, Rune Technologies, and Vanguard Defense emerging from the program and attracting funding from prominent venture capital firms including Lux Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Point72 Ventures. Discipulus Ventures itself recently launched a $6 million fund to support its second cohort.

El Segundo has rapidly gained recognition as a strategic location for such ventures, hosting major aerospace and defense companies. The city's ecosystem has fostered a collaborative environment for hard tech founders, drawing substantial investment into local companies like missile maker Castelion, space pharmaceutical producer Varda, and precision manufacturing startup Hadrian. This concentration of talent and capital reinforces Discipulus Ventures' commitment to the region.