The Marque Ventures Private Capital and Defense Fellowship
The Marque Ventures Fellowship Program integrates active-duty and reserve service members, veterans, government civilians, and military spouses into the day-to-day operations of a highly respected venture capital firm focused on national security and defense.
Participants gain exposure to cutting-edge technology and frameworks for assessing the viability of early-stage companies.
Important: This fellowship is not a startup incubator or accelerator. Individuals currently serving on a startup founding team are not eligible to apply.
Spring 2027 Fellowship Dates
Cohort 9: February 15 – April 9, 2027
Cohort 10: April 19 – June 11, 2027
Application Window: November 9–30, 2026
Applications submitted during this window will be considered for both Spring 2027 cohorts.
“… Marque provided me the chance to make a real impact on the future of national security.”
“As a Marque Ventures Fellow, I was able to identify startups with relevant military use-cases and connect them with warfighting organizations eager to test and deploy creative solutions. My time at Marque provided me the chance to make a real impact on the future of national security and enhanced my understanding of both the venture and defense ecosystems. It has been a transformative journey.”
Master Sergeant Vincent Olshove, U.S. Space Force (Ret.)
FAQ
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The program is part-time and designed to be flexible to fit around existing commitments, but participants should expect to dedicate 8-10 hours per week to fellowship activities, which includes team syncs, mentorship calls, pitch meetings, and various projects.
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The program is fully remote. All meetings, calls, and activities are conducted virtually with occasional opportunities for optional in-person event or conference attendance.
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The Marque Ventures Fellowship Program is an unpaid opportunity that provides hands-on experience in a venture capital firm focused on national security and defense. However, some participants are sponsored by their employer or through initiatives like the SOCOM Warrior Care Program.
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This program is not designed as a direct hiring pipeline, but participants gain valuable experiences that can help them secure roles in private capital and emerging technology.
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Fellows come from all professional focus areas, educational backgrounds, and seniority levels - frequently combining operational experience with insatiable intellectual curiosity.
