Fellowship
The Marque Ventures National Security Fellowship drops a carefully selected cohort of war‑fighters, veterans, government civilians and military spouses into the day‑to‑day rhythm of a seed‑stage venture‑capital firm that invests exclusively in defense and intelligence technologies.
During the fully‑remote six‑week programme, fellows dedicate roughly 8‑10 hours per week to sourcing startups, sitting in on partner meetings, building diligence memos and supporting portfolio projects that accelerate deployment of new capabilities to frontline users.
Instruction is “learning by doing”: no slide decks, no exams—just live exposure to how Marque evaluates teams, markets and go‑to‑defense strategies.
Weekly group syncs and one‑to‑one mentor calls reinforce lessons while preserving the flexible schedule that allows fellows to balance service, work or study commitments.
On graduating, participants join the Marque Alumni Network, gaining lifelong access to partners, deal flow and invite‑only events alongside previous cohorts who have already translated their fellowship experience into roles at DoD innovation units, venture firms and dual‑use startups.
Join the Superscout community!
🌍 Meet other scouts globally.
👀 Get first dibs on new scout programs and VC openings.
✨ Get feedback and investor recommendations for your deal memos.
✌️ Learn and grow together as a community!
Investing in breakthrough U.S. and allied deep‑tech startups that strengthen national security, from autonomy and advanced manufacturing to ISR and space.
Applications open twice per year; a short web form captures background, service credentials and availability, with an optional LinkedIn résumé.
The investment team reviews submissions on a rolling basis and invites shortlisted candidates to a 20‑minute Zoom interview focused on sourcing reach, intellectual curiosity and time commitment.
Cohorts are capped at ~20 fellows to ensure high‑touch mentorship, and final offers are issued four to six weeks before the late‑April and late‑October start dates .
The fellowship is intentionally unpaid to keep administrative overhead low and maximise cohort size; however, some fellows secure outside sponsorship from their commands or programmes such as SOCOM Warrior Care, which treat the placement as professional development.
There are no tuition fees, software charges or hidden costs. Marque covers all tooling; fellows only fund optional travel to defense‑tech conferences when in‑person passes become available .
The six‑week sprint follows a consistent arc:
Marque announced its Fall 2024 Fellow cohort in a press release highlighting the diversity of backgrounds and mission sets (https://www.marque.vc/resources/press). LinkedIn posts detail the programme’s six‑week structure and call it “unparalleled exposure to firm operations at the nexus of defense and VC”. Defense‑tech newsletter The Merge featured the fellowship as a “fastest route for war‑fighters to influence the startup ecosystem” in its March 2025 issue.
Is the fellowship full‑time?
No—expect 8‑10 hours a week spread across meetings and project work .
Is it remote or in‑person?
Fully remote, with optional in‑person event invites .
Is it paid?
The programme is unpaid, though some fellows secure external sponsorship .
What backgrounds qualify?
Active/reserve military, veterans, gov civilians and military spouses; select allied partners may apply .
How many fellows are chosen?
Roughly 20 per cohort to keep mentor ratios tight.
How often do cohorts run?
Two per year—spring and fall—with six‑week durations.
Do fellows need prior VC experience?
No—curiosity and mission alignment matter more than finance skills.
Does the programme guarantee a job?
No, but alumni frequently land roles in defense innovation and venture capital.
Can I participate while deployed?
Yes, if connectivity supports remote meetings; schedule flexibility is built in.
What’s the application deadline?
Windows open about eight weeks before each start date and close one month prior.
All trademarks, logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks, and brands does not imply endorsement.