Non-Resident PUBLIC Entrepreneur Program

Homeland Security and Defense Cohort

Application Link

Deadline: September 1, 2023

About the Program

We are looking for projects that stand to make the world a safer, more resilient, and more free place – not what sounds most impressive. This NRPE cohort will also have the opportunity to participate in the Homeland Security Experts Forum in Washington, D.C.

We are looking for potential public benefit corporations, social impact corporations, mission-driven businesses, or public process improvement ideas or organizations aiming for B-Corp Certification, whose work is intentionally and primarily national security and defense related.

NRPE will come to the program with an idea, having been selected based primarily on concept and feasibility.

They will use the 15 months to

1) Refine the project or business plan

2) Identify and build partnerships with key stakeholders including funders

3) Prototype, whatever that means for their project

4) And prepare for public launch. This might mean finding an institutional home or partner, continuing to scale on their own, it really depends.

There will be numerous set opportunities for formal feedback and exposure. You can see more of the program outline for this cohort here.

If you’re interested in getting involved as an Advisor, Team Sponsor, or Partner, contact us here.

What To Expect

At the end of 15 months, NRPE’s are successful if:

• They have developed an idea to the point of “prototype,” where the next step is to Stand It Up or move on (knowing what doesn’t work is powerful, too).

• Facilitate and embrace nontraditional cross sector partnerships

• Prioritize real national security innovation that works with existing institutions and processes to progress rather than attempts to supersede or overhaul them in an unrealistic and often inappropriate time frame. 

Deliverables and Expectations

NRPE Minimum Engagement Requirements:

• Monthly check-ins (phone call, virtual, or in-person) between NRPE  /Teams and Advisors

• Quarterly written updates (briefs) on project progress shared across the cohort

• Participation in specific ecosystem events, as confirmed with each group as appropriate including Homeland Security Enterprise Forum, 9-10 October 2023 and Unicorn Strategies’ #NSGSCon 2023 and 2024

• One White Paper or similar publication for presentation and publication in early 2025

Minimum Support from Unicorn Strategies:

• An intentionally matched Advisor or Advisors from the Unicorn and partner networks to support their project

• Opportunities for public engagement and profile raising via podcast, events, publication opportunities, roundtables, public events, etc.

• Personalized, project and Executive Coaching on stakeholder engagement, fundraising, navigating the small business ecosystem, funding and investment support, media training, branding, and marketing ideation, etc.

• Opportunity to present, as appropriate, ex. HSEF and #NSGSCon

Application Process

The application asks four core questions:

• What threat or opportunity of focuses is

• How and why the proposed solution works

• Potential challenges particularly related to adoption and scaling

• Why the applicant or applicants are the individual or individuals to lead this initiative

Application Link

Dates to Know:

Application Goes Live: 19 July

Application Closes: 1 September

Application Review and Applicant Outreach: Rolling, beginning 23 August

Decisions: NLT Labor Day 2023

Applicants are encouraged to submit the vision they are most passionate about. Successful proposals will be those that aggressively embrace the Unicorn Strategies vision as articulated here .

Potential areas for consideration include:

• Early interventions to combat extremism

• Protection and use of digital data

• Combatting trafficking of people, goods, weapons, and/or narcotics

• Insider threat prevention

• Strengthening information literacy

• Disaster response and preparedness

• Aviation, mass transit, and travel security