WHERE NATIONAL
COMPETITIVENESS
& TECHNOLOGY
CONVERGE
Founding Partners
ABOUT
An innovation district in National Landing — a neighborhood spanning Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia — that brings together leaders in academia, entrepreneurship, government, and industry to solve the most pressing challenges at the intersection of national competitiveness and technology.
Have a mission-aligned event to submit? Send the details to info@national-iq.com for consideration.
Sept. 17, 2026
Join Knox Systems for a Lunch & Learn designed for startups navigating, or beginning to think about, the federal market.
We’ll break down the FedRAMP landscape, what startups should know as they consider selling into government, and how Knox helps technology companies accelerate the path to FedRAMP and the federal market.
Oct. 28, 2026
Building on the momentum of our Missions + Markets series, FORGE 2026 is our marquee gathering, designed to facilitate connections in National Landing between funders and startups across the defense and dual-use sectors. Since FORGE launched in March 2025, our ventures have closed 28 funding rounds totaling more than $115 million, from pre-seed grants to a $25M Series A. This is where capital meets the companies the country depends on. Join us on October 28 in National Landing.
Oct. 28, 2026
The FORGE 2026 After Party brings together the people building, funding, and shaping national resilience. This is an evening for the operators, founders, investors, and mission partners who are directly in the work of strengthening our defense and dual-use technology base, a chance to connect over drinks and continue the conversations that started earlier in the day.
Attendance is reserved for those directly involved in the national resilience ecosystem. Space is limited.
Developing the talent and breakthroughs of tomorrow
Scaling disruptive ventures and rapid-response solutions
Enabling policy, infrastructure, and regional strategy
Transforming advanced technology into scalable impact
LOCATION
National Landing is the premier destination for companies at the convergence of technology and national interest. Anchored by the Pentagon and Amazon HQ2 to the north, and Virginia Tech's new location in Alexandria to the south, National Landing attracts visionary talent and mission-critical capital that drives impact on a global scale.
Strategic Federal Access – Creating a direct connection between breakthrough ideas and mission-critical decision-makers.
The Tech-Security Corridor – Located within the nation’s highest concentration of specialized talent, attracting the workforce and capital shaping the future.
A Neutral Collaborative Hub – A dedicated “third space” outside government walls designed to foster authentic problem-solving between public and private sectors.
Purpose-Built Venues – From secure briefings to client dinners, flexible spaces designed to support every type of engagement.
OUR ROLE
Strategic Programming — The curator of year-round events and initiatives hosted across National Landing that align startup agility with customer demand signals.
Intentional Connections — The convener of experts across the innovation ecosystem to spark partnerships that tackle complex challenges.
Elevated Storytelling — The voice that amplifies the profile of the innovation district, highlighting partner successes to attract global investment and top-tier talent.
Market Acceleration — The architect of clear pathways to capital and early adopters, allowing breakthrough ideas to move rapidly from the lab to the global stage.
National IQ is made possible through the backing of our partners, sponsors, and supporters:
Founding Partners
Founding Sponsors
Supporter Circle
For media inquiries, please contact Sofia Royce at sofia@thebrandguild.com
Press Release: National IQ Debuts in National Landing
National IQ’s inaugural press release announces the launch of the region’s newest innovation district, outlining its mission, strategic location, and role in accelerating breakthroughs at the intersection of national competitiveness and emerging technology. (Download)
Press Release: National IQ Secures $4 Million to Grow Northern Virginia’s Innovation Economy
Arlington County announced has been awarded nearly $4 million to support programming to launch National Innovation Quarter (National IQ). The funds come from GO Virginia, a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of higher wage jobs in strategic industries. (Download)
Press Release: National Innovation Quarter Names Michael Manuccia as Inaugural CEO
National Innovation Quarter (National IQ) today announced the appointment of Michael Manuccia as its inaugural Chief Executive Officer. A founder, operator, and strategist whose career has spanned the FBI, defense technology, and venture-backed enterprise software, Manuccia will lead the nonprofit as it scales to strengthen national competitiveness by convening people, programming, and places across National Landing in Northern Virginia. (Download)
Press release: National Innovation Quarter (National IQ) Attracts New Defense, Venture Capital, and Innovation Partners to Join its Growing Ecosystem
Four organizations spanning defense technology, venture capital, and innovation have moved into the National Innovation Quarter (National IQ), with offices at 1550 Crystal Drive in National Landing, further cementing National IQ as a driver of cross-sector collaboration in the region. National IQ’s organizational office, Silicon Valley Defense Group, VC in DC, and Virtus Innovation Center have begun operations at 1550 Crystal Drive in National Landing’s innovation district. Each organization plays an integral role in building an ecosystem aligned with National IQ’s mission to create a transformative innovation district that strengthens the United States’ competitive edge. The organizations are connecting innovators to the D.C. region’s unmatched concentration of government, industry, and academic talent. (Download)
Ready to shape the future of National IQ? Connect with our team to explore membership and sponsorship opportunities, collaborate on events and programs, and more.
Please complete the form below or contact us at Info@National-IQ.com