Dave Harden
Founder & Managing Partner @ Outpost Ventures
- Role
- Founder at The Outpost
- Location
- Alexandria, VA, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Dave Harden
As a founder, investor, and retired Air Force pilot, I’ve spent my career building bridges between government and groundbreaking technology.Today, I lead a unified platform for market-shaping innovation—Outpost Ventures, Scalewolf, and The Outpost—working together to accelerate the deployment of technologies that strengthen national resilience and economic security across the U.S. and Europe.The Outpost connects private-sector innovators with government missions, shaping demand for critical technologies through strategy, partnerships, and go-to-market execution.Outpost Ventures invests in the dual-use companies powering those solutions—across energy, digital infrastructure, smart energetics, and advanced defense systems.Scalewolf, our European counterpart, extends this model into the Baltics and Nordics, building the infrastructure and industrial partnerships that turn innovation into capability.Together, these platforms align venture capital, project finance, and mission-driven execution—creating value through both company growth and project-level returns. We don’t just fund innovation; we help nations and their industries build the future they need.Before founding The Outpost, Outpost Ventures & Scalewolf, I co-founded AFWERX, the U.S. Air Force’s innovation arm, where we redefined how defense collaborates with startups and investors. That same mission now drives everything we do: advancing technologies that make allied nations stronger, faster, and more resilient.I believe innovation is a form of service. Whether in the cockpit, the boardroom, or on the front lines of technology, my purpose has always been to connect extraordinary people with the opportunities that secure our shared future.Let’s collaborate on building what comes next.
Experience
Founder
Jan 2019 — Present · Alexandria, VA, US
The Outpost was created to help companies and the government drive innovation for the nation. As a talent extension, companies bid for commercial and USG contracts and become eligible for USG Matching Funds. The Outpost has helped 250 companies win more than $510M of contracts.
Education
United States Air Force Academy
Bachelor's Degree, Electrical Engineering
1991 — 1995
University of Virginia Darden School of Business
Specialization, Design Thinking & Innovation
2017 — 2018
The George Washington University
Master of Business Administration - MBA, Organizational Management
2000 — 2002
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Executive Certificate, Strategy & Innovation
2019 — 2019
Skills
- Team Building
- Management
- Strategy
- Business Strategy
- Strategic Planning
- Leadership
- Entrepreneurship
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