Scores of accelerator programs run every year with the goal of identifying and nurturing founders in the early stages of building a company. However, among these myriad programs, only a fraction seek out founders whose values align with conservative ideals, such as family, patriotism, and faith.
Discipulus Ventures, which launched its first 10-person cohort yesterday, is a unique exception to this trend. The mentorship program for young founders seeks to bring together a rather unconventional type of individual in the tech world: someone with the idealism of Plato and the rationalism of Aristotle, driven to revive a Norman Rockwell-esque notion of Americana.
In contrast to other accelerator programs, the cohort of Discipulus founders will focus on solving problems related to hard tech, defense, and industry – collectively known as “American Dynamism.”
The program’s website explicitly outlines this approach, calling for student founders who possess “a strict devotion to truth and goodness” and who combine their vision for the future with “entrepreneurship, personal virtue, and a sense of obligation to our country.” This emphasis on values stems from the belief of the three founders that young people are not actively engaged in solving some of the country’s most pressing issues, such as reshoring manufacturing or providing clean energy to the electricity grid. Their reasoning? Students’ values no longer drive them towards mission-driven companies.
In a recent interview, one of Discipulus‘ founders, Jakob Diepenbrock, referenced a recent poll from the Wall Street Journal and the nonpartisan research organization NORC, which found that values like patriotism, religion, and having children have significantly decreased among Americans since the late 1990s. In contrast, the pursuit of wealth has increased.
Diepenbrock, along with Isaac Yi, Discipulus’s COO, and William Pan, the entrepreneur in residence, noticed this trend firsthand on top university campuses. Students were flocking to entrepreneurship as a means to an end: making quick cash or fitting in with their peers. (Interestingly enough, Diepenbrock himself did not graduate from high school until 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile.)
“A lot of people were starting companies, but not for the right reasons,” Diepenbrock explained. “It was just the popular thing to do. You go to school and start a social media or ‘Uber for X’ company because that’s what everyone else is doing.”
This issue is further compounded by a general suppression of free thinking and open dialogue on college campuses. Essentially, students are afraid to express their opinions, let alone voice what is truly important to them.
“If you can’t talk about what matters, you can’t solve problems,” Diepenbrock stated. “And if you can’t even talk about them, you definitely can’t solve them.”
Thus, Discipulus was born one year ago. A typical day during the cohort, which runs from March 25-29, involves a mix of community building, informative talks, and opportunities to work with mentors. The day begins bright and early with a 6 a.m. workout at the gym, followed by one-on-one time with a mentor. Some of the mentors include Katherine Boyle from a16z, Josh Manchester, GP at Champion Hill, Michael Gibson, GP at 1517 Fund, and Augustus Doricko, founder of terraforming company Rainmaker. The rest of the day is dedicated to working on projects, with the week culminating in a demo day for potential investors.
“The average or median age is typically 21 or 22 years old and doesn’t have an established network,” Manchester explained in a recent interview. “They might know a bit about raising money or go-to-market strategies, but they have a lot to learn from each other and our advisors. They also gain a valuable network and deeper understanding of their project, helping them determine if they should continue pursuing it or pivot to something else.”
The program takes place in El Segundo, California, a city located southwest of Los Angeles known for hosting major aerospace companies, such as Boeing and Northrop Grumman. In recent months, El Segundo‘s reputation has grown as a breeding ground for a new type of hard tech founder – one that closely aligns with the type of individual that Discipulus hopes to attract. This artistic community was brought into clear focus (at least on the internet) in February, when 20-year-old Rasmus Dey Meyer organized a defense tech hackathon there. For a brief moment, the internet was buzzing with discussions about “🇺🇸/acc” – a movement that aims to accelerate progress in artificial intelligence – instead of the more commonly known “e/acc” (“e” standing for “existential risk”).
Discipulus is heavily influenced by this energized atmosphere in El Segundo and is taking full advantage of it by cultivating a similar energy among program participants.
At first glance, Discipulus may resemble other hard tech programs. However, upon closer inspection, one can notice distinct differences. For example, the program is heavily male-dominated, and an American flag prominently hangs from the ceiling to emphasize the country’s patriotic values. But perhaps the most notable aspect of Discipulus is the presence of mentors like Joshua Steinman, co-founder of Galvanick, who bring their young children to talks and events. Isaiah Taylor, a Discipulus mentor and founder of Valar Atomics, also brought his daughter along to the February hackathon.
These seemingly small actions demonstrate a commitment to promoting growth and betterment not just in business, but also in one’s personal life – a true embodiment of the pro-natalist mindset. This willingness to stay true to one’s values without apology is a fundamental principle of Discipulus.
[…] year with the aim of identifying and cultivating founders in the earliest stages of building a company. Only a fraction seek out founders who are explicitly aligned with some set of values – let […]