Common Mission Project

At the Common Mission Project, we believe solving national challenges requires more than policy — it demands action. We operate at the intersection of education, innovation, STEM, and national interest, empowering the next generation of public-interest entrepreneurs to build solutions where government, academia, and industry meet. Our work stands on three pillars: Fund: We provide early-stage, non-dilutive funding to student teams tackling challenges across national security, diplomacy, STEM, and critical technology sectors. Forge: We train students, educators, and emerging leaders through applied innovation frameworks rooted in Lean Startup methodology and mission-driven entrepreneurship. Convene: We bring together executive-level military, government, private sector, and academic partners to accelerate solutions to the nation’s hardest and most consequential problems. Founded on the belief that the national interest must be a shared effort, CMP creates pathways for civic engagement and innovation leadership — preparing the next generation to lead where it matters most. Our model draws inspiration from the legacy of Vannevar Bush and Fred Terman — forging a modern coalition to strengthen America's STEM, innovation, and national security ecosystem. CMP is the engine behind the Hacking for Defense® (H4D) movement and a pioneer in non-dilutive pre-seed funding for emerging national security and STEM ventures.