DEFCON AI
DEFCON AI develops AI-powered optimization software for complex systems, helping organizations anticipate and mitigate disruptions. The McLean-based company has raised $44M in seed funding and employs 52 people.
The growth story
DEFCON AI grew from 2 to 52 employees between 2022 and 2026, raising $44M along the way, most recently a Seed in August 2024.
About
DEFCON AI builds software that uses artificial intelligence and mathematical optimization to help organizations manage complex systems. Its technology aims to improve decision-making and operational resilience, particularly in dynamic environments where disruptions are common.
The company, founded in 2022, has quickly grown to 52 employees and secured $44M in seed funding from investors including Bessemer Venture Partners and Red Cell Partners. Its focus on optimization software for complex systems positions it in a niche but critical area of enterprise technology.
Founders and leadership
DEFCON AI's largest function is research, with 7 employees dedicated to this area. The company's leadership and technical team appear to have strong ties to defense and aerospace organizations, given the talent sources and backgrounds.
The DEFCON AI org chart
Yisroel Brumer (Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer) leads 19 mapped leaders with 4 direct reports. Click +N to expand a team; names link to the person’s public profile.
Departments, and which ones grew
Headcount by function: Business Development 10 (0% YoY), Research 8 (+60% YoY), Engineering 7 (-56% YoY), Information Technology 6 (+50% YoY), Finance 3 (0% YoY), Program and Project Management 3 (0% YoY).
Talent flow
DEFCON AI recruits heavily from defense contractors and government agencies, with the United States Air Force (7 hires), Northrop Grumman (5), and Red Cell Partners (5) being top sources. Alumni have moved to companies like Rilian, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing, with a median tenure of 2 years.
Most common previous employers of DEFCON AI staff: United States Air Force (7), Northrop Grumman (5), Red Cell Partners (5), Amazon (3), BAE (3), Lockheed Martin (2). Former DEFCON AI employees most often moved to Rilian (3), Northrop Grumman (1), Red Cell Partners (1), CVS Health (1), Boeing (1), The Omen Den (1).
Alumni worth knowing
Hiring now
Web traffic
Traffic mix: 0% direct, 0% search, 0% social, 0% paid.
What this company is made of
Most common skills at DEFCON AI: Project Management (18), Microsoft Excel (16), Python (Programming Language) (15), Leadership (15), Data Analysis (14), Java (13), Program Management (12), Microsoft Office (12).
Where the team actually sits
DEFCON AI people are concentrated in Illinois, United States (5), North Carolina, United States (4), United States (4), Virginia, United States (3).
Search footprint
DEFCON AI attracts about 1,138 organic search visits a month, traffic worth roughly $0K a month if bought through ads. It gained 18 ranking keywords and lost 16 in the last period.
Frequently asked
DEFCON AI has 52 employees as of September 2026.
DEFCON AI has raised $44M in total, most recently a Seed round in August 2024.
DEFCON AI was founded in 2022 by Yisroel Brumer, Grant Verstandig.
Yisroel Brumer (Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer) sits at the top of DEFCON AI's reporting structure, with 4 direct reports.
The most common previous employers of current DEFCON AI staff are United States Air Force (7 people), Northrop Grumman (5 people), Red Cell Partners (5 people).
Former DEFCON AI employees most often move to Rilian (3), Northrop Grumman (1), Red Cell Partners (1).
DEFCON AI attracts about 1,138 organic search visits a month, worth roughly $0K a month in equivalent ad spend.
The most common skills among DEFCON AI staff are Project Management, Microsoft Excel, Python (Programming Language), Leadership, Data Analysis.
DEFCON AI staff are concentrated in Illinois, United States (5), North Carolina, United States (4), United States (4).
DEFCON AI has about 10 people in Business Development, up 0% over the past year, as of September 2026.
DEFCON AI has about 8 people in Research, up 60% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Computed from 43 current and 24 former DEFCON AI profiles, as of September 2026. Source: Crustdata.
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