Defense Unicorns
Defense Unicorns develops open architecture platforms for secure mission systems, primarily serving the Department of Defense and federal markets. The company has raised $172M in funding and employs 235 people.
The growth story
Defense Unicorns grew from 19 to 235 employees between 2021 and 2026, raising $172M along the way, most recently a Series B in January 2026.
About
Defense Unicorns builds platform technologies that enable rapid delivery of capabilities across mission and technology areas. Their systems promote scalability and avoid vendor lock-in, creating partnership opportunities across the software ecosystem. Customers include the Department of Defense and broader federal market.
The company has grown to 235 employees since its 2021 founding. It raised $172M in a Series B round in January 2026, with backing from investors including AVP, Bain Capital Tech Opportunities, and Sapphire Ventures.
Founders and leadership
Engineering is the largest function at Defense Unicorns, with 97 employees. The company is led by a team with decades of experience delivering technology programs across the Department of Defense and federal markets.
The Defense Unicorns org chart
Robert Slaughter (Chief Executive Officer) leads 56 mapped leaders with 8 direct reports. Click +N to expand a team; names link to the person’s public profile.
Departments, and which ones grew
Headcount by function: Engineering 118 (+42% YoY), Information Technology 16 (+78% YoY), Sales 10 (+150% YoY), Business Development 10 (+100% YoY), Product Management 7 (+40% YoY), Human Resources 7 (+133% YoY).
Talent flow
Defense Unicorns draws heavily from military backgrounds, with top talent sources including the United States Air Force (32), US Navy (11), and US Army (9). Alumni have gone on to companies like Beast Code, Game Plan Tech, and Rise8.
Most common previous employers of Defense Unicorns staff: United States Air Force (32), US Navy (11), Amazon Web Services (AWS) (10), DoD Platform One (9), US Army (9), Red Hat (8). Former Defense Unicorns employees most often moved to Beast Code (4), Game Plan Tech (4), Rise8 (3), Redhorse (2), Chainguard (2), Liatrio (2).
Alumni worth knowing
The Defense Unicorns mafia
Defense Unicorns alumni have founded three companies, including Kvick, Wayfinder Strategies, and The Farfalla Project.
3Philip Laine, was Platform Engineer until 2025Luke Shabro, was Army Growth Lead 🦄 until 2024Jennifer S., was Mission Manager, Project Blue until 2025Hiring now
Web traffic
Traffic mix: 23% direct, 65% search, 6% social, 0% paid.
What this company is made of
Most common skills at Defense Unicorns: Leadership (100), Python (Programming Language) (92), Kubernetes (86), Linux (76), Amazon Web Services (AWS) (70), Software Development (67), Microsoft Office (64), Docker Products (63).
Where the team actually sits
Defense Unicorns people are concentrated in United States (18), Colorado, United States (17), Texas, United States (13), California, United States (11).
Search footprint
Defense Unicorns attracts about 42 organic search visits a month, traffic worth roughly $0K a month if bought through ads. It gained 90 ranking keywords and lost 20 in the last period.
What employees say
- Compensation
- 4.00 / 5
- Career opportunities
- 3.40 / 5
- Senior management
- 3.10 / 5
- Work-life balance
- 3.70 / 5
Frequently asked
Defense Unicorns has 235 employees as of September 2026.
Defense Unicorns has raised $172M in total, most recently a Series B round in January 2026.
Defense Unicorns was founded in 2021 by 🦄 Jeff McCoy.
Robert Slaughter (Chief Executive Officer) sits at the top of Defense Unicorns's reporting structure, with 8 direct reports.
The most common previous employers of current Defense Unicorns staff are United States Air Force (32 people), US Navy (11 people), Amazon Web Services (AWS) (10 people).
Former Defense Unicorns employees most often move to Beast Code (4), Game Plan Tech (4), Rise8 (3).
At least 3 companies have a founder who previously worked at Defense Unicorns, including Kvick, Wayfinder Strategies, The Farfalla Project.
Defense Unicorns attracts about 42 organic search visits a month, worth roughly $0K a month in equivalent ad spend.
The most common skills among Defense Unicorns staff are Leadership, Python (Programming Language), Kubernetes, Linux, Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Defense Unicorns staff are concentrated in United States (18), Colorado, United States (17), Texas, United States (13).
Defense Unicorns has about 118 people in Engineering, up 42% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Defense Unicorns has about 16 people in Information Technology, up 78% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Computed from 188 current and 122 former Defense Unicorns profiles, as of September 2026. Source: Crustdata.
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