Benefits for the DoD and IC
H4D acts as a force multiplier for the DoD and IC, increasing the speed at which national security organizations solve mission critical problems.
The DoD and IC gain a start-up’s sense of urgency and efficient use of resources to address emerging threats and existing challenges.
Students rapidly iterate on ideas to test solutions to operational needs in an extremely short time.
Agencies have the opportunity to engage with students who may one day be interested in working in national security and defense.
Problem Sponsor Role Overview
The Problem Sponsor acts as both client and liaison, owning the problem the students are trying to solve and guiding their proposed solution through facilitating their investigation into its root causes.
Sponsor engagement is a critical component of the success of the student teams and quality of their outcomes. Sponsor must identify at least 15 relevant contacts for their team, prior to the start of the course.
Problem Sponsor with Student Team from Duke University
Sponsor Perspectives
Discover the stories of past H4D sponsors and learn how their organizations were transformed by the impact of H4D.
Sponsor Highlights
How to participate
Problems should:
Be unclassified
Provide User-Access
Be dynamic
Have immediate national impact
Have dual-use potential in the private sector and long-term government application
Define the problem
You collaborate with H4D and build a Problem Proposal.
H4D translates your problem proposal into student topics. We make sure that students, faculty, advisors, and private investors understand the potential value of solving your problem.
You provide access to end users who will provide feedback throughout the process.
The end product will be developed using commercially recognizable terms, storyboards, and vignettes.
Select a champion
Identify an “In-service champion” who will do something with the results
Provides resources (not necessarily money) for follow-on effort
Provide mentorship
Provide a mentor that is the single point of contact for the team
Mentor the team weekly for 3 hours
Pitch the problem at info sessions
Provide interview access to users
Need help solving a problem?
Contact us to learn how you can leverage tomorrow’s brightest minds by sponsoring a problem.
Not sure the sponsor role is right for you?
Become an H4D Ambassador!
The Ambassador is an influential agent for innovation within their organization, helping to source the most interesting and impactful problems for our dedicated university teams to help solve.
Ambassadors act as a network connector, directing high-priority problems and motivated problem sponsors to the Hacking for Defense program.
The Ambassador program gives you unique tools to identify and understand the kinds of challenges your team is facing. This program also streamlines your access to the capability development resulting from an H4D university team!
If you think you would make a great H4D Ambassador or would like more information on the ambassador program, please reach out to contact@h4d.us.
Get Involved
Learn how H4D can help your organization
