San Diego has everything it needs to build a defense tech dynasty.
That's not my prediction. It's an observation from a panel at TechCon this week.
We have all the pieces: smart people, world-class academic institutions, incumbents, direct access to the customer base, and year-round training environments. San Diego weather wins again.
The one thing missing is a concept called king making. A pack that came up together, built something big, understands the playbook from live experience, got some skin in the game, and now seeds the next wave of companies. The group that turns a promising ecosystem into a generational one. And we have a few companies with the potential to do this right now.
It felt like a very San Diego conversation to be having right now.
The same week I got connected with a veteran from the SEAL community who introduced me to the Honor Foundation, a career transition program that helps Special Operations Forces translate their service into the private sector. People who spent their careers working directly with the largest customer our defense tech companies will ever have.
And it makes me wonder, what will we discover in San Diego this week?
What we’re howling about this week: |
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Tuesday, May 26
Founders Live Pitch Competition at 6:00 PM - Sorrento Valley
Mix, Connect & Overcome is a Founder's Mixer and Fireside Chat at 6:00 PM - Rancho Santa Fe
Wednesday, May 27
San Diego Cyber Group Meetup at 6:00 PM - Mission Valley
VibeFest 2026 - A.I. Project Showcase & Slopathon! at 6:00 PM - Convoy
Thursday, May 28
($) SD Defense Tech Meetup at 8:30 AM - Mission Valley 🐾
Where AI Meets Go-to-Market: Engineering, Sales, and the Blurring Lines Between Them at 5:00 PM - Downtown
AI Happy Hour May - LLMWiki & Persistent Memory at 6:30 PM - North Park
Friday, May 29
Creative Mornings: Jessica and Davin Waite on CREATE at 8:15 AM - Downtown
SDAC VIII Finale at 2:00 PM - SDSU
Free BBQ, Beverages, & Biz Networking @ Bermuda Club at 5:30 PM - Carlsbad
Saturday, May 30
1st Annual Physician AI Hackathon, by SoPE at 8:00 AM - UCSD
Sunday, May 31
Founders Fire at 4:00 PM - Encinitas 🐾
Building Super Coyote in Public |
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We're at 14 Super Coyotes. The den opens at 25.
I'm not going to pitch you on it. If you've been reading this for a while, you already know if it's for you.
The people joining right now aren't joining a finished product. They're joining early, on purpose, to help shape what this becomes: The Howlpha, The Slack and The Coyote Coffees.
Speaking of which, the first members-only Super Coyote Coffee is coming up June 9th. Details for super members only.
Founding rate is $15 a month. That price never goes up.
11 spots left before the den opens
Join the founding Super Coyote pack
or DM me if you have questions
p.s. switching to invite only at 25 members 🐾
What we’re howling about next week: |
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Tuesday, June 2
Coyote Coffee at 8:00 AM - North Park 🐾
Wednesday, June 3
San Diego AI Showcase #5: Distribution of AI products at 6:00 PM - Vista
Thursday, June 4
AI and the Future of Work at 12:00 PM - Torrey Pines
($) EDC’s 2026 Annual Dinner at 4:30 PM - Petco Park
Claude Code for Design at 5:00 PM - Register for Location
Paper Club # 2 - Hierarchical VLAs at 7:00 PM - Carmel Valley
Friday, June 5
First Friday Founders Hike at 6:30 AM - Torrey Pines Gliderport
Founder Fridays at 7:30 AM - Solana Beach
The 3rd Bridging Biomedical Breakthroughs Summit at 1:00 PM - UCSD
Mark Your Calendars |
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Tuesday, June 9
Super Coyote Coffee at 8:30 AM - Mission Bay … must be a Super Coyote to join. DM me in interested in joining the pack
Tuesday, June 16
($) Connect: 14th Annual Summer Social at 4:00 PM - Encinitas
It all started as a newsletter, but we’re building a bit more: |
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Into the Den is our podcast. San Diego founders, operators, and builders telling the real story. Recorded and coming soon: James & Ohad
The Super Coyote is becoming a small community for people who want to go deeper on San Diego. If you're not in yet, join us.
The Career Coyote is for the builders on the move. Growing San Diego companies that are hiring.
Howl yeah, looking forward to seeing you in the wild this week,
Jonah 🐺
the Howl Guy
linkedin
