company

Rebellion Defense

Defense software company building AI and machine learning tools for the US military and intelligence community. Backed by Eric Schmidt and other tech investors.

Current Team

Eric Schmidt Current

Investor

Jan 1, 2019 – Present

Track Record

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Rebellion Defense lost major military contract and laid off approximately 90 employees

Dec 1, 2023

negligent

In December 2023, Rebellion Defense lost a major military contract and laid off approximately 90 employees. CEO and co-founder Chris Lynch had stepped down in August 2023, with Barry Sowerwine becoming interim CEO. The company, once valued at $1 billion, struggled to find widespread product adoption despite close Pentagon ties. Glassdoor reviews averaged 2.3/5 stars, with employees describing leadership as dysfunctional and citing the reduction in force as damaging to morale.

- Worker Rights - Corporate Governance

Sources: Forbes

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Rebellion Defense co-founders had conflicts of interest between Pentagon roles and founding defense AI startup

Jun 1, 2019

Rebellion Defense was founded in 2019 by Chris Lynch, Nicole Camarillo, and Oliver Lewis. Co-founder Nicole Camarillo co-founded Rebellion while still working at the Pentagon, with a pitch deck touting her 'present leadership role in U.S. Army Cyber Command.' Board member Eric Schmidt chaired the National Security Commission on AI (2016-2021) while personally investing over $2 billion in AI startups. Two Rebellion officials served on Biden's transition team, and the company hired White House tech director David Recordon as CTO. Ethics fellow Walter Shaub called Schmidt's dual role 'absolutely a conflict of interest.'

+ Revolving Door + Undisclosed Conflicts

Sources: Forbes· The American Prospect