Eric Schmidt

The Arena | Building elite teams for mission-driven startups The Arena is more than a talent firm—we’re your embedded hiring partner for scaling high-impact teams in national security, AI, and defense tech. We work directly with founders and hiring managers to place top-tier technical and federal sales talent at the speed and quality early-stage startups need to win. From go-to-market operators to engineers and cleared technologists, we deliver high-conviction candidates who align with your mission, culture, and pace. We don’t just hire—we build. Through Arena University, we help top-performing veterans transition into dual-use startups, unlocking an incredible pipeline of cleared, driven, and operationally excellent talent ready to make an impact from day one. Our approach is built on speed, precision, and deep national security expertise. If you’re building for the mission, we’re here to help you build your team. Think ahead. Hire better. Win faster. arena.vet university.vet