# Grant Verstandig

> Grant Verstandig is the founder and CEO of Red Cell Partners, a McLean, Virginia venture studio established in 2020. A co-founder of Epirus, DEFCON AI and Trase, he combines company formation with investment and operating roles. He is a former National Security Agency senior advisor, an International Spy Museum board member, and founder of the Verstandig Family Foundation. His private intelligence-artifact collection was exhibited at the museum in 2023.

- **Role:** Founder & CEO at Red Cell Partners
- **Organizations:** Red Cell Partners, Epirus, DEFCON AI, Trase, Andesite, Verstandig Family Foundation, International Spy Museum, Greater Washington Partnership, Third Option Foundation, Aspen Institute
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** High school diploma, Landon School, Brown University, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Seton Hill University
- **Known for:** Co-founded Epirus, which develops high-power microwave defense systems., Founded Red Cell Partners, which reported 15 companies created and 12 launched as of August 2026., Red Cell reported $600 million raised across the firm and its incubations as of August 2026.

## Career timeline

- **2008-2009** — Attended Brown University; did not complete a degree.
- **2018** — Co-founded Epirus; family established the Ruth O’Block Grant Endowed Scholarship Program at Seton Hill.
- **2020** — Founded Red Cell Partners.
- **2022** — Co-founded DEFCON AI.
- **2023** — His intelligence-artifact collection was exhibited at the International Spy Museum; received an honorary doctorate from Seton Hill.
- **2024** — Trase founded as a Red Cell incubation; Verstandig serves as co-founder and CEO.
- **2026-07** — Glenn Youngkin joined Red Cell as chairman; Verstandig continues as founder and CEO.
- **2026-09** — Red Cell announced a CDAO shared-savings pilot; DEFCON AI appointed Margo de Naray CEO, with Verstandig remaining executive chairman.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Epirus, which develops high-power microwave defense systems.
- Founded Red Cell Partners, which reported 15 companies created and 12 launched as of August 2026.
- Red Cell reported $600 million raised across the firm and its incubations as of August 2026.
- Received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Seton Hill University in May 2023.
- Established a scholarship program honoring his grandmother through a seven-figure family commitment in 2018.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — September 29: DEFCON AI named Margo de Naray CEO and reported more than $150 million in contracted revenue backlog; Verstandig remains co-founder and executive chairman.
- **2026-09** — September 8: Red Cell announced a shared-savings pilot agreement with CDAO, with a ceiling up to $100 million in the first year.
- **2026-08** — Red Cell’s published firm metrics listed 15 companies created, 12 launched, 74 full-time studio employees, and $600 million raised across the firm and incubations.
- **2026-07** — July 15: Glenn Youngkin became Red Cell chairman, partner and board member. Verstandig remains founder and CEO.

## Links

- Website: https://www.redcellpartners.com/member/grant-verstandig/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-verstandig-4b92a416
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/grantverstandig
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grantverstandig4/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/grant-verstandig
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-16