Identify and support cutting-edge innovations that address critical DoD needs to join a 4-month accelerator program and receive $15,000 for program participation.

Overview

The Defense Innovation Unit, in partnership with the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Washington and key Department of Defense (DoD) stakeholders, is hosting a Defense Tech Accelerator Challenge to identify and support cutting-edge innovations that address critical DoD needs. This challenge serves as the entry point to a 4-month accelerator program in Renton, WA, designed to prepare innovators for the complexities of the defense market and position them for success.

A team of subject matter experts will evaluate applicants and select up to 8 finalists to participate in the accelerator program. Finalists will receive tailored mentorship, DoD engagement opportunities, and funding support to help scale their technologies for DoD applications.

Problem Statement

Startups and innovators often encounter significant barriers when navigating the defense marketplace, particularly during the transition phase preceding acquisition readiness. These barriers include a lack of understanding of DoD customer needs, the complexity of defense acquisition processes, and the ability to demonstrate dual-use technology capabilities. The Defense Tech Accelerator Challenge aims to bridge these gaps by identifying promising innovators and equipping them with the tools, knowledge, and networks needed to succeed in the defense ecosystem.

The specific focus areas for the challenge include:

  • Technological solutions aligned with DoD mission needs in:
    • Energy (ex. Energy Storage, Power Grid Integration, Renewable Energy Gen, Directed Energy, etc.)
    • Autonomy (ex. Logistical Solutions, Contested Navigation, C-UAS, etc.)
    • Cyber (ex. Tactical EW, Secure Info Sharing, 5G / EM Spectrum Dev, etc.)
    • Artifical Intelligence (AI) (ex. ML Advancement, Battle Space Awareness, etc.)
    • Emerging Tech (ex. Additive Manufacturing, Augmented Reality, Hypersonics, etc.)
  • Commercially viable, dual-use technologies that address strategic gaps in defense capabilities.
  • Innovations that demonstrate potential for scalability, cost-effectiveness, and operational impact.

End-User: U. S. DoD

Key Dates

  • February 10, 2025: Solicitation Release - Challenge.gov, NSIN website

  • February 19, 2025: “Ask Me Anything” Session - Register Now

  • February 27, 2025: Solicitation Closes & Down-selection Begins

  • March 14, 2025: Finalists Announced & Accelerator Agenda Distributed

  • Week of March 24, 2025: Accelerator Program Launches

  • Week of July 21, 2025: Accelerator Program Concludes

Benefits of Participating

  • $15,000 in funding per finalist to support program participation.
  • Entry into a 4-month accelerator program designed to enhance readiness for DoD market engagement.
  • Mentoring from subject matter experts in our ecosystem.
  • Potential for follow-on opportunities such as Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants, Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs), and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs).
  • Comprehensive curriculum covering defense tech market insights, acquisition processes, and technology readiness development.
  • Opportunities for cross-startup collaboration.

Eligibility

  • U.S. owned and operated companies and startups.
  • Active registration in SAM.gov
  • Non-traditional defense contractors as defined in the 2023 DoD Other Transactions Guide
  • Ability to commit to the 4-month accelerator program in Renton, WA. This will consist of 10 days of on-site programming (2 days per on-site session) over the course of the 4-month program period. There will be a cadence of on-site programming roughly every 3-4 weeks throughout the 4-month accelerator. It is expected of selected companies to be physically on-site at the determined location for accelerator programming. In-person programming could be hosted at other locations besides Renton, WA to enhance partnership opportunities for participating companies (e.g. Spokane, WA, Tri-Cities, WA, Portland, OR, Boise, ID, Bozeman, MT, etc.). Companies selected will be given appropriate lead time to accommodate travel needs for participants.

Note: A Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code is required for submission. To register or renew your entity or check your entity status, visit SAM.gov.

Judging Criteria

Applications will be judged on the following criteria:

  • Technical Merit: Innovation, soundness, and feasibility of the proposed solution.

  • Team Qualifications: Experience and expertise of principals, support staff, and consultants.

  • Commercial Viability: Market potential and dual-use capabilities.

  • Alignment with DoD Needs: Relevance to defined problem areas and operational impact.

  • Presentation Quality: Clarity and persuasiveness of the pitch.

  • Ability to Test and Deploy: Practicality of the solution for testing, implementation, and operational deployment within DoD environments.

Technical Capabilities

Finalists should demonstrate the following capabilities:

Required Capabilities:

  • Integration of innovative technologies addressing specific DoD mission needs.
  • Feasibility for rapid prototyping and field testing.
  • Readiness to adapt solutions based on stakeholder feedback.

Desired Capabilities:

  • Scalability for large-scale implementation.
  • Demonstrated ability to engage with DoD mission partners.
  • Sustainability considerations, including energy efficiency and resilience.

Ask Me Anything Session:

Participants will have the unique opportunity to ask questions regarding the challenge during the AMA session on Feb. 19, 2025. This interaction will provide clarity on technical requirements, eligibility, criteria, challenge mechanics, and administrative processes. Engaging in the AMA fosters a deeper understanding of the challenge’s objectives, allowing participants to tailor their submissions effectively.

Register here

You can also submit questions at any time to [email protected].

Pitch Deck Submission Requirements:

Teams will submit a pitch deck outlining their technology capabilities that addresses the features listed above. Pitch decks should meet the following format requirements:

  • Address required capabilities
  • Highlight the technology’s alignment with DoD needs
  • Include a quad chart
  • Horizontal presentation (16:9 ratio, PDF format)
  • Maximum 10 slides

Submit Now

Applications are being accepted through Smartsheet through Feb. 27at 11:59 pm EST.

Submit Now

Questions

Please direct your questions to [email protected].

About Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Washington

Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Washington serves as a bridge between the Pacific Northwest’s vibrant innovation ecosystem and the DoD. The Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub fosters collaboration, accelerates technological advancements, and empowers startups to navigate the defense marketplace effectively.

About the Defense Innovation Unit

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) strengthens national security by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology in the Department of Defense and bolstering our allied and national security innovation bases. DIU partners with organizations across the DoD to rapidly prototype and field dual-use capabilities that solve operational challenges at speed and scale. With offices in Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin, Chicago and Washington, DC, DIU is the Department’s gateway to leading technology companies across the country.

Intellectual Property Considerations: Applicants retain ownership of existing Intellectual Property (IP) submitted under this Challenge and agree that their submissions are their original work. Applicants are presumed to have sufficient rights to submit the submission. For any submission made to the Challenge, you grant DIU a limited license to use this IP for testing and evaluation for efforts specifically related to the Challenge. DIU will negotiate with individual competitors in the event additional usage, integration, or development is contemplated.


Other Transaction Authority: This DIU Challenge public announcement is an open call to small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors seeking innovative, commercial technologies proposed to create new DoD solutions or potential new capabilities fulfilling requirements, closing capability gaps, or providing potential technological advancements, technologies fueled by commercial or strategic investment, but also concept demonstrations, pilots, and agile development activities improving commercial technologies, existing Government-owned capabilities, or concepts for broad Defense application(s). As such, the Government reserves the right to award a contract or an Other Transaction for any purpose, to include a prototype or research, under this public announcement. The Federal Government is not responsible for any monies expended by the applicant before award and is under no obligation to pursue such Other Transactions.


Satisfying Competition Requirements: This DIU Challenge Open Call Announcement is considered to have potential for further efforts that may be accomplished via FAR-based contracting instruments, Other Transaction Authority (OTA) for Prototype Projects 10 USC 4022 and Research 10 USC 4021, Prizes for advanced technology achievements 10 USC 4025, and/or Prize Competitions 15 USC 3719. The public open call announcement made on the NSIN website is considered to satisfy the reasonable effort to obtain competition in accordance with 10 USC 4025(b), 15 USC 3719 (e) and 10 USC 4022 (b)(2). Accordingly, FAR-based actions will follow announcement procedures per FAR 5.201(b).