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The Air Force aims to up the impact of its string of Pitch Day events in 2019 by introducing the first-ever Pitch Bowl and Spark Collider combo from March 10 to 12 at Capital Factory in Austin, Texas.
The three-day event will bring together more than 200 Department of Defense stakeholders with newly awarded Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) companies and venture capitalists for networking and tech scouting.
“Over the past year, the Air Force has demonstrated that the DoD is a business partner of choice for startups and small businesses that are leading the way in U.S. innovation,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Scott, AFWERX-Austin director. “This culminating event both celebrates this advancement in our engagement with external audiences and creates a space for DoD stakeholders to learn how to work with these companies to solve problems they face in their units and missions.”
The event is designed to facilitate customer discovery, set the foundation for companies to continue along the DoD’s agile acquisition pathways, and recognize the progress that’s been made through the SBIR program since the inception of the “Open Topic.”
Each day will feature VIP guests and keynote speakers such as Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Barbara M. Barrett, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force Gen. Stephen W. Wilson, Dr. Will Roper, the Air Force Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, Dr. Jeff DeGraff, the “Dean of Innovation,” and many more.
As part of the Spark Collider, there will be educational breakout sessions for both military and industry professionals to highlight the many ways they can work together to strengthen the military and the U.S. economy.
Airmen and other DoD stakeholders including end-users, requirement owners and acquirers will have an opportunity to share mission priorities, identify problems they face, seek out solutions, and receive guidance and resources from subject matter experts from organizations like the Small Business Administration, Program Executive Offices, and Major Commands.
On day three, Air Force senior leadership will highlight some of the companies in the running to receive a portion of a combined $1 billion in Air Force Strategic Financing (STRATFI) commitments, thus providing a way for SBIR Phase II companies that may require greater investment to deliver and scale promising and nationally strategic solutions.
The contracting solicitation method enabling this innovative event is called a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) and the matching ratio is 1:1:2, meaning (1) = Non-SBIR government funds such as Air Force, (1) = SBIR funds, and (2) = private venture capital funds.
The previous cap of $3 million for Air Force SBIR Phase IIs will not apply to the Strategic SBIR Phase IIs, which creates an amplified opportunity to drive greater impact for the DoD from SBIR companies.
Through partnership with its sister services and the venture capital community, the Air Force has transformed the way the DoD works with small businesses to harness American innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Government and media can register for the Spark Collider on March 10 to 11, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spark-collider-event-with-govt-startups-investors-tickets-85107297217?aff=MainPR
- Government and media can register for the Pitch Bowl on March 12, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/usaf-strategic-sbir-showcase-strategic-financing-sbir-193-pitch-event-tickets-90695499681?aff=MainPR
Non-government tickets are currently sold out.
The U.S Air Force established AFWERX in 2017 to foster a culture of innovation in the service and connect innovators across government, industry and academia. Through innovation and collaboration with our nation’s top subject-matter experts and harnessing the power of the ingenuity of internal talent, AFWERX has set out to solve some of the most pressing challenges the Air Force faces.
To learn more about AFWERX, visit: www.afwerx.af.mil or follow the organization via social media:
On Twitter: @AFWERX
On Facebook: @AFWERX
On LinkedIn: afwerx-usaf
| Date Taken: | 03.02.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 03.02.2020 14:25 |
| Story ID: | 364302 |
| Location: | AUSTIN, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 880 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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