Annual program opens applications for entrepreneurs interested in working with defense technology.

The National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), a program office within the U.S. Department of Defense, is launching the 2021 cohort of its Defense Innovation Accelerator (DIA), powered by FedTech. The DIA program recruits entrepreneurs from a wide variety of backgrounds to investigate and develop companies around technologies drawn from Department of Defense (DoD) laboratories.

NSIN and FedTech partner in the DIA program by sourcing talented and passionate innovators seeking to create high-tech companies around DoD technologies. Those individuals are then paired with real-world DoD projects that are ripe for technology transfer and transition.

“DIA gives entrepreneurs access to the training, resources, and cutting-edge technologies they need to start a new business, and it gives DoD laboratories and inventors the opportunity to turn their programs into real-world capabilities,” said Mark Antholt, NSIN DIA program manager. “NSIN is proud to bring these amazing innovators together for the second DIA program iteration.”

The 2021 iteration of the DIA program builds on prior successes from 2020, guiding entrepreneurial participants to assess the market viability and the potential to commercialize DoD lab technologies. Last year, this partnership between NSIN and FedTech led to the creation of 11 new ventures, in six different states, with over 40% of the founders having prior DoD experience or veteran status.

“We take pride in our position as the intersection of breakthrough DoD Technology and Entrepreneurship,” said Mike Bynum, FedTech program manager. “ We facilitate aspiring startup founders to realize their dream of creating their own business and we simultaneously serve a great cause by advancing DoD Technologies that could eventually help the warfighter. ”

The profile of successful participants from previous cohorts includes entrepreneurs with deep technical expertise or a strong business background. More information on the requirements for participating can be found in the program application.

Applications are due April 2, 2021 by 11:59 PM (EST).

To learn more about the NSIN DIA program, view the DIA Playlist on our YouTube channel.

About DIA

The Defense Innovation Accelerator is a program of the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) powered by FedTech. Through the partnership, breakthrough technology is leveraged from top Defense Department research and development labs to solve real-world problems with defense and commercial customers. Entrepreneurs and mentors are sourced from across the U.S. and matched into teams with inventors of innovative technologies from Defense Department labs. Over an intensive months long program, teams go through two phases; customer discovery and early company formation. Successful teams have gone on to form companies, license the technology from the labs and pursue various funding opportunities.

Partners