The NSIN Defense Innovation Accelerator (DIA) matches breakthrough Department of Defense (DoD) lab technology with teams of entrepreneurs to solve the real-world problems of DoD and commercial customers. Entrepreneurs work with DoD lab inventors, mentors and subject matter experts from the Government and private sectors, and world class instructors to assess the market viability and the potential to commercialize DoD lab technologies.
DIA is an intensive 4-month cohort-based program executed in 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.
The NSIN Defense Innovation Accelerator (DIA) matches breakthrough Department of Defense (DoD) lab technology with teams of entrepreneurs to solve the real-world problems of DoD and commercial customers. Entrepreneurs work with DoD lab inventors, mentors and subject matter experts from the Government and private sectors, and world class instructors to assess the market viability and the potential to commercialize DoD lab technologies.
DIA is an intensive 4-month cohort-based program executed in 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.
Forge
Phase I focuses on customer discovery, exploring the commercial viability of the DoD technology, and identifying business and technology development pathways. Phase II focuses on company formation and identifying commercial and public funding opportunities. At the end of the cohort, teams present labs with a market assessment report and compete in a Demo Day pitch event in front of potential customers and investors.
About the Event
NSIN Forge is a National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) program that partners with FedTech to bring deep tech government inventions to established ventures. Forge identifies Department of Defense (DoD) technologies available for commercialization and matches them with startup companies to participate in the cohort.
Agenda
2:30 p.m. / 1430 ET
Opening
Welcome Remarks
2:40 p.m. / 1440 ET
Keynote Address
Robert Burns - Executive Director, Innovation & Collaboration Science & Technology Directorate, U.S. Department Of Homeland Security
2:50 p.m. / 1450 ET
Venture Spotlight
Dave Copps - Serial Entrepreneur, Founder & CEO, Worlds.io
Jennifer Ortakales - Entrepreneurship Reporter for Business Insider
3:30 p.m. / 1530 ET
Closing
Closing Discussion and Audience Q&A
About the Speakers
Robert Burns
Executive Director, Office of Innovation & Collaboration
DHS Science & Technology Directorate
Dave Copps
Serial Entrepreneur, Chief Executive Officer at Worlds
Jennifer Ortakales
Journalist, Business Insider