By June Dom, AFIT EWI Fellow at Virgin Orbit
U.S. startup companies are a huge source of potential for solving problems, and are creating cutting edge technology every day. In order to maintain its superiority, the DoD needs to leverage these ideas by working at the speed of relevance and innovation in order to harness startup creativity to solve national security challenges. In striving to meet this, the Air Force arranged 12 pitch days in 2019 to provide an avenue for smaller companies lacking experience in working with the government to provide their solutions to the Air Force. On 13 November, four Air Force Institute of Technology Education with Industry (EWI) Fellows witnessed one of the 12 pitch days for the Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO) in San Francisco, CA.
Utilizing the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) three phase program, AFWERX conducted the initial phase with a call for Open Innovation ideas. The call resulted in 700 company proposals that were narrowed down to 49 Phase I awards. The Phase I awards consisted of a 3 month contract for the companies to scour the Air Force to find future users of their technology. This helped them hone in on the best direct applications and aided in the development of their pitch for Phase II. The Phase II solicitation narrowed the field from 49 to 18 proposals. The remaining companies had an opportunity to pitch directly to the RSO for the opportunity to secure a $1M dollar contract to further their product.
Different ideas relating to innovative technologies and/or processes that could decrease operations and sustainment costs or increase readiness were presented. Those awarded a Phase II contract will have about one year to produce a prototype and will then have an opportunity to be awarded a larger Phase III contract that would extend or complete the Phase II effort.
After the pitches, a discussion was held with senior government and industry leaders on how to better drive innovation and industry integration. The discussions centered on removing roadblocks for non-traditional defense companies, and bridging relationships with industry so more startup companies view the Air Force as a potential partner. Some people tend to perceive the government and Silicon Valley/Tech Hub industry to be polar opposites, especially with respect to culture. However, one member of the panel, Larsen Jensen, former Navy Seal and founder of Harpoon Ventures, opined that the cultures are more alike than perceived. He went on to explain the root similarity was in the mission aspect. Like the member in uniform, an entrepreneur from the start up world works toward something bigger than oneself. There is a higher calling for both, it is not one of vanity, but one where both willingly sacrifice for some greater good. We must focus on those similarities to bridge the gap and help cross the divide. Through the RSO Pitch Day, both the Air Force and industry members demonstrated positive efforts towards partnering with one another and another step bridging the gap.
