ARMY AL&T
MENTOR, ACCELERATE, REPEAT
The xTechSearch competition and the xTech Accelerator program enable the Army to access cut ting-edge technology and foster the success of innovative small businesses as it grows its industrial base.
by Kristin McNelis F
or small businesses, one of the biggest chal- lenges can be getting noticed. Tat’s doubly true if the small business with a military- applicable technology has never done business
with the government. Te Army is working to change that and increase its access to innovative technology while expanding its industrial base.
Te third cohort of the Army’s Expeditionary Technol- ogy Search (xTechSearch) went to Huntsville, Alabama, in March to the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Global Force Symposium and Exhibition, host of the Phase IV finals of the competition. Te 12 small companies (see sidebar on Page 53) were set to provide to Army experts proof-of-concept demonstrations and plans to transition their technologies to the Army.
For small, nontraditional companies looking to do busi- ness with the government, nothing could be so valuable as a successfully executed contract with the govern- ment. But getting there can be difficult. For that, the xTechSearch program launched the xTech Accelerator in October to provide an invaluable access to mentor- ing by Army and industry experts who can help make the transition from hopeful to successful.
According to the program’s website, “Te xTech Accel- erator program is designed to help xTechSearch winners be successful via education, mentoring, networking, and community building.”
A BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE FORCE Sponsored by the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology (ASA(ALT)), xTechSearch is a prize competition for small businesses, drawing in companies and technologies that the Army otherwise might not have access to. But it’s more than just that. (See related article, “More Tan a Competi- tion,” Army AL&T magazine, Winter 2020.)
In a sense, xTechSearch is a bridge between small businesses developing groundbreaking technologies and the Army. Te competition enables the Army to discover innovative technologies and, through modest prize money, help their development. Te program helps the companies shape their inventions not only to military needs, but also to potential civilian needs. XTechSearch stands out from other competitions by investing in these companies and working with them to make connections that will help transition novel tech- nologies to the warfighter.
https://asc.ar my.mil 49
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104
