MENTOR, ACCELERATE, REPEAT


“We have continued to evolve and improve the competition based on feedback from the small businesses,” Jeffrey Singleton, director of technology for ASA(ALT), said at the AUSA Annual Meeting in October. “We are looking to continue to improve and are launching new initiatives to keep you engaged with the Army and provide the Army opportunities to continue to work with small business innovators.”


ACCELERATING FUTURE TECH One of those new initiatives is the xTech Accelerator, which was offered to the 12 semifinalists of xTechSearch 3.0 after winning Phase III in October.


Operated by FedTech, the ultimate goal of the xTech Accelerator is to develop xTech- Search participants as quickly as possible so that they can transition technologies to the warfighter. Te xTech Accelerator also includes guidance on product devel- opment for dual-use technologies, and connections to private technology devel- opment programs.


FedTech is a company developer, help- ing technology entrepreneurs with their business strategies and providing them with customized training, mentoring and action plans to support the missions of federal agencies. XTechSearch partnered with FedTech to bring a unique oppor- tunity to the competitors and provide them with the ability to continue devel- oping their technologies for both Army and commercial needs.


With a combination of resources and tools, the program assisted finalists after their Phase III semifinalist pitches at the AUSA Annual Meeting in October, to help get them ready for the final phase of the xTechSearch competition—the proof- of-concept demonstrations. Participants in the program learn how to hone their pitch,


50 Army AL&T Magazine Spring 2020


challenge their assumptions and identify potential customers within the Army. Te program connects them with potential investors from both the government and private sectors to accelerate their devel- opment. “Beyond the networking and


companies that apply to xTechSearch with extensive and valuable feedback on their technology and the rare opportunity to engage directly with the Army stakeholders.


“We provide all ”


connection points, the feedback through- out the xTechSearch accelerator program has helped us modify our product features to better align with Army needs,” said Jim Costabile, CEO of Syncopated Engineer- ing, a small business finalist that moved to Phase IV, meaning the company would present its proof-of-concept demonstration at the xTechSearch finals in March.


MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS FedTech matches a diverse team of mentors with each competing company to help it along the way. Te mentorship team is set up to offer different perspectives: One mentor from the Army can provide the Army perspective and show how the technology can be tailored to solve a real challenge and benefit the Soldier. Another mentor is a business expert, such as a


defense contractor or seasoned executive. A third mentor focuses on the venture side of things.


Each mentor team is tailored for each mentee company in the accelerator based on its product maturity, potential custom- ers and business needs. It can be a very valuable tool, but it’s up to the compa- nies to leverage those mentors and take advantage of their experience. “Te xTech Accelerator mentorship program is an excellent mechanism to mentor nontradi- tional industry innovators, providing the opportunity to build relationships with potential development partners, while they learn how to work with the Army,” said Diane Ullman, senior medical acqui- sition adviser for the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command.


One key benefit the Army mentors can provide is help to connect participants to the right people. “I was pleased that, as a mentor, I was able to link up the company I was mentoring with the Army organiza- tion that performs the testing that they needed. As a result, we are working on a test-support agreement that will, in the end, help the Army get capabilities to the Soldiers in the field faster,” said Col. Steven Hart of the 75th Innovation Command. Tat command, an Army Reserve unit with Soldiers who work in technology and business sectors across the U.S., plays a key role in the xTech Accelerator mentor- ship program. Te command’s unique combination of military and commer- cial expertise and its regional innovation ecosystem connections provide the Army with forward-thinking technology scouts and strong mentors to help companies network in their region.


MULTILAYERED MENTORING As part of the effort to transition tech- nology to the Soldier, xTechSearch is encouraging and facilitating small


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