The NSIN Foundry, formerly the Defense Innovation Accelerator (DIA), powered by FedTech, matches cutting-edge Department of Defense (DoD) technologies with teams of entrepreneurs during intensive, six-month cohorts. Entrepreneurs work closely with lab inventors, mentors, coaches, subject matter experts, and DoD end-users to assess the market viability and commercialization potential of the technologies. Successful teams form new companies, license the technologies, and develop solutions that impact the DoD and the private sector.
Entrepreneur Participants
Teams of entrepreneurs assess the commercialization potential of Defense technologies hand-in-hand with lab scientists and technologists, and seek new paths for those technologies to solve the real-world problems of Defense and commercial customers.
While US citizenship is not required to participate in the program, some labs mandate that their teams be comprised of US citizens or Green Card holders only.
Applications are now being accepted.
Lab Technology Selection
Inventors must be able to commit to spending one hour per week working with teams during the cohort, and to participating in the Kickoff event.
At a minimum, provisional patents should be filed. Higher TRL technologies (≥4) with demonstrated prototypes are strongly preferred. Recent inventions (within the last 3 years) are also preferred.
Labs interested in the NSIN DIA program can submit interest here for consideration in a future cohort.
In the News
- How the Department of Defense Can Help You Build Your Next Startup, Entrepreneur, February 16, 2022
- 3 Reasons Why the Midwest Will Excel in American Defense Innovation, Entrepreneur, September 25, 2021
Questions?
Contact Mike Seper at mseper@nsin.us.
DIA at WashU is made possible through a partnership with the Department of Defense’s National Security Innovation Network, powered by FedTech. For more information about NSIN at WashU, contact Mike Seper.