The MIT-HBS Technology and National Security Conference seeks to strengthen collaboration, community, and communications within the US national security business ecosystem by raising the visibility of companies with technologies advancing national security and growing their ability to support the sector through the Innovation Showcase.
The Innovation Showcase is a forum for up-and-coming defense tech startups (pre-seed through series A | TRL 4+) to demonstrate their capabilities to the conference’s 400+ executives, senior government officials, and students. If accepted into the Innovation Showcase, companies will have the opportunity to participate in both the Innovation Sandbox and Workshops, and four finalists will be given the opportunity to pitch during the conference. Companies selected for the showcase will receive two complimentary tickets to the conference, held at MIT on March 2nd, 2024.
Innovation Sandbox: 20 finalists (including Lightning Pitch companies) will present their companies and product demonstrations at MIT Samberg’s Conference Center on March 2nd. This will be open to all conference attendees and speakers.
Lightning Pitches: Four finalists, selected by the Innovation Showcase Planning Committee based on this application, will pitch in front of the entire conference. One will be crowned the “Most Exciting” company by a panel of expert judges with feedback provided.
Workshops: This year an additional networking and educational element will be offered through optional workshops open to the Innovation Showcase company attendees (2 per company). This will give companies an opportunity to meet relevant public and private sector stakeholders in a smaller setting for interactive dialogue.
Applications for the Innovation Showcase are due by 11:59 pm ET on December 15th, 2023. Selected companies will be notified in January.