Small businesses to make their pitch at inaugural AF Technology Executive Officer Pitch Day

Bryan Ripple , 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Published Nov 7, 2019

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – The Air Force Research Laboratory and the Wright Brother’s Institute will host the inaugural Air Force Technology Executive Officer Pitch Day Nov. 15 at the Steam Plant and the Wright Brother’s Institute in Dayton from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a business networking social to follow.

Powered by the Air Force Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program to address unforeseen technology barriers, the event will welcome pre-selected Phase II SBIR/STTR companies – several with Dayton locations, to participate and pitch at the event. Matching funds from investors who are concerned about current technological issues and are focused on the betterment of warfighters, will be available, resulting in about a 140 percent Return on Investment of AF SBIR/STTR dollars.

“We’re looking at existing Phase II technologies that are showing strong transition potential,” said Anissa Lumpkin, AFRL Center Lead for the AF SBIR/STTR program. “It is comprised of enthusiastic small technology businesses and university partners holding AF SBIR/STTR Phase II contracts, the Air Force, and outside investors whom are concerned about current technological issues and are focused on the betterment of our warfighter. The inaugural AF/TEO Pitch Day approach is both strategic and innovative in nature.”

According to Lumpkin, her office looks at the program as the Air Force’s Venture Capitalist Fund. A Venture Capitalist is like an incubator of investments in small businesses that are showing great transition potential for transitioning to a program of record, transitioning to the warfighter community, and getting technologies where they need to be.

“We set aside $16 million total funding ($14 million SBIR and $2 million STTR) to award beyond Phase II contracts and we anticipate getting about $24 million from a diversified portfolio of investors back into the companies for what we have identified so far. At the end of the day, our users want the technology,” said Lumpkin.

A range of technologies will be pitched at the event from adaptive optics systems to technology to be placed on Air Force systems. The program is designed in support of the 2020 AF SBIR/STTR investment strategy as described by Dr. Will Roper, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Lumpkin said, with potential awards ranging from $250,000 to $3 million.

THE AGENDA

Location: The Steam Plant, located at 617 E. 3rd St, Dayton, Ohio

8 – 9 a.m: Registration/Networking/Continental Breakfast
9 – 9:30 a.m.: Opening Remarks (Maj. Gen. William Cooley, AFRL commander/AF Technology Executive Officer; Anissa Lumpkin, AFRL Center Lead for the AF SBIR/STTR program
9:30 – 9:45 a.m: Pitch Showcase 1
9:45 – 10 a.m.: Pitch Showcase 2
10 – 10:30 a.m.: Transition to Wright Brothers Institute, 444 E. 2nd St., Dayton, Ohio
10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m: Pitches 1 – 15
2:30 – 3 p.m: Closing Remarks (Brian McJilton, AFRL Technical Advisor, AF 2030 Strategy Initiative)
3 – 5 p.m: Social/Networking/Small Business Booths

Several portions of the agenda will be open to the community. Registration is required. To register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/air-force-technology-executive-officer-teo-pitch-day-af-sbirsttr-tickets-74004067157. For more information, contact Angela Morris at angela.morris.8.ctr@us.af.mil.