Finalists in the Challenge will pitch on stage in National Harbor, MD on May 12, 2026 for five minutes, followed by two minutes of Q&A with a review panel.
REVIEW CRITERIA
Value/impact of the solution on the civilian and defense communities. Meets a high priority need. 40 points
Readiness of the proposed solution. How ready is the product or solution for production? How will the product improve readiness? 15 points
Scalability of the proposed solution. Is there proven scalability? Does the company outline plans to scale? 15 points
Financial viability of the solution or business model. Is there a discernible, addressable market for this product? 15 points
Quality of the pitch. Did it meet time constraints, deliver relevant information, and describe the solution effectively? 15 points
CATEGORIZATION
We will award $100K to medical solutions and $100K to CBRN solutions as indicated below:
Medical Solutions
- Threat Detection Technologies
- Sensor Data Fusion Technologies
- Integrated Protection and Response Technologies
- Adaptive and Autonomous Systems
CBRN Solutions
- Diagnostic Technologies
- Manufacturing Approaches
- Pharmaceuticals and Therapeutics
PRIZES
1st Place – Medical: $60,000
1st Place – CBRN: $60,000
2nd Place – Medical: $30,000
2nd Place – CBRN: $30,000
3rd Place – Medical: $10,000
3rd Place – CBRN: $10,000