AFWERX An Innovation Approach Connecting Innovators. Accelerating Results. www.afwerxdc.org
AFWERX Why? The world is changing quickly new technologies, new threats & opportunities. We need AFWERX to tap into the power of creativity and empower intentional innovation that unleashes emergent approaches for the warfighter through a community of intrapreneurs, industry, academia, and non-traditional contributors.
SECAF AF/CV AFWERX Corporate AFWERX Ecosystem Oversight of the AFWERX ecosystem, focused on the strategy, financial sustainability, branding and delivery of AF goals 4 Members AFWERX Steering Group Innovation Hubs AFWERX Core Team Products of AFWERX 2018 2018 2018 2019+ Innovation Hubs Vegas DC Austin 5+ Other Hubs Spark Tank Spark Defensewerx Oversight of the Vegas Hub to deliver on agreed outcomes AFRL AFWERX Support Funding Distribution Legal Support Program Management Contract Management Tech Accelerator Community Development Challenge
AFWERX Innovation Products Innovation Hubs (Vegas, DC, Austin) bringing the tools and resources together under one roof Spark Tank access to mentors and a competitive driver Tech Accelerator scouting ventures with military interest to create more options today and in the future Spark facilitating AF intrapreneurship at the base level Community Development convening force to grow and engage the virtual and physical community Creative Design/Prototype Challenge spurring entrepreneur/intrapreneur problem solving
AFWERX Innovation Approach An Air Force innovation project typically needs 5 types of nodes to succeed Problem owner and user knows & understands problem. Leverages network to find and/or progress solution Contract vehicles & legal framework to ensure that a solution can be executed Organizational will to ensure that a solution can be deployed and transferred Contract & Legal Intraprenuer Or Power User Leadership Buy-In Advocate Stakeholders & Funding Technology Partner Advocate Stakeholders & Funding that will provide the project with resources to both make it through prototyping and scale Technology Partners that can provide new tech or help to integrate new technologies to create a solution
AFX Innovation Hubs Bringing the tools and resources together under one roof AFWERX Mark Rowland Interim Director, AFWERX Vegas Tim Brumfiel Director, AFWERX DC AFWERX-DC Program Manager VC and Start-up Ecosystem Private Sector High-Tech R&D DoD/Gov R&D Base- Level Spark TX A&M, Army CGSOC, Eisenhower School, NDU COL (R), US ARMY
AFWERX-Vegas An AFWERX Innovation Product Why Las Vegas? Proximity to - University of Nevada Las Vegas USAF Warfare Center Creech Air Force Base Nellis Air Force Base Downtown The Strip Convention Center Attract small businesses that attend trade shows 10 min away from McCarran International Airport Silicon Valley Las Vegas Importance of Crowding in Dual-Use Funding to Defray Cost and Foster Sustainability
Spark An AFWERX Innovation Product Team of Teams: Network of base-level innovation programs and top problem solvers in industry, academia, other government agencies. Grassroots Innovation: Builds pathways for intrepreneurs to bring tomorrow s tools to the Warfighter today and ignites a culture of innovation. Organic Implementation: Spark Cells are operate semiautonomously in a decentralized structure. AFWERX Ideation Platform connects ideas, people, and resources through AI. Tony Perez Director, AFWERX Spark KC-10 Instructor Pilot Co-Founder/Board Member Non-For Profit BS, United States Air Force Academy Master, Johns Hopkins University Major, USAF
Ideation Platform Mission Community Development An AFWERX Innovation Product To be a convening force to grow and engage the virtual and physical community of innovators across the AF and unleash the innovative ideas of our Total Force. A commercial off the shelf idea management platform that enables our AF to tap into the collective intelligence of our Airmen How it works: First Fridays @ AFWERX Joey Arora Director, AFWERX Community Development A consistent innovation focused event that brings together military personnel, industry and academia to explore where the future is headed in selected topic areas. This leads to facilitated conversations with Airmen that will tie into the challenges and innovation sprints that AFWERX will be running at the AF and base level. First Fridays of each month we host in person and virtual calls from each of the physical hubs. 5-min introduction 20-min industry expert presentation 30-min discussion focused on how the technology could be integrated into solving our problems
How it Works Tech Accelerator An AFWERX Innovation Product Select compelling Dual-Use Problem Area Build coalition of DoD partners along the way Reach out to 10,000s of entrepreneurs Broad problem statement cast a broad net Receive 100+ Applications from Innovative Co s Down-select to best 10 Companies Based on DoD and private industry inputs Companies work in same location for 3 months Receive intense mentorship and iterative feedback Demo Day with Private Investors & Customers Average private investment $3.4M per company Steve Lauver Austin Delorme Desired Outcomes Prototype Contract COTS Procurement Govt. interest drives private investment Chris Benson Acquisition/ Integration by Prime
Spark Tank An AFWERX Innovation Product Spark Tank Process Celebrate our innovation heroes Provide a high-profile, public forum to celebrate the innovations of our Airmen with senior level exposure and confirmation. 1 Listen to the Pitch Ask clarifying questions Consider impact, feasibility, and execution factors Solve hard problems Innovation without Borders Set the Stage for the Future Identify avenues to increase lethality and costeffectively modernize in the short and near term. Provides a mechanism to spur innovation outside of individual roles, organizations, and silos; encourages thinking for the greater good of the Force. Set expectations for what Spark Tank should be. This is not just an idea competition; it is a solution competition. We care about the innovation role model as well as the resulting actions. Lauren Knausenberger Director, AFWERX Spark Tank HQE, Corporate/VC experience 2 3 Discuss Merits of the Pitch Share facts about potential user base, feasibility, and competing efforts Extreme reactions and major considerations Other thoughts Go / No Go and Selection of Winners Indicate Red, Yellow, Green, or Blue for each pitch Select winners (bluest of the green) Thanks and provide feedback to all entrants and suggest follow up where appropriate
Creative Designs/Prototype Challenges An AFWERX Innovation Product Think Tanks Internet Of Things (IOT) - Oxford University Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stanford University Machine Learning (ML) Berkley University Analytical Visualization (AV) Harvard Business School Analytical Analysis (AA) Massachusetts Institute of Technology Gaming Air Force Data Laboratory Air Force Research Laboratory Space and Missile Center Cyber Test Range DoD Research and Engineering Design Thinking CYBERWERX - Air Force Academy Cyber Center of Excellence Air Force Institute of Technology Lemay Center for Strategy Air University Technical School Training Air Education Training Command Industrial College National Defense University Acquisition Defense Acquisition University TANG IDEA (Wright Brothers) Prize Challenges H4D Drone Warz Nevin Taylor Director, AFWERX Grand Challenge
AFWERX is centrally located between UNLV, Nellis Air Force Base & McCarran International Airport, allowing visitors to easily access our facility and collaborate with the many resources we bring together. Parking is located on either side of the roundabout in any of the unmarked spaces. 3773 Howard Hughes Pkwy, Suite 400 S. Las Vegas, NV 89169