The U.S. Army has announced the eight winning companies from its inaugural xTechSearch competition—a program designed to accelerate the integration of cutting-edge commercial technologies into military applications. The selected firms span domains from AI-powered ISR to autonomous logistics systems and advanced materials. The initiative reflects a broader push by the Department of Defense (DoD) to tap into non-traditional defense innovators and rapidly prototype dual-use technologies that can enhance operational capabilities.
xTechSearch: A New Gateway for Dual-Use Innovation
Launched under the oversight of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)), xTechSearch is part of a broader strategy to bridge the gap between commercial innovation and military capability development. The competition provides early-stage funding and direct engagement opportunities with Army stakeholders for small businesses and startups that traditionally lack access to DoD procurement pipelines.
The 2025 edition marked a milestone as the first fully integrated competition under the restructured xTech Program Office. It featured over 300 applicants across multiple technology verticals including artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), autonomous systems, sensor fusion, cybersecurity, advanced energy storage, and human-machine teaming.
Each winner receives up to $500,000 in prize money along with opportunities for follow-on contracts through mechanisms such as Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Other Transaction Authority (OTA), or Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs).
Meet the Eight Winners
The eight companies selected represent a diverse cross-section of emerging defense-relevant technologies:
- Shield AI – Known for its Hivemind autonomous drone software stack used in Group 3+ UAVs; Shield AI’s submission focused on contested airspace autonomy.
- Anduril Industries – Submitted an integrated counter-UAS solution leveraging AI-enabled sensor fusion and kinetic/non-kinetic defeat options.
- Saronic Technologies – A maritime autonomy startup developing unmanned surface vessels (USVs) with multi-mission payload capacity for littoral operations.
- Kinnami Software – Offers secure distributed data platforms optimized for edge computing environments in austere or denied comms conditions.
- EpiSci – Specializes in tactical AI; their entry involved real-time multi-sensor fusion algorithms for manned-unmanned teaming missions.
- NanoGraf Corporation – A battery tech firm delivering high-energy-density lithium-ion cells tailored for expeditionary power applications.
- Aura Technologies – Focused on electromagnetic spectrum dominance; submitted a modular EW suite capable of adaptive jamming and threat detection.
- Synthetaic – An AI company using synthetic data generation to train computer vision models rapidly without requiring large labeled datasets.
This cohort reflects increasing DoD interest in dual-use technologies that can be fielded rapidly via software-defined architectures or modular hardware platforms. Several winners have existing relationships with entities like AFWERX or DIU—highlighting growing inter-service alignment around agile acquisition pathways.
Strategic Objectives Behind xTechSearch
The xTech program is not merely about prizes—it is designed to de-risk early-stage tech adoption by providing structured exposure to end-users within Army Futures Command (AFC), Program Executive Offices (PEOs), and Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM). According to Col. Jay Wisham from AFC’s Technology Integration Office:
“We’re not just looking at ideas—we’re looking at deployable capabilities within a two-to-three-year horizon. If it doesn’t scale or integrate into our kill chain architecture quickly, it’s out.”
This approach aligns with broader Pentagon efforts under initiatives like Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER) and Joint All-Domain Command & Control (JADC2). Many xTech submissions are evaluated not just on technical merit but also on their ability to plug into ongoing modernization priorities such as Project Convergence or TITAN ground stations.
A Model for Accelerated Transition Pathways
xTech winners are encouraged—and often fast-tracked—into more formal acquisition channels via SBIR Phase II/III awards or OTA prototypes. For instance:
- NanoGraf previously secured $10 million from DoD via SBIR Phase III contracts after earlier participation in DIU programs;
- Saronic’s USV prototypes are already undergoing limited user evaluation with Naval Surface Warfare Center;
- EpiSci has demonstrated live-fly integration of its AI stack with MQ-9 Reapers during USAF EDGE exercises;
This layered approach—from prize-based discovery through prototyping into production—mirrors best practices seen in commercial venture ecosystems but adapted for defense timelines. It also reflects growing urgency within DoD circles to outpace near-peer adversaries like China by shortening technology refresh cycles from decades to years—or even months in some domains like EW or cyber defense.
The Road Ahead: Scaling Success Beyond Demonstrators
The challenge now lies in scaling these innovations beyond lab demos or pilot programs into fielded capabilities across formations. That requires sustained funding lines beyond initial prizes—something ASA(ALT) officials say they are actively working on through mechanisms like Accelerated Acquisition Pathways (AAP) and Middle Tier Acquisition authority under Section 804 reforms.
xTech organizers also plan expanded thematic competitions tied directly to operational gaps identified by theater commanders—for example:
- Tactical edge compute nodes resilient against GNSS spoofing;
- Munitions logistics optimization using predictive analytics;
- Cognitive EW tools capable of autonomously adapting waveforms mid-conflict;
If successful, this model could redefine how emerging tech reaches warfighters—not through traditional five-year programs—but via iterative sprints guided by real-world feedback loops from soldiers themselves.
Conclusion: A New Era of Agile Defense Tech Adoption?
The inaugural xTechSearch competition marks more than just a showcase—it signals institutional commitment toward accelerating innovation cycles within the U.S. Army’s modernization enterprise. By tapping non-traditional vendors and lowering barriers to entry while aligning incentives around mission outcomes rather than compliance checklists, programs like xTech could reshape how America fields next-generation capabilities amid intensifying global threats.
The success—or failure—of these eight winners will offer critical insights into whether this new paradigm can deliver scalable impact beyond buzzwords like “disruption” or “dual-use.” For now, all eyes will be on how quickly these technologies move from pitch decks to platoon-level deployment.
