Innovation Showcase    

    Applications Opening Soon    

2024 Information

The HBS & MIT Sloan Technology & National Security Conference aims to strengthen collaboration, community, and communication within the U.S. national security business ecosystem by elevating the visibility of companies developing technologies that advance national security and enhancing 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 event will be open to all conference attendees and speakers.

Lightning Pitches: Four finalists, chosen by the Innovation Showcase Planning Committee based on their applications, will pitch in front of the entire conference. One company will be crowned the “Most Exciting” by a panel of expert judges, with feedback provided.

Workshops: This year, an additional networking and educational element is available through optional workshops open to Innovation Showcase company attendees (2 per company). These workshops will offer companies the opportunity to meet relevant public and private sector stakeholders in a smaller, interactive setting.