Early-stage ventures pitched their cutting-edge technologies to venture capital firms, commercial startup accelerators, and Department of Defense (DoD) stakeholders last week at National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) Propel Demo Day.

The event allowed 16 ventures to have in-depth discussions with potential partners and showcase their emerging technology capabilities to solve military and commercial challenges.

Asylon Robotics, 2021 NSIN Propel Alumni, showcased its robotic security dog. Watch the video.

NSIN Propel empowered the ventures with the knowledge and skillset to enter and scale in the federal market, further strengthening the national security innovation base. The cohort innovated solutions in communications and connectivity; real-time data; advanced computing; and space.

One of the participating companies, RadiantNano, enables next-generation technology for radiation detection, identification, and imaging.

“Being able to interact with the other companies has been so helpful for us,” said Dr. Leslie Dewan, co-founder and CEO of RadiantNano.

Dr. Dewan (left), CEO of RadiantNano, discussed her team’s innovation with stakeholders.

RadiantNano’s innovation serves many purposes from detecting nuclear materials to reducing radiation doses in medical imaging.

“NSIN Propel has been exceptionally valuable for us because it has connected us to DoD partners that we need to accelerate our development,” added Dr. Dewan.

The companies that participated in the 2022 NSIN Propel Demo Day:

• Worked with 22 government agencies.
• Submitted 42 proposals.
• Received over $4 million in funding, with an additional $20 million pending.

Many startups participated in NSIN Propel to accelerate their federal acquisition paths and to help them build a network with government officials.

“Propel was instrumental in connecting us with end users and customers we wouldn’t have been able to contact previously,” the Propel venture Distributed Spectrum explained.

Distributed Spectrum and the Propel cohort found product-mission fits through customer discovery with DoD, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and government program managers at the demo.

“We were able to take our company from the point of kind of understanding defense markets and knowing how to frame our technology, to the point where we can actually speak the language of real stakeholders and understand how to apply our technology in operational situations,” said Distributed Spectrum.

NeuTigers demonstrated a wearable COVID testing device at the NSIN Propel 2022 Demo Day.

NeuTigers demonstrated a wearable COVID testing device at the NSIN Propel 2022 Demo Day.

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NSIN partnered with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Decisive Point, and Newlab, who were vital in making the 2022 NSIN Propel Demo Day a success.

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About NSIN

The National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) is a program of the U.S. Department of Defense that collaborates with major universities and the venture community to develop solutions that drive national security innovation. NSIN operates three portfolios of programs and services: National Service, Collaboration, and Acceleration. For more information, visit: nsin.mil. Contact media@nsin.us for more information about NSIN Propel or the companies in the 2022 cohort.

About Decisive Point

Decisive Point is a venture capital firm investing in deep-tech innovations for security, health, energy, and infrastructure. Decisive Point’s mission is to solve tough problems that matter, supporting mission-driven startups and amplifying our investments with public R&D funding. Decisive Point leads federal acquisitions strategy, non-dilutive funding capture, and engagement with stakeholders across the federal enterprise, allowing founders to focus on building their business and scaling in commercial markets.

About Newlab

Newlab advances technologies that support the health of the planet. Newlab acts as facilitator, connector, and translator for its community of experts and innovators, helping to build, test, and scale world-changing ideas through investment, venture building, and structured collaboration with industry and government partners.