The National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) Propel program enables commercial startups with emerging technologies to solve real-world problems for the Department of Defense (DoD). Participant companies will learn to navigate federal markets as part of the 2022 NSIN Propel accelerator.

The NSIN Propel program helps early-stage companies succeed in finding pathways to enter and scale their technologies into government organizations such as the DoD. Specifically, the two-month program provides:

  • Resources for product development.
  • Access to a network of advisors and investors from the military and venture capital.
  • Opportunities for direct engagement with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the broader DoD community.

“NSIN Propel enables the development of next-generation applications of emerging dual-use technology for government and defense,” said Grant Fox, NSIN Mid-Atlantic Regional Director. “By surrounding the ventures with a nation-wide network, resources, and guidance to navigate the government, we can help them leverage and transition their technologies to the DoD and quickly fill critical needs for warfighters.”

Companies will develop national security applications from commercial technologies such as advanced computing, 5G, space, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. The cohort will also learn tangible skills to navigate the complexities of winning defense contracts. At the end of the program, the cohort will showcase their new solutions at a demonstration day for investors and government stakeholders in New York.

The selected 16 startups are developing applications for emerging technology needs in government, defense, and space at Newlab’s 84,000 square-foot flagship location in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Established in 1801, the Brooklyn Navy Yard served as America’s premier naval shipbuilding facility for 165 years, and it launched some of America’s mightiest warships including: the USS Monitor, the USS Arizona, and the USS Missouri.

“Now that we are in the second year of NSIN Propel, we have established a meaningful network of founders, technologists, commercial partners and government stakeholders dedicated to strengthening the national security innovation base,” said Ryan Benitez, Partner at Decisive Point.

Half of this year’s cohort includes alumni from prior NSIN programs. Learn more about the technologies from the startups in NSIN Propel 2022 below:

  • Allosense - An internet-of-things (IoT) company that makes advanced automated sensors and measurement solutions. Allosense designs and manufactures “always connected” asset trackers - a patented capability that leverages multiple communication modes including 5G cellular, satellite, and mesh to enable accurate and detailed monitoring of assets in real-time, providing improved logistical efficiency.

  • BlueSpace.ai - An independent safety system for scalable deployment of autonomy, both on- and off-road. In addition, its tech removes dependencies, saving time and capital as it does not require prior training data or mapping to current software.

  • Distributed Spectrum - NSIN Program Alum Vector, Hacks, and Transition Cell - A modular radio frequency (RF) platform to detect, classify, and localize RF transmitters across a variety of environments. Its platform will help customers identify disruptions within key radio systems, characterize unknown devices, and track assets across broad geographic areas.

  • Ditto - NSIN Program Alum Boost and Transition Cell - A cross-platform peer-to-peer (P2P) database allowing apps to sync with and without network connectivity. The Ditto Intelligent Edge Platform enables nearly any type of edge-computing system to share data in real-time without relying on a central server.

  • Heights Labs - A blockchain-intelligence platform that tracks blockchain transactions linked to criminal activity. Its platform offers a suite of tools capable of analyzing entire blockchains, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, tracing all funds to known and unknown illicit actors on the blockchain, providing auditable chains of custody, and detecting patterns of money laundering and other illicit activities.

  • Infralytiks - NSIN Program Alum Hacks, Starts, and Propel - A data analytics and software development company specializing in proprietary computer vision, ML, and AI. Its real-time and server/cloud-based data processing of high-definition images, thermography, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and telemetry data from sources including smartphones, cameras, drones, vehicles, telescopes, and satellites.

  • Lucy - NSIN Program Alum Transition Cell - An AI-powered enterprise knowledge management system to deal with large amounts of unstructured data. Its Answer Engine(SM) uses files that populate large enterprise systems (e.g., Sharepoint, Teams, Box, Confluence and dozens of other secure storage systems), delivered through a web app or through messaging apps such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, Google Chat, and more.

  • Nebula Compute - A computer technology company bringing cloud computing to space. By 2027, its ServerSat™ mesh network will be completely installed alongside commercial data centers in space.

  • NeuTigers - An edge-AI startup combining sensing devices, synthetic data augmentation, and deep machine learning neural networks optimization to enable the deployment of smart edge applications in resource-constrained devices.

  • Notch - NSIN Program Alum Transition Cell and Propel -An electronically controllable radio frequency metamaterial that is low in size, weight, and power for applications in defense and telecommunications. Its metamaterial is software-controlled, enabling reflective, transmissive, and absorptive specific frequency bands of interest-enabling stealth, and anti-jamming protection for satellites and UAVs.

  • PeakMetrics - NSIN Program Alum Transition Cell, Propel, and Boost - An AI/ML platform to defend against adversarial information operations campaigns. Its technology monitors, analyzes, and predicts growing narratives to aid in the response to disinformation.

  • RadiantNano - A next-generation scintillator technology for radiation detection, identification, and imaging. Its solution enables portable, flexible, industrial radiography, medical imaging with lower radiation doses for patients, and precise identification of nuclear material.

  • SCOUT - NSIN Program Alum Transition Cell - A spaceflight hardware, software, and data provider developing solutions for improved safety and transparency in space. Its dual-use technology offers autonomous imaging solutions for rendezvous and proximity operations, satellite servicing, space traffic management, and orbital debris detection.

  • Sentenai - NSIN Program Alum Starts - An autonomous data engineering solution for real-time decision-making in dynamic, data-driven environments. Its platform unifies data from disparate operational sources automatically, making both real-time and historical data available for real-time analysis and broad strategic decision-making.

  • Shabodi - An AEP (Application Enablement Platform) that accelerates and deploys 5G applications, regardless of the underlying network. Its technology ensures enterprises do not have to constantly rewrite applications every time there is an upgrade or evolution to networks.

*Note: An additional venture participating in NSIN Propel 2022 is not included on this list as they are currently securing technology patents.

“We are excited to announce the new company cohort selected to participate in NSIN Propel and further build upon our longstanding collaboration with NSIN and Decisive Point,” said Satish Rao, Chief Product Officer at Newlab. “This initiative brings together Decisive Point’s expertise in national security and Newlab’s experience facilitating transformative innovation to enable new, dual-use technology solutions with potentially significant implications for government, defense, and space.”

The NSIN Propel program provides a foundation for success in federal and commercial markets. Companies from last year’s inaugural cohort have secured more than $9.3 million in government funding for research and development and more than $45 million in private capital investment since joining the NSIN Propel network a year ago. Macro-Eyes, an alumni of last year’s NSIN Propel, leveraged the program to secure seed investment and has since expanded its AI solution for predictive supply chain to customers in the Air Force and Army.

“The support and exposure we got at NSIN Propel directly contributed to the hire of two Directors and the opportunity to run our technology live with the 125th Air National Guard Special Tactics Squadron. We also received catalytic funding through NSIN that set off a $10M investment round,” said Drew Arenth, Chief Business Officer at Macro-Eyes.

In May 2022, NSIN Propel announced a national open call inviting early-stage ventures to apply to the program. Representatives from the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, joint commands, and Department of Homeland Security competitively selected the cohort of emerging technology startups. The selected companies bring already validated technologies with commercial applications that NSIN Propel will help to position for DoD use cases.

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 [email protected] 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.