Your Defense Tech Strategy Starts Here

With the Trump Administration’s renewed focus on defense innovation, non-dilutive funding opportunities across DARPA, DIU, AFWERX, SOCOM, and other agencies are expanding in both size and velocity. This session delivers an actionable playbook for early-stage defense and dual-use tech companies to secure capital, validate technology, and transition into programs of record.

This webinar builds directly on intelligence from active engagements with DoD program managers, successful SBIR/STTR awardees, and transition champions. Whether your work touches battlefield AI, quantum navigation, hypersonics, or trauma response, this is your moment to step into the mission.

Special Focus: DARPA Deep Dive

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) leads the charge in bold, high-risk research with the potential to transform national security. Each year, DARPA sets aside dedicated SBIR and STTR funding for visionary small businesses.

In this session, attendees will learn:

• How DARPA Works: Understand DARPA’s mission, structure, and unique approach to innovation.
• Funding Opportunities: Explore the agency’s SBIR/STTR programs and alternative pathways to engagement.
• Getting Started: Learn how to tap into DARPAConnect, the agency’s new initiative to help first-time applicants succeed.

What We’ll Cover:

• How early-stage companies are successfully disrupting defense tech
• Common pitfalls and how to avoid them when entering DoD programs
• What it really takes to become a Program of Record
• The top 5 defense funding focus areas in 2025–2028 and how to align
• The rise of MTEC, DIU, and xTech as entry points for dual-use commercialization

Don’t miss this opportunity to position your innovations for funding and collaboration in 2025 and beyond.

Sam Tetlow is Founder & CEO of Grant Engine. Grant Engine has a proven model of delivering funding to leading life science companies through the NIH SBIR program as well as DARPA, BARDA and other DoD sources. Sam has successful experience as an entrepreneur and investor in life sciences companies such as EpiCypher (named best University Startup of 2016 by U.S. Congress), ILS Genomics, Immunologix, Gentris Corporation, and Tranzyme Pharma (IPO April, 2011) among others.

As a leader within companies Sam has a functional focus on product development, sales, finance and corporate development. Sam continues to build on his venture capital experience by investing into compelling companies as an Angel. Sam seeks results and has a proven track record.   Sam has generated a 5.8x return on invested capital, with 76% cash realization in his last 14 years of investing.

Sam holds a MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School (Beta Gamma Sigma, 2003) and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Honors, 1993). He has been on Mt. Everest, is a former competitive triathlete, and an avid proponent of doing good while doing well.

Jennifer Thabet is an experienced program manager with an extensive background supporting DARPA and the Department of Defense (DoD). 

Enhancing the ability of the small business community to create and transition revolutionary technologies that benefit the warfighter, federal government, and commercial marketplace is of paramount importance in Thabet’s role of program director, DARPA Small Business Programs Office (SBPO). 

She is focused on creating an environment that considers small business concerns a primary source of innovative solutions and advancing small business relationships and training opportunities within the DoD and other federal agencies.

In her role, Thabet administers the DARPA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. She also leads and helped establish the agency’s inaugural Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA), DARPAConnect, an effort designed to break down barriers of entry for performers new to DARPA and the national security space, and educate them on how to engage and work with DARPA.

Prior to joining SBPO, Thabet spent more than 13 years with Booz Allen Hamilton supporting DARPA and the DoD by providing program and project management for complex government contracts with a focus on project and financial management. She has specialized expertise in contract negotiations, business process improvements, and small business relations and risk management. Her experience includes work in multiple DARPA Technical Offices where she supported all aspects of the DARPA programmatic lifecycle from program concept to transition. 

Her background also includes work in DARPA support offices, including the Director’s Office (DIRO) and the Mission Services Office (MSO), where she served as the contract program manager for DARPA’s largest and most complex support contract. Prior to her time at DARPA, Thabet spent time as an attorney, specializing in contract law and general litigation.

Education

• JD, Law, The George Washington University
• BA, History and Political Science, Washington University in St. Louis
• PMP, Project Management Institute