Webinar Series: Mission Critical – Where & How to Play to Win in Defense Tech

Download the webinar resources here.

Unlocking Defense Innovation: Key Tech Funding Priorities Under the New Administration

With the Trump Administration’s renewed emphasis on defense, American defense technology is entering a phase of significant reinvestment and acceleration. Prioritized areas include battlefield AI and machine learning integration, hypersonics, autonomous systems, quantum sensing and computing, directed-energy weapons, cybersecurity infrastructure, and defense industrial base modernization. Strategic programs across the DoD, DARPA, DIU, AFWERX, SOCOM, and OUSD(R&E) are growing in both scope and velocity.

This webinar, hosted by Grant Engine founder and CEO Sam Tetlow and VP of Program Management Madhav Sankunny (read bios), outlines the most immediate and strategic non-dilutive funding opportunities available across the U.S. Department of Defense and affiliated agencies and how to approach the agencies and opportunities for the next 36 months.

This webinar delivers an actionable playbook for defense startups and dual-use companies aiming to secure non-dilutive funding from DARPA, DIU, AFWERX, MTEC, SOCOM, and more. Drawing from dozens of recent engagements and inside conversations with government program officials, we’ll outline the top funding tracks, strategic entry points, and transition pathways for real-world adoption.

Whether your tech is AI-enabled ISR, quantum navigation, trauma response systems, or hypersonic propulsion, this session will equip you with the intelligence to compete and win.

This Webinar Will Cover:

• How early-stage companies are disrupting defense tech
• Common pitfalls and strategic pathways to get from grant to deployment
• The pathway to become a Program of Record
• The top 5 defense funding focus areas in 2025–2028, and why they matter
• The rise of MTEC, DIU, and xTech as key channels for dual-use innovation

Presentation Length: 45 min, with 15 minutes for Q&A

Invited Guests:

Jennifer Thabet, DARPAConnect
Shannon Prior, Anduril
Francesca Craig, Palantir

Download the webinar resources here.