By Eleanor Kent, Army FUZE  

WASHINGTON ‒ The Army FUZE xTech Program is bringing its xTech|Live competition series to the eMerge Americas 2026 Conference & Expo in Miami, Florida, April 23–24, 2026, creating a new opportunity for innovators to present technologies directly to Army operators, technical experts, and acquisition stakeholders. 

Hosted in partnership with the Joint Innovation Outpost (JIOP)  and the 101st Airborne Division, the xTech|Live at eMerge Americas 2026 competition will award up to $600,000 in total prize funding to innovators developing technologies aligned with Army operational needs. 

The competition builds on the momentum of the xTech|Live series, including the xTech|Disrupt competition held during the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting in October 2025. That event showcased how live competition formats can quickly surface promising technologies by placing innovators directly in front of Army operators, technical experts, and acquisition leaders. xTech|Live at eMerge Americas 2026 continues that momentum, offering innovators the chance to compete for prize funding in April and, for selected teams, move quickly toward potential demonstration with the 101st Airborne Division during the “Week of the Eagles” less than one month later in May—placing emerging technologies in front of Soldiers on an accelerated timeline. 

While traditional xTech competitions already simplify engagement by allowing companies to submit short concept white papers rather than navigate traditional formal contracting processes, the xTech|Live format lowers that barrier even further. Innovators can secure a guaranteed pitch opportunity by submitting a brief quad chart by April 3, 2026—or they can register on site and step forward to pitch their technology during the conference. Registered teams begin with a 60-second elevator pitch, with top firms advancing to a five-minute presentation before a panel of Army operators, technical experts, and acquisition stakeholders. Through these presentations and follow-on Q&A discussion with Army evaluators, innovators receive immediate feedback on how their solutions could support operational needs while competing for the competition’s prize funding and potential live demonstration opportunity with Soldiers. 

Competition Overview 

For xTech|Live at eMerge Americas 2026, the Army is seeking technologies aligned with the following operational capability areas: 

• Counter-sUAS for Dismounted Forces 
• Stratospheric Effects 
• Reconnaissance and Security for Reduced Formations 
• Rear Area Security 

The competition seeks solutions that are adaptable, affordable, and capable of rapid integration and should demonstrate the ability to enhance situational awareness, force protection, and effectiveness across distributed operations in contested environments remain essential to mission success. 

During the competition, up to 36 participants may be selected to present their technologies in front of a panel of Army evaluators. Top performers will advance through the live pitch rounds, with the Army intending to select up to six winners, each eligible to receive $100,000 in prize funding as part of the competition’s $600,000 total prize pool. 

Beyond prize awards, winning teams may have the opportunity to further demonstrate their technologies with the 101st Airborne Division during a demonstration event scheduled for May 2026 as part of the “Week of the Eagles” at Fort Campbell, KY. 

Eligibility 

The competition is open to eligible U.S. based businesses and non-traditional innovators attending the eMerge Americas Conference & Expo 2026 in Miami, FL and capable of developing technologies aligned with the competition’s operational focus areas. 

Interested participants may either pre-register ahead of the event by submitting a quad chart or register on site at the eMerge Americas conference to participate in the live pitch competition. 

Additional participation details and submission instructions will be provided through official xTech channels ahead of the competition. 

About the Army FUZE xTech Program 

The Army FUZE xTech Program is the Army’s premier tool for scouting and accelerating dual-use technologies that directly enhance Soldier readiness and mission success. Through dynamic prize competitions like xTech|Search, xTech identifies breakthrough solutions and opens doors for nontraditional companies to engage with and deliver capabilities to the Army. Since its launch in 2018, xTech has awarded over $30 million in non-dilutive cash prizes across 48 competitions – fueling innovation pipelines and delivering transformative technologies that matter on the battlefield. 

Learn more at the Army PIT website: https://pit.army.mil/pathway/xtech/  

About Army FUZE  

Army FUZE is the engine driving innovation within the Army’s integrated innovation ecosystem, strategically aligned under the Army’s Pathway for Innovation and Technology (PIT). By uniting key programs such as xTech, Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer, Manufacturing Technology, and the Technology Maturation Initiative within a synchronized framework, FUZE accelerates advanced capabilities, strengthens the industrial base, and delivers readiness at the speed of relevance. Operating with a venture capitalist mindset, FUZE scouts broadly, takes calculated risks, and scales the most promising technologies, ensuring taxpayer dollars are directed toward solutions with both Army operational relevance and commercial viability. Through its alignment with PIT, FUZE underscores the Army’s commitment to fostering innovation, streamlining technology transitions, and bridging the gap between emerging technologies and critical operational needs to maintain military overmatch. 

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