DESCRIPTION

​​The U.S. Army is seeking agile, adaptive, and lethal technology solutions from eligible small and large businesses attending the eMerge Americas Conference & Expo 2026 in Miami Beach, FL from April 22-24, to address critical Army priorities. This platform offers participants the opportunity to engage with stakeholders from the U.S. Department of War (DoW), compete for prize money, and potentially participate in a post-competition demonstration event. 

​The U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)) is partnering with the Joint Innovation Outpost (JIOP) and the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division to deliver the xTech|Live at eMerge Americas 2026 competition. This initiative aims to (1) understand the spectrum of ‘world-class’ technologies being developed commercially with potential U.S. DoW applications; (2) actively integrate non-traditional innovators into the U.S. DoW Science and Technology (S&T) ecosystem; and (3) provide expertise and feedback to accelerate, mature, and transition technologies of interest to the U.S. DoW. 

​The xTech|Live at eMerge Americas 2026 competition will consist of three rounds with additional opportunities:  

1. ​Optional pre-registration with Quad Chart submission (if selected, pre-registrants will secure a guaranteed timeslot for the elevator pitch);  
2. ​On-site registration for the elevator pitch (on a first-come, first-serve basis); and 
3. ​Live pitch event. 

​ The competition will award up to $600,000 in cash prizes to selected participants. Up to 36 applicants will be selected on-site at the eMerge Americas Conference & Expo 2026 to present their technology concepts to a live panel of U.S. Army and DoW subject matter experts (SMEs) on either April 23 or 24, 2026. The U.S. Army intends to select up to six (6) winners to receive a cash prize of $100,000 each and the opportunity to demonstrate their technology at “The Week of the Eagles” at Fort Campbell, KY with the 101st Airborne Division, taking place from May 15-21, 2026. Additional details on prize structure can be found in Section VII of the RFI.    

​There are two ways to register for xTech|Live at eMerge Americas 2026: 

1. ​Pre-registration with Quad Chart submission to potentially secure a guaranteed timeslot for the 60-second elevator pitch; and 
2. ​On-site registration with no guaranteed timeslot for the 60-second elevator pitch, on a first come, first-serve, basis. 

​ All eligible entities, regardless of registration method, will be required to complete a registration form and deliver a 60-second elevator pitch that clearly outlines their technology concept and how it aligns with one (1) of the four (4) critical focus areas identified. This is required to ensure alignment with the U.S. Army’s operational needs and priorities. Additional details on the registration options can be found in Section IV of the RFI. 

​Please note: Entities that elect to participate through the pre-registration pathway, are not permitted to register again on-site. Each eligible entity may only pursue one registration pathway. Entities whose Quad Charts are not selected for an elevator pitch will not be permitted to provide an elevator pitch at eMerge Americas 2026. 

​All presentations will be conducted in front of a public audience.  

​In addition to non-dilutive cash prizes, participants may have the opportunity to engage with U.S. Army, DoW experts, startups, investors, founders, enterprise leaders, researchers, policymakers, academia, and other innovators from around the world attending the eMerge Americas Conference & Expo 2026, receiving valuable feedback on their innovations. 

​The xTech|Live at eMerge Americas 2026 competition is conducted in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4025, which authorizes the use of prize competitions to stimulate innovation and identify promising technologies for national security applications. Requirements for competition under 10 U.S.C. § 3201 are satisfied upon completion of the challenge and use of prize authority. As such, this competition serves as a competitive down select mechanism that enables government organizations to engage with finalists and winners through a variety of follow-on acquisition pathways, including but not limited to: 

• ​10 U.S.C. § 4114 – Selection of contractors for prototype projects 
• ​10 U.S.C. § 4022 – Prototype projects 
• ​10 U.S.C. § 4023 – Procurement for experimental purposes 
• ​10 U.S.C. § 4001 – Research and development 
• ​10 U.S.C. § 4021 – Other Transaction Authority (OTA) 
• ​10 U.S.C. § 3458 – Authority to acquire innovative commercial products and commercial services using general solicitation competitive procedures 
• ​15 U.S.C. § 3703 – Technology innovation partnerships 
• ​15 U.S.C. § 638 – Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs

​Government organizations are encouraged to consider leveraging these statutory authorities to pursue follow-on awards with companies identified through the xTech competition process. This approach supports rapid technology maturation, accelerates the transition of innovative capabilities to the field, and promotes collaboration with non-traditional and small business performers. 

​The xTech Program utilizes the online evaluation and feedback tool, Valid Eval, to accept applications and streamline the evaluation and feedback process. xTech will provide a feedback report to participants following the live pitch event that will be accessible through the tool. These reports are intended to support the potential acceleration of technology transition by offering insights into relevant Army applications, recommendations for refinement to better meet Army needs, and suggested next steps for further development. Please note that while this feedback is provided as a resource, the Government may not respond to individual questions or inquiries related to the content of the report. 

​Problem Statement 

​The U.S. Army seeks agile, adaptive, and lethal capabilities in support of it’s imperative to “Win at the Pace of Change” across four (4) critical focus areas: 

• ​Topic 1: Counter-sUAS for Dismounted Forces  
• ​Topic 2: Stratospheric Effects 
• ​Topic 3: Reconnaissance and Security for Reduced Formations 
• ​Topic 4: Rear Area Security 

​These technologies must enable actionable capabilities that are adaptable, affordable, and capable of rapid integration into operational units, allowing Soldiers to operate with greater awareness, resilience, and agility while accelerating the transition of innovative solutions that reduce risk, support high-tempo operations, and preserve battlefield overmatch.  

​The U.S. Army must innovate to move faster, decide sooner, and act quicker than adversaries. To meet this requirement, we are seeking technologies that are beyond the concept stage‒solutions must be mature, integration-ready, and capable of being demonstrated in a realistic operational environment. Solutions should be able to operate in contested, austere, and dynamic environments, integrate with existing DoW Programs of Record, and be demonstrable within 30 days of exercises involving U.S. and coalition/partner forces. Technologies must be mature, interoperable, and capable of enhancing decision dominance and operational tempo. 

​This xTech|Live at eMerge Americas 2026 competition is not a venue for early-stage ideas‒it’s a platform for deploying near-term capabilities that can immediately support Army experimentation and operational needs.  

​Topic descriptions can be found in Appendix A of the RFI.

SCHEDULE AND PRIZES

ELIGIBILITY

​​Eligible entities include small and large businesses attending the eMerge Americas Conference & Expo 2026 in Miami Beach, FL (register here).

Each eligible entity:  

• ​Must be able to obtain a CAGE code (U.S. businesses) and/or NCAGE code (international businesses) to process payments (CAGE codes are not required during registration);  
• ​Shall be incorporated in, and maintain, a primary place of business in the U.S. or a foreign country;   
• ​May not be a U.S. federal or foreign government entity or employ a U.S. federal employee acting within the scope of their employment;   
• ​May not be a company or person controlled by, funded by, or under the jurisdiction or direction of foreign adversaries; and  
• ​Must not be based in a foreign country of concern (FCOC), directly funded by an FCOC-government or FCOC-government-subsidized guidance fund or be under the influence of an FCOC-based government in any way. Failure to meet these requirements will result in ineligibility for award. 

​The Army FUZE xTech Program will not provide travel or registration funding for eligible entities to attend the eMerge Americas Conference & Expo 2026.