Discovering Best of Breed Solutions for SOF: How Businesses Can Engage Through SOFWERX

When it comes to technology, to keep up with today’s fast-paced battlefield innovations, the need for rapid iteration has become paramount. In the critical military research and development (R&D) space, SOFWERX provides a unique bridge between the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the global innovation ecosystem. 

Unlike traditional Department of Defense (DoD) innovation hubs, SOFWERX operates as a neutral, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization to empower industry, academia, and government to rapidly discover, develop and deliver best-of-breed solutions for the nation’s most demanding missions. 

Based on a recent presentation by SOFWERX leaders at SOF Week 2025, here is a primer on how to discover opportunities, engage with SOF experts and accelerate getting your technology into the hands of the warriors who need it.

Origin, Overview & Charter

Founded in 2015 through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) with Defensewerx, SOFWERX was designed to break down barriers between government and nontraditional solution providers. 

“Our mission is to find solutions to the challenges generated by special operations forces,” explained Ms. Leslie Babich, Director of SOFWERX. “We bring real people together to provide best-of-breed solutions for the men and women who protect our nation.”

SOFWERX’s charter is to accelerate problem-solving by connecting USSOCOM with innovators from small businesses, academia and the broader tech community. By operating outside the DoD’s traditional contracting structures, SOFWERX can move at the speed of relevance o to deliver solutions in weeks or months – not years.

The Power of the Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA)

The PIA is what truly sets SOFWERX apart. The unique mission and legal status of SOFWERX contrasts sharply with government-run innovation hubs like AFWERX, NavalX and Army Futures Command, which are embedded within the DoD and subject to federal acquisition regulations.

As a nonprofit intermediary, SOFWERX is not part of the DoD. It’s a neutral facilitator. With just 24 staff, SOFWERX remains nimble and responsive to both government and industry need. This structure allows SOFWERX to rapidly execute commercial agreements – often in less than 30 days.  “We are a nonprofit group… The fact that we’re doing agreements, not government contracts, is a big difference,” Babich explained. “That, to me, is the bread and butter of why we exist.”

Being outside the wire, so to speak, also allows the organization to avoid the bureaucratic hurdles of government contracting. Instead, it can focus on collaboration, not competition, among solution providers. Finally, it can protect participant intellectual property. 

SOFWERX Pathways: Discover, Engage, Accelerate

SOFWERX’s value proposition is two-fold. For the government, it enables SOFWERX to provide a rapid, flexible platform to discover, assess and prototype cutting-edge technologies. The organization has facilitated over 362 events, resulting in 547 operator-focused projects and 538 projects to advance technologies for warfighters. For industry, especially nontraditional and small businesses, SOFWERX offers a low-barrier entry point to engage with USSOCOM. “We are recruiting those small, nontraditional businesses that have not done business with the DoD,” Babich emphasized. Companies retain their intellectual property, can collaborate with other innovators and gain direct feedback from end users.

Discover

Discovery lies at the center of SOFWERX’s approach. With an ecosystem of over 90,000 participants, SOFWERX continually scouts for new capabilities and technologies. This robust pipeline ensures that USSOCOM is always aware of emerging technologies, while innovators gain unprecedented access to real-world challenges and end users. “Joining the ecosystem is super easy,” Babich noted. “It typically doesn’t cost anything and takes about two minutes. You’ll get emails in your inbox about business opportunities.”

Engage

Engagement is where ideas meet opportunity. SOFWERX hosts a variety of events and forums designed to connect stakeholders.

“One of the great advantages is not just engagement with the end user, but engagement with other solutions providers in academia and industry. We bring companies together to create synergistic solutions,” Babich said. Here are some ways they do that:

• SOFWERX Events: These include collaboration events, assessments, tech talks, hackathons and rapid prototyping sprints. SOFWERX has facilitated over 362 events  which have led to hundreds of operator-focused projects.
• Tech Tuesday: Launched in May 2020, Tech Tuesday is a virtual pitch forum where innovators present transformational technologies to USSOCOM and other government partners. “It’s a virtual pitch form, and it does give you the opportunity to bring your technology to the government overnight,” Babich said. The format is evolving to a concise 10-minute pitch, followed by Q&A to maximize exposure for each company. Dial in links are partitioned to keep IP safe.
• Small Business & Industry Engagement: SOFWERX runs boot camps, networking events and industry conferences to help small businesses and startups understand government needs and processes. These events also connect companies with investors and partner nation ecosystems, further expanding opportunities for collaboration and commercialization.

Accelerate

Acceleration is where promising ideas become real-world capabilities. SOFWERX’s streamlined processes and technical oversight ensure that solutions move rapidly from concept to prototype to operational evaluation. “We can award a collaborative project agreement in about 30 days. That’s pretty quick,” said Glen Cullen, Program Manager, SOF AT&L SOFWERX.

SOFWERX has conducted 538 projects to advance technologies for the warfighter. The typical timeline from challenge kickoff to event execution is 60–90 days, and commercial agreements are executed in less than 30 days. Its programs have achieved a 46% transition rate from prototype to Phase 3 (fielding). This far surpasses traditional government contracting pathways.

Capabilities and Success Stories

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Pilot Program

SOFWERX manages a robust SBIR Pilot Program which has channeled over $91.8M in SBIR/S&T funds since 2020. In FY24 alone, $24.3M was executed, with 33 contracts awarded. Notably, 46% of Phase I/II projects transitioned to Phase III. Clearly, SOFWERX can effectively move innovations to operational use and dramatically accelerate the innovation cycle.

Transitions, Consignments, Validations, Knowledge Transfers

SOFWERX’s impact is measured not just in contracts, but in real-world transitions and knowledge sharing:

• Transitions: 75 projects have transitioned to government contracts, with 13 in the past year alone.
• Consignments and Validations: Many projects are adopted and validated by operators, even if they don’t become permanent programs of record.
• Knowledge Transfer: SOFWERX facilitates the sharing of lessons learned and best practices, enabling government and industry to make informed decisions about emerging technologies.

Advanced Manufacturing Capabilities

Onsite at SOFWERX’s Tampa facility, operators and users can access state-of-the-art manufacturing tools and expertise. “If you have an idea, bring it to us and we can help you make it,” said Babich. The facility supports rapid prototyping, 3D printing, and engineering analysis, enabling quick iteration and user-driven innovation.

Success Story: Drone Exploitation

One of SOFWERX’s most compelling success stories involved drone exploitation technology. “We had a company come in for exploitation, and they had information they were able to get from drones that hadn’t been possible before,” recounted Glen Cullen, Program Manager, SOF AT&L SOFWERX. SOFWERX facilitated a partnership between this company and a Canadian firm with a U.S. office. Within six months, they had a working prototype in the hands of operators, and within a year, the capability was fielded. This process that would have taken years under traditional DoD contracting.

How to Work with SOFWERX: Step-by-Step

• Join the Ecosystem: Sign up at SOFWERX.org to receive notifications about upcoming events, challenges, and opportunities. It’s free, fast, and open to all innovators.
• Participate in Events: Attend collaboration events, Tech Tuesday, boot camps and networking sessions. These are prime opportunities to pitch your technology, meet stakeholders and connect with other solution providers.
• Submit Your Technology: Respond to open calls for white papers, participate in Tech Tuesday, or submit directly to specific challenges. SOFWERX’s process is designed to lower barriers and encourage broad participation.
• Collaborate and Accelerate: If selected, you’ll work with SOFWERX’s program managers and technical experts to refine your solution, prototype and demonstrate capabilities to end users.
• Transition and Scale: Successful prototypes may transition to operational use, government contracts or further development with investor and partner support. SOFWERX can also connect you with resources to help scale manufacturing or commercialization.

Final Thoughts: Get Involved

SOFWERX is more than just an innovation lab. It’s a dynamic ecosystem where government, industry and academia converge to solve the toughest challenges facing special operations forces. For businesses, especially those new to defense, SOFWERX offers a uniquely accessible, collaborative and impactful pathway to make a difference.

“We want to get more people involved, particularly from nontraditional industry and academia. We will walk you through the process, even if you’re not familiar with it,” Babich emphasized.

If you have a technology, an idea or a passion for supporting the nation’s elite warfighters, SOFWERX is your gateway to discovery, engagement and accelerated impact.

Learn more about upcoming opportunities. SOFWERX’s calendar is packed with events, including SOF Week, assessment events for maritime sensors, unmanned munitions and Drone in a Box (DIB) technology. Science & Technology (S&T) and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) topics are also regularly posted on their website.

Box FY24 PIA Pilot Program Metrics

By: Dawn Zoldi (Colonel, USAF Ret.)