A U.S. Army live pitch competition run by the FUZE xTech Program, in partnership with the Joint Innovation Outpost (JIOP) and the 101st Airborne Division. Part of the eMerge Americas Conference & Expo 2026.
Authority: 10 U.S.C. § 4025 (Prize Competitions)
Up to 6 winners × $100,000 each = $600,000 total
Winners also get to demo at "The Week of the Eagles" — Fort Campbell, KY with the 101st Airborne (May 15–21, 2026).
The Army needs man-portable, rapidly deployable counter-sUAS solutions that dismounted infantry can carry and operate in contested, austere environments. The threat from small unmanned aerial systems is growing — from commercial off-the-shelf drones to custom-built ISR and attack platforms.
Detect, track, and classify small UAS threats in cluttered environments — RF, acoustic, EO/IR, radar, or multi-sensor fusion approaches.
Kinetic or non-kinetic defeat mechanisms. Electronic warfare, directed energy, kinetic interceptors, or novel approaches. Must minimize collateral and friendly-fire risk.
Man-portable or vehicle-mountable with minimal logistics footprint. Must be operable by soldiers with limited training in austere conditions.
Integration with Army C2 systems, existing air defense networks, and coalition partner equipment. Standards-based interfaces.
As an aerial systems company, Tehiru has direct domain expertise in UAS — which means intimate understanding of the threat. Frame the solution around:
Clear, concise description of what your solution does, what problem it solves, and advantages of your approach.
Higher-risk, higher-impact solutions — NOT incremental improvements. Describe improvement upon state of the art.
Direct alignment to Counter-sUAS for Dismounted Forces + Army modernization priorities (Command & Control, Soldier Lethality).
Can you demo with the 101st Airborne in May? Both technological readiness AND Army regulatory compliance (ITAR, safety, etc.).
Clear writing, convincing argumentation.
| Criterion | Weight | What They Want |
|---|---|---|
| Solution Description + Maturity | 20% | Solid technical intro. How it works. What makes it different. Prove technical maturity (TRL). |
| Competitive Advantage + Innovation | 20% | Why you vs. competitors. Direct AND indirect substitutes. Degree of departure from existing approaches. |
| Potential for Army Impact | 20% | Let the judges connect the dots — but if you have direct DoW knowledge, briefly make your case. |
| Field Demo Ready (May '26) | 20% | Ready for 101st Airborne demo? Tech readiness + regulatory readiness. |
| Market Share + Company Edge | 10% | Define your commercial market. IP, expertise, business model, network effects. |
| Presentation Quality | 10% | Effectively get your message across. They know it's hard with limited notice — just do your best. |
Must use "Template_xTech_Live_eMerge_Americas_Quad_Chart.pptx" from the Valid Eval registration page. Any other format = automatic rejection.
60 seconds timed, followed by potential 30-second Q&A from the panel.
Delivered in Room 212 at Miami Beach Convention Center on April 22, 2026 (if pre-selected).
Presented in front of a public audience. You consent to being photographed, recorded, and filmed.
| Seconds | Content |
|---|---|
| 0–10 | Hook + Company — "The sUAS threat is [stat]. Tehiru has the answer." |
| 10–25 | Solution — What it is, how it works, what makes it different |
| 25–40 | Proof — TRL, demos, partners, operational validation |
| 40–50 | Army Fit — Man-portable, integrates with POR, dismounted-ready |
| 50–60 | Close — "Ready to demo at Fort Campbell in May. Let's talk." |
No slides, no laptop presentations. You CAN bring physical prototypes and printed materials. Plan accordingly — this is show-and-tell, not slide-and-tell.
| Time | Section | Scoring Target |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00–0:45 | The Problem — sUAS threat landscape for dismounted forces. Set the stage. | — |
| 0:45–2:00 | The Solution — Technical deep dive. How it works. What makes it different. Show the prototype. | Solution (20%) |
| 2:00–2:45 | Competitive Edge — Why Tehiru wins vs. alternatives. IP, expertise, innovation degree. | Competitive Adv. (20%) |
| 2:45–3:30 | Market & Business — Commercial market, dual-use, company's unique position. | Market (10%) |
| 3:30–4:15 | Demo Readiness — TRL, regulatory, what you bring to Fort Campbell. Prior demos. | Field Demo (20%) |
| 4:15–5:00 | Impact & Close — Force multiplier for the Army. Bold closing statement. | Impact (20%) |
Followed by 5-minute Q&A. Prepare answers for: cost per unit, SWAP-C, integration timeline, ITAR status, scalability, and "what can you show us in May?"
| Date | Task | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 30 | Review competition requirements (this page) | Niro + Smokey | IN PROGRESS |
| Mar 30 | Register on Valid Eval platform | Niro | TODO |
| Mar 30 | Download quad chart template from Valid Eval | Niro | TODO |
| Mar 30–31 | Register for eMerge Americas Conference | Niro | TODO |
| Mar 31 | Draft quad chart (all 4 quadrants) | Smokey + Niro | TODO |
| Apr 1 | Internal review — Niro + Aaron sign-off | Niro / Aaron | PENDING |
| Apr 1–2 | Finalize quad chart + complete registration form | Niro + Smokey | PENDING |
| Apr 3 (5PM ET) | Submit quad chart on Valid Eval | Niro | DEADLINE |
| Apr 4–10 | Draft elevator pitch (60s) + live pitch (5 min) | Smokey + Niro | PENDING |
| Apr 10–16 | Rehearse pitches, prepare printed materials + prototype | Team | PENDING |
| Apr 14 | Book flights + hotel (Miami Beach) | Niro | TODO |
| Apr 17 | Pre-registration results notification | Army xTech | WAIT |
| Apr 21 | Travel to Miami | Team | PENDING |
| Apr 22 | 60-second elevator pitch (Room 212) | Niro / Presenter | EVENT |
| Apr 23–24 | 5-min live pitch (if selected) | Niro / Presenter | EVENT |
| Apr 24 3:30PM | Winner announcement (Booth #571) | — | EVENT |
| May 15–21 | Week of the Eagles demo (Fort Campbell, KY) | Team | IF WINNER |
| Risk | Impact | Likelihood | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miss April 3 deadline | CRITICAL | Medium | Start registration TODAY. Submit by Apr 2 (buffer day). |
| Wrong quad chart format | CRITICAL | Low | Download official template FIRST. Do not modify format. |
| Not selected for elevator pitch slot | HIGH | Medium | Strong quad chart. Cannot also register on-site (one pathway only). |
| No CAGE/NCAGE code | HIGH | Medium | Start application immediately. Not needed for registration but required for payment. |
| Weak live pitch (no slides allowed) | HIGH | Medium | Practice with prototypes + printed materials. Rehearse daily Apr 17–21. |
| Travel / logistics issues | MEDIUM | Low | Book flights + hotel by Apr 14. Arrive Apr 21 evening. |
| Not ready for Fort Campbell demo (May) | HIGH | Medium | Start demo prep in parallel. Hardware, shipping, regulatory clearances. |
| ITAR / export control issues | CRITICAL | Depends | Confirm Tehiru's ITAR status ASAP. Public audience = export control implications. |