It's a Hit! TRIAD Ohio Scores with Companies & the Department of Defense
Today, I’m taking a moment to share information about the first TRIAD (Technology Requirements & Innovation Awareness Days) event and express our thanks to all those who sponsored, attended, or supported us. Our vision was to make connections between innovative companies, the Department of Defense (DOD), investors, and stakeholder groups from across the state. From those connections, we hoped that our attendees would gain valuable information that brings them closer to their goals. We did what we set out to do, and by all measures, TRIAD Ohio 2018 was a success.
On August 13th, TRIAD Education Day attendees heard presentations from the US Small Business Administration, the Federal Lab Consortium, the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Ohio Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, and Ohio Small Business Development Centers. The speakers shared information about the value and resources of their agencies, showed the audience where to find opportunities, told them how to effectively communicate, and gave them places to go for help. Our Keynote Speaker, Larsen Jensen of Harpoon VC, spoke about the role venture capital plays in the development of products for defense and national security.
Our participating companies pitched their technology during face-to-face meetings with panelists from US Central Command, US Pacific Command, the Department of Homeland Security, the Air Force Materiel Command Office of Small Business Contracting, the Air Force SBIR/STTR Program Office, and the Air Force Research Lab Technology Transfer Program Office. During these meetings the companies had the undivided attention of these representatives, and they were able to get valuable feedback about their requirements focused solutions. That feedback is now helping in the preparation of information packets that will be used to make personal introductions between the companies and the panelists’ network of buyers / decision makers. Many of the participating companies were also invited to participate in Tech Warrior in Dayton, Ohio.
We know that a gap exists between our companies (in this case Ohio companies) and the people who are spending billions of dollars to bring new technology to our nations Warfighters. Entrepreneurs and the DoD find it difficult to connect. On the rare occasions when they do meet they find that they don’t speak the same language, work at the same speed, or operate within the same set of rules.
Over the three-day event TRIAD worked to bridge the gap. As a result, connections were made, communication was improved, and the gates were opened to new opportunities. All of it in pursuit of our common goals; support US Warfighters and Small Businesses.
Future TRIAD events are in the works with new partners at new locations. We’ll post those on our site and on social media as they are scheduled. If your state, or one nearby, isn’t hosting a TRAID event, perhaps you’ll consider organizing one yourself. We can help with that.
The next event of this type is:
Encountering Innovation, October 8 – October 12, Overland Park, KS
For more information go to Encountering Innovation
The next TRIAD event is scheduled for February 2019 in Columbus, OH
For more information sign up on our website at GDI Partners Subscription
We hope to see you at the next TRIAD event!