DARPA Launches Entrepreneurial Initiative to Propel over 150 Cutting-Edge National Security Innovations to Market

Over the past two years, DARPA’s Embedded Entrepreneurship Initiative (EEI) pilot program helped 30 pre-seed research teams raise over $100 million in U.S. investment, spin out a dozen new companies, establish numerous joint development agreements with corporate partners, and commission multiple manufacturing facilities. Today, DARPA is launching an expansion of EEI with the goal of accelerating 150 DARPA-backed technologies out of the lab and into products that promise to fundamentally change the way we live, work, and fight. The initiative augments technical research teams with critical entrepreneurial expertise, top-tier commercialization mentors, and provides connections to investors. This important work delivers an effective counter to aggressive foreign investors by building stronger companies that have the ability to attract U.S. capital.

“DARPA-funded scientists produce technologies that have the potential to upend existing markets, establish military advantage, and create lasting societal change. Too often these innovations struggle to gain traction because research teams lack a full understanding of complex market dynamics,” said Kacy Gerst, DARPA’s chief of commercial strategy. “DARPA’s Embedded Entrepreneurship Initiative fills these knowledge gaps by augmenting scientific research teams with critical business expertise.”

“Embody’s EEI program participation was transformational, allowing us access to market data, business forecast modeling and our first commercial hire. This was critical to accelerate our evolution into a commercial stage company. The EEI Program is a valuable extension of DARPA's mandate to create disruptive market-focused companies," said Jeff Conroy, CEO of Embody, a startup whose technology was funded by DARPA and is pioneering next generation regenerative medical devices for the repair of tendon and ligament injuries.

In this effort, DARPA is pleased to team with IQT Emerge, a new effort within In-Q-Tel (IQT), that provides entrepreneurial expertise as well as connections to early-stage U.S. investors. IQT Emerge leverages IQT’s unique place at the intersection of venture capital, government, and the startup community to keep the national security community at the forefront of technology innovation.

Simon Davidson, EVP IQT Emerge, said, “By working with IQT Emerge, scientists in DARPA's Embedded Entrepreneurship Initiative will gain access to strategic business and product development insights that help them move their innovations from early research to commercial use. We're excited about our partnership with DARPA which we believe will contribute greatly to U.S. national security.”

EEI provides catalytic funding, mentorship, and investor and corporate connections for select DARPA researchers. Resources include:

1. An average of $250,000 in non-dilutive funding to hire a seasoned entrepreneur or business executive for one to two years with the goal of developing a robust go-to-market strategy for both defense and commercial markets;
2. Dedicated commercialization mentors with extensive private sector experience; and
3. Engagement with DARPA’s private sector Transition Working Group comprised of over 100 top-tier U.S. investors and corporations key to scaling and supply chain development.

DARPA-funded scientists and engineers are an invaluable resource for national competitiveness. Supporting these researchers with tailored business expertise to advance their innovations for public and military use is critical to obtain the full benefit from taxpayer funded R&D investments.

“DARPA’s Entrepreneurship Initiative was instrumental for Probius in defining our platform and go-to-market plans as well as attracting additional U.S. capital to achieve significant milestones and establish production domestically. This would not have been possible without the critical market intelligence brought by EEI’s senior commercialization advisors and their broad customer and investor networks,” said Emmanuel Quevy, CEO of ProbiusDx, a spinout from Stanford University that developed a quantum-enabled, AI-driven, bioanalytical platform for early detection of COVID-19 and sepsis biomarkers.

View more EEI success stories and find out how to get involved at https://eei.darpa.mil

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Media with inquiries should contact DARPA Public Affairs at outreach@darpa.mil

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