Tech Grove prize challenges
Compete. Win. Deliver Impact.
Compete in Tech Grove Prize Challenges to solve real DoD problems, gain exposure to defense leaders, and unlock funding for your tech. See our Active Prize Challenges
What's a prize challenge?
Your Fast Track to real Dod opportunities
Tech Grove Prize Challenges invite small businesses, startups, researchers, and bold innovators to solve real-world problems facing the Department of Defense.
Instead of navigating slow, traditional procurement, you compete in an open, streamlined process designed to surface the best solutions quickly.
As a participant, you put your technology in front of decision-makers, compete for cash prizes, and gain visibility that can lead to pilots, funding, and possible future contracts. It’s your chance to prove what your solution can do and get it into the mission, where it matters most.
Success In Numbers
$1.4 MILLION
in Prize Payouts
500+ entrants
Involved in Prize Challenges
30+ OTA's
Established from Prior Challenges
Don't Just Compete...
Break into the defense ecosystem
Each challenge is a chance to showcase what you do best, extend your reach, and get noticed in the defense innovation community.
The best part? No Experience is needed. Whether you’re new to defense or already in the space, our challenges are open to all innovators.
Here are a few more perks when you join:
Win Cash Prizes
Earn funding to support and scale your tech.
Connect with DoD Decision-Makers
Build relationships with the people who shape acquisitions.
Gain Industry Exposure
Present your solution to military leaders, industry, and academia.
Accelerate Adoption
Speed up your path to government contracts or SBIR/STTR programs.
How to Join our Next Prize Challenge
Our team will post details on our official Challenge site with instructions on how to submit your idea or product, so you are officially entered into the competition.
Finalists are invited to present, prototype, or demo live or virtually depending on the Prize Challenge structure.
Winners may receive Prize Money, Pilot opportunities, or follow-on government contracts.
Real Companies. Real Wins
Hear What past Prize winners have to say.
Worth every cent...
Tech Grove’s prize challenge got us face time with people we never would’ve reached otherwise, and helped turn our concept into a funded prototype
Patricia Phillips
OptimizePress
Revolutionary
We gained a government contract directly from the challenge. We're now scaling our tech into a full DoD use case.
Sharon Smith
OptimizePress
Awesome
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Edward Lewis
OptimizePress
be the next success story
Explore our current prize challenge opportunities and submit to win.
Prize Challenge FAQ
What is a Prize Challenge?
A Prize Challenge is a competitive opportunity where individuals or teams propose solutions to specific problems presented by our DoD partners. These challenges focus on innovation in modeling, simulation, and human performance training—and are open to startups, small businesses, academic researchers, and more.
Note: All participants must be 18 years or older, and be a United States Citizen.
Why Participate in a Prize Challenge?
1. Get Your Tech in Front of DoD Decision-Makers
Prize Challenges are a direct line to visibility with government customers.
2. Accelerate Your Impact
Apply your expertise to mission-critical problems that truly matter.
3. Build New Partnerships
Collaborate with fellow innovators, research institutions, and DoD stakeholders.
4. Win Prizes & Opportunities
Compete for cash rewards, potential contract opportunities, and follow-on support.
How to Join a Prize Challenge
1. View all Active Prize Challenges here and join our email list to stay updated with all upcoming opportunities.
Browse upcoming challenges aligned with your expertise. We post all Prize Challenges on our official Challenge site, on our email list, and on Social Channels.
2. Review the Challenge Requirements once they are posted.
Each challenge has its own criteria, submission deadlines, and evaluation process.
3. Submit Your Solution on the Individual Challenge Page.
Whether it’s a concept paper, prototype, or demo, bring your best solutions forward.
4. Compete & Win
Finalists may be invited to present, showcase, or collaborate further.
Where Can I learn More?
To be notified of all our latest Prize Challenges and Events, join our email list. You can also contact us for more information here.
Who can participate?
Any U.S.-based small business, startup, researcher, or organization with a solution to the challenge topic. (Note: No Experience Needed. Whether you’re new to defense or already in the space, our challenges are open to all innovators.)
Do I need prior experience?
Not at all. We’re looking for non-traditional, agile thinkers...including those new to defense.
Is there funding available?
Yes. Many challenges include cash prizes and can lead to funded pilots or contracts.
What types of problems do these challenges solve?
Human performance, simulation, training tech, AI-enabled tools, XR, digital twin technology, and more.
Join Our Next Prize Challenge
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