How Civilians and Startups Can Tap Into the Pentagon’s Billion-Dollar Innovation Pipeline

If you think working with the U.S. military means navigating decades of red tape and chasing classified RFPs, it’s time to update your playbook. Over the past few years, the Department of Defense has rolled out a wave of open innovation programs designed specifically to bring in non-traditional vendors—startups, researchers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses with no prior government experience. This shift isn’t just symbolic; it’s backed by billions in funding and a mandate to fast-track commercial tech for defense use.