On the 2025 AFCEA Lexington Harmony Chapter’s New Horizons Convention, MassRobotics supplied a thought-provoking session that turned the highlight on the essential problem of discovering and funding progressive applied sciences with dual-use potential. Whereas earlier periods had explored updates from the Administration, protection initiatives, alternatives from the Program Government Workplaces (PEOs) and AI’s transformative position in navy capabilities, this session shifted focus to the often-overlooked facet of innovation—turning cutting-edge industrial applied sciences into useful belongings for nationwide protection.
Moderated by Joyce Sidopoulos, Co-Founding father of MassRobotics, the session featured two key organizations identified for scouting and funding applied sciences with each industrial and protection purposes: the Protection Innovation Unit (DIU) and J2 Ventures. Dr. John Griffen, Authorities Engagement Lead for DIU’s Autonomy Portfolio, and Jon Bronson, founding father of J2 Ventures, alongside Matt Goldman, Common Companion at J2, provided invaluable insights into the method of figuring out promising improvements and the funding mechanisms that assist them.
The session highlighted how applied sciences initially developed for the industrial sector could be leveraged for protection, making an actual impression on the Division of Protection’s mission to offer cutting-edge options to warfighters. The purpose is to bridge the hole between startup-driven innovation and the challenges confronted by the Division of Protection, making certain new applied sciences attain the sphere the place they’re most wanted.
Following these displays, ten progressive startups from the MassRobotics’ tech ecosystem took the stage to pitch their options. As the biggest impartial robotics hub, MassRobotics is devoted to accelerating the event and adoption of robotics and bodily AI applied sciences, offering entrepreneurs with the workspace, sources, and connections to scale their options globally. This was a type of alternatives for the startups to share their know-how with a protection targeted viewers of leaders and finish customers.
The businesses that pitched their improvements on the occasion included:
These startups signify the chopping fringe of robotics innovation, starting from drone applied sciences to powered footwear options aimed toward enhancing mobility for navy personnel. After the pitches, the viewers had the chance to vote for his or her favourite innovation utilizing a voting app.
And the winner of the 2025 AFCEA Trailblazer Award (that included $5000) was Dephy, an organization born in 2016 as a spin-off from the MIT Media Lab. Dephy is targeted on empowering people by integrating powered techniques with footwear and attire. Their work is particularly impactful in excessive navy situations, the place mobility is a essential problem. By partnering with over 20 world analysis establishments, Dephy is pushing the boundaries of human mobility, enhancing lives, and enabling navy members and medical sufferers to go farther on their very own two toes.
The session was adopted by a networking alternative for the startups to talk extra about their applied sciences with the attendees and potential prospects. This occasion showcased MassRobotics’ dedication to connecting the protection sector with progressive startups, making certain that new applied sciences will not be solely developed however are deployed the place they’re wanted most.
