Executive Summary
The Marine Corps Wargaming Prize Challenge offers up to $1,999,999 in prizes for end-to-end wargaming solutions and specialist modules. Teams must register by January 25, 2027 and submit by March 1, 2027, 11:59 PM ET. All team members must be U.S. citizens.
Entry is a 2-page technical document, a demo video of 7 minutes or less and matrix responses. Finalists demo live May 4 to 6, 2027.
Challenge at a Glance
- Sponsor: Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) for the U.S. Marine Corps
- Administrator: Central Florida Tech Grove
- Award Type: Prize competition
- Prize Pool: Up to $1,999,999 total (at most four end-to-end prizes and one per specialty)
- Due Dates: Registration January 25, 2027, 11:59 PM ET; Stage 1 submission March 1, 2027, 11:59 PM ET
Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the January 25 registration deadline.
What Is the Marine Corps Wargaming Prize Challenge?
A prize competition for a modular, interoperable wargaming environment: an end-to-end solution, or specialist modules covering wargame design, execution, data capture, analytics and reporting.
Key Dates
- November 18, 2026, 2:00 PM ET: Information session
- January 25, 2027: Registration closes
- March 1, 2027: Stage 1 submissions due
- March 31, 2027: Finalists notified
- April 30, 2027: Demo Day materials due
- May 4 to 6, 2027: Demo Day
- May 7, 2027: Winners announced
Eligibility
- Who can enter: Individuals or teams from industry, academia, state or local government, or nonprofits
- Citizenship: All individuals must be U.S. citizens and 18 or older
- Excluded: Federal employees and federal support contractors
How to Apply
- Register: your team lead through the form on the Central Florida Tech Grove challenge page by January 25, 2027
- Submit: the 2-page technical PDF, a demo video of 7 minutes or less, the entry declaration and 1-page matrix responses by March 1, 2027
Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?
Good fit for teams with working simulation, decision-support or analytics software that can run or support a wargame. Poor fit for concepts without a demonstrable product.
How BW&CO Can Help
BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For prize challenges like this one, we help you:
- Decide between an end-to-end entry and a specialist module
- Map your product to the evaluation matrix
- Tighten the 2-page technical document
- Review the demo video script before you record
- Prepare for Demo Day if you're a finalist
Plan Your Wargaming Prize Entry
Frequently Asked Questions
How much prize money is available?
Up to $1,999,999 in total. Per-winner amounts are not posted.
When is registration due?
January 25, 2027, 11:59 PM ET.
When are entries due?
March 1, 2027, 11:59 PM ET.
What do I submit?
A 2-page technical PDF, a demo video of 7 minutes or less, an entry declaration and 1-page matrix responses.
Who can enter?
U.S. citizens 18 or older, as individuals or teams. Federal employees and support contractors cannot.
Is there an information session?
Yes, November 18, 2026, 2:00 PM ET.
When is Demo Day?
May 4 to 6, 2027, for finalists.
Can BW&CO help with a Wargaming Prize entry?
Yes. We can review your technical paper and demo before you submit. Book a call with our team.
Source: USA.gov: Marine Corps Wargaming Prize Challenge; Central Florida Tech Grove challenge page