Status: Open. Optional quad charts are due November 24, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET. Live pitches run January 6 to 8, 2027 at CES in Las Vegas.
Executive Summary
xTech is the U.S. Army's prize competition program, run by the Army FUZE program under the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)). With the Army's autonomy program office (PME Mission Autonomy), xTech is holding a live pitch competition at CES 2027 in Las Vegas. The Army wants to see commercial technology it could use, especially from companies that do not usually work with the military.
The topic areas are assured autonomy, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and robotics, sensors and the Internet of Things. Up to 40 finalists pitch to Army and Department of War experts, and up to five winners receive $100,000 each. Optional quad charts are due November 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Competition at a Glance
- Sponsor: U.S. Army FUZE xTech Program (ASA(ALT)), with PME Mission Autonomy
- Competition: xTech|Live at CES 2027
- Authority: Prize competition under 10 U.S.C. 4025
- Prize pool: Up to $500,000 in cash; up to 5 winners at $100,000 each
- Optional quad chart: Due November 24, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET; up to 25 selected for a guaranteed pitch slot; notice by December 22, 2026
- On-site registration: Army booth #60508 at CES, with a 60-second elevator pitch, first come, first served
- Live pitches: January 6 to 8, 2027; winners announced January 8, 2027
- Submission window: November 3, 2026 to January 6, 2027
Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the November 24 quad chart deadline.
What Is xTech|Live?
xTech|Live is the Army's live pitch format. Companies pitch in front of a panel of Army and Department of War subject matter experts at a major commercial event, and the Army awards cash prizes on the spot. The goal is to understand the range of world-class commercial technology with possible defense uses, bring non-traditional companies into the Army's science and technology ecosystem, and give feedback that helps technologies mature and transition.
What Problem Is the Army Trying to Solve?
The Army is looking for novel technologies and commercially developed capabilities that could meet future Army needs, and wants to adopt emerging technology from the wider innovation ecosystem faster. It is most interested in technology that improves operational effectiveness, decision-making, resilience, efficiency, human performance and the ability to scale new capabilities.
Topic Areas: What the Army Is Looking For
- Scaling Assured Autonomy for Operational Use: autonomy that can be trusted and fielded at scale
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: AI and ML products with possible Army uses
- Robotics, Sensors, and the Internet of Things: robots, drones, sensors and connected devices
Technologies that fall only within the portfolio of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (infectious disease, operational medicine, chemical and biological defense, clinical and rehabilitative medicine) are excluded. Detailed topic descriptions are in Appendix A of the competition document, which the Army calls an RFI.
Prize Structure
- Total: up to $500,000 in cash prizes
- Winners: up to 5, at $100,000 each
- Finalists: up to 40 pitch live at CES
Prizes are non-dilutive cash. Participants also get feedback from Army evaluators after the event.
Eligibility
- Who: small, medium or large businesses attending CES 2027 in Las Vegas
- Payment codes: must be able to get a CAGE code (U.S.) or NCAGE code (international); not needed to register
- Location: incorporated with a primary place of business in the U.S. or another country
- Not eligible: government entities, and companies controlled, funded or influenced by a foreign adversary or a foreign country of concern
- Costs: the Army does not pay travel or CES registration; the competition is independent of CES
How to Submit
- Register: fill in the registration form on the xTech site (required for everyone)
- Optional quad chart: upload one by November 24, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET for a chance at a guaranteed pitch slot
- Or register on site: at booth #60508 at CES with a 60-second elevator pitch
What Happens After You Submit?
- By December 22, 2026: selected pre-registrants are notified
- January 6 to 8, 2027: up to 40 finalists pitch live
- January 8, 2027: up to 5 winners announced
- After the event: evaluator feedback; winners may be invited to propose follow-on work through prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreements, SBIR or STTR awards or other routes, with no guarantee
Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?
Good fit: AI and machine learning startups, robotics and drone companies, sensor and IoT hardware makers, autonomy software teams, and consumer or industrial tech companies already exhibiting at or attending CES, with a working product the Army could use.
Less of a fit: medical technology in the Army medical research portfolio, early concepts with nothing to demonstrate, and companies not going to CES. For those, an SBIR topic, the Army Research Laboratory's open research call or another xTech competition may fit better.
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 competitions like xTech, we help you:
- Choose the topic area that fits your product
- Build a quad chart that earns a guaranteed pitch slot
- Script the 60-second and live pitches for Army judges
- Prepare for the follow-on path if you win
- Line up SBIR and other Army funding after the event
Frequently Asked Questions
When is it due?
Optional quad charts are due November 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET. You can also register on site at CES, January 6 to 8, 2027.
How much can I win?
Up to $100,000. The Army plans up to five winners, with up to $500,000 in total cash prizes.
Do I have to be at CES?
Yes. Entrants must be attending CES 2027 in Las Vegas, at their own cost. The Army does not pay travel or CES registration.
Is the quad chart required?
No. It is optional, but up to 25 pre-registrants with quad charts are selected for a guaranteed pitch slot. Everyone else registers on site, first come, first served.
Can a non-U.S. company compete?
Yes, if it can get an NCAGE code for payment and is not controlled, funded or influenced by a foreign adversary or a foreign country of concern.
Is medical technology eligible?
Not if it falls only within the portfolio of the Army medical research command (USAMRDC).
Are the pitches public?
Yes. All presentations take place in front of a public audience, so leave proprietary details out.
Does winning lead to a contract?
Not automatically. The Army may invite winners to propose follow-on work through prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreements, SBIR or STTR awards or other routes.
Can BW&CO help with an xTech|Live submission?
Yes. We can build the quad chart and pitch with your team. Book a call with our team.