From the Bluegrass to the Frontlines
WIN In Kentucky is transforming the Commonwealth’s industrial heritage into a 21st-century arsenal for the Department of War.
Kentucky is Building the Future Arsenal
See the innovators who are delivering when they’re needed most.
Morehead State delivers advanced SmallSat for lunar missions
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WIN in Kentucky
The Warfighting Integration Network (WIN) has a dedicated presence in the Commonwealth. WIN In Kentucky is a statewide innovation network connecting Kentucky's startups, R1/R2 researchers, and established manufacturers to the federal defense ecosystem.
Kentucky possesses a unique dual-use advantage, pairing world-class aerospace acumen with massive industrial capacity. We ensure those strengths aren't overlooked by Department of War mission owners.
WIN In KY provides concierge-level one-on-one coaching and matchmaking guiding Commonwealth companies through the proposal process and connecting them directly to the right mission owners and federal funding opportunities.
Upcoming Events
Explore upcoming gatherings, workshops, and partner-led programs bringing together the people and ideas shaping the future of defense innovation.
From concept to funded, fielded impact.
Assess the Fit
Evaluate your technology to identify where it aligns with specific defense needs, priorities, and transition opportunities. This ensures the foundation of your project matches actual federal requirements.
Clarify the Path
Demystify the complex acquisition pathways and funding mechanisms. Understanding the specific engagement routes lets you determine exactly how to move your technology forward within the defense system.
Build Readiness
Refine your positioning and messaging. Managing expectations at this stage ensures your team is prepared to engage confidently with both federal and industry partners.
Make the Connections
Utilize targeted introductions and events to connect with the right decision-makers. Building these relationships is critical for creating momentum toward a funded partnership.
Support Transition
Focus on the final steps toward funding and deployment. The goal is to successfully transition the technology into the hands of the warfighter through active partnership and support.
News and guides
Explore the latest news, milestones, guides, and mission-driven work shaping the WIN ecosystem.
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5 Eastern Kentucky SBIR/STTR Success Stories
Announcing the Launch of the Warfighting Integration Network (WIN)
2026 SBIR Reauthorization: What Defense Innovators Need to Know
WIN serves as the primary connective tissue between America’s brightest innovators and the Department of War (DoW). It is a high-performance network dedicated to bringing clarity and reach to national security innovation by accelerating the transition of mission-driven capabilities from discovery to deployment.
WIN is a program funded by the Department of War under the Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment (APEX). It is executed through a collaborative partnership between Parallax Advanced Research and Vertx Partners.
No. The WIN program provides no-cost resources to academic researchers and industry innovators. The goal is to lower the barrier to entry for promising dual-use technology development.
WIN helps startups outrun the Valley of Death, the gap between research and operational relevance, by providing a strategic roadmap to non-dilutive funding and warm introductions to mission owners. The WIN team provides expert guidance through the complex proposal labyrinth for multiple contract vehicles, including SBIR, STTR, OTAs, BAAs, etc.
No, WIN does not write proposals. Instead, we provide concierge-level one-on-one coaching, review your proposals, and provide structured feedback to raise your success rate while mitigating wasted effort.
WIN explains complex acquisition pathways and advises companies on which stakeholders to engage. We also share WIN cohort success stories and guides.
WIN matches your cutting-edge research with real-world Department of War problems. By identifying dual-use pathways, WIN helps you turn institutional prestige into national security impact, validating technologies with both commercial and military utility.
WIN acts as a "matchmaker," connecting academic researchers with small businesses to form teams for STTR solicitations. To date, WIN has engaged over 400 universities across all 50 states.
WIN acts as a curator for the military, vetting companies and researchers for technical maturity before they reach a government desk. This ensures that government officials receive a curated list of high-quality innovators capable of immediately addressing mission-critical gaps.
These are the warfighters on the front lines. Every partnership WIN facilitates must eventually tie back to providing these individuals with the technology they need to succeed and survive in the field.
WIN uses a five-step framework to move technology from discovery to deployment:
Assess the Fit: Identifying alignment with defense needs.
Clarify the Path: Demystifying acquisition and funding pathways.
Build Readiness: Refining messaging and managing expectations.Make Connections: Facilitating targeted introductions to decision-makers.
Support Transition: Final steps toward funding and frontline deployment.
Yes. While WIN has formal, funded presences in select states, the National Network Access serves as a catch-all for innovators across the entire country. Any U.S.-based company with a solution for the Department of War is encouraged to join the cohort.
No. WIN only works with U.S. innovators and researchers.
No. WIN guides you on securing non-dilutive funding through various contract vehicles. We do not fund your research or innovation directly.
