Accelerating Innovation: AFC and Private Capital’s Role in Defense Startup Integration

Join BG Troy Denomy, Director of Integration at U.S. Army Futures Command, Naweed Tahmas, Founder & CEO of AEON, and Kevin "Fumez" Huyck, COO of Red 6, for a deep dive into how Army Futures Command (AFC) and private capital are accelerating defense startup integration within the Department of Defense (DoD) ecosystem. Moderated by Eric "Tubby" Shwedo, Associate VP of Federal Relations at the University of Central Florida, this session explores how emerging technologies, venture capital, and government partnerships are driving mission success, enhancing warfighting capabilities, and improving readiness. Attendees will gain insights into overcoming procurement challenges, streamlining commercialization, and fostering collaboration between DoD, AFC, and private investors to ensure groundbreaking technologies boost lethality, strengthen recruiting efforts, and rapidly equip warfighters with cutting-edge solutions.