Sponsored by the Technology Transfer and Commercialization (T2C) Branch, the Homeland Security Startup Studio (HSSS) is an innovative program that brings together entrepreneurs, mentors, and inventors to deliver technology solutions for homeland security. Conducted in partnership with the venture-building company FedTech, HSSS pairs the next generation of entrepreneurs with federally funded, cutting-edge technologies to help move them from lab to market.
Recruiting for the 2025 Cohort is Now Open!
Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 cohort that will run from February through June 2025. Entrepreneur participants are expected to devote ~20 hours a week (evenings and weekends) to the program. All teams take part in the first phase of the program, and some may progress to Phase II, based on a competitive process. Apply here through January 15, 2025.
Join S&T and FedTech for a virtual Information Session to learn more about the HSSS program. At these interactive sessions, the HSSS team will answer questions and discuss opportunities to engage with DHS-relevant technologies and explore launching a new venture through the HSSS. Upcoming Information Session dates:
- December 17, 2024 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET
- January 14, 2025 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET
Visit the registration page for more information and to sign up for the date of your choice.
How does the HSSS program work?
FedTech forms teams of entrepreneurs and matches them with promising federally funded technologies to assess their commercialization potential. Each team has two or three entrepreneurs who bring diverse expertise in fields such as technology, engineering, and business. The HSSS curriculum provides teams with entrepreneurial training and experiential learning with coaches and mentors.
Phase I
During Phase I, program entrepreneurs are taught foundational basics and skill sets so teams can quickly assess potential use cases for their matched technology. During weekly breakout sessions, teams will practice pitching for mentors who will act as sounding boards. Entrepreneurs will participate in sessions on lean programming and spinout topics including fundraising, intellectual property, business models, and customer discovery. Participants also conduct stakeholder interviews to help identify the problem-solution fit for the technologies.
Phase II
Phase II participants will set up early-stage companies with pragmatic and ambitious company goals. Entrepreneur teams will be guided by program mentors on how to navigate crucial formation steps from pitching to licensing their matched technologies. Mentors and coaches help customize the content of this phase for each team.
Who are we looking for?
HSSS is looking for diverse applicants who are ready to take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey. Most prior participants have been employed full-time over the course of this program but must be willing and able to commit to the workshops, team meetings and mentorship sessions, which typically occur on weekday evenings and occasional weekends.
Technologists: A competitive applicant in this category has deep technical experience in a technology vertical. Although not required, a relevant PhD is generally a plus for deep tech startups along with 5+ years of industry experience. This role is for a future chief technology officer or vice president of research and development.
Business Experts: A competitive business applicant (non-technical) typically has experience in the business aspects of the vertical (i.e., business development, operations, marketing, fundraising, strategy). Although not required, an MBA or prior operating experience in a startup is preferred, along with 5+ years of experience. This role is for a future CEO, COO, CMO, or VP of Sales.
Career Shifters, Veterans, & Re-Entrants to the Workforce: Individuals who are looking to step out and explore new career pathways are encouraged to apply for the Startup Studio Program. This roll requires ingenuity and creativity and benefits from diverse backgrounds and professional experiences. A qualified candidate will be passionate about the project and aspire to make an impact on the homeland security landscape.
Individuals or teams are welcome to apply.
What happens post-cohort?
All HSSS teams have the opportunity to participate in the HSSS Alumni Support Program, which helps to ensure that these early-stage companies succeed as they work to move cutting-edge solutions from lab to market. Managed by T2C and program partner, FedTech, the alumni program continues to expand its services aimed at providing customized support to HSSS alumni companies. The latest offerings include grant writing services, website building support, technology identification, and co-founder matching.
2024 Cohort
In May 2024, HSSS hosted Converge 2024, online and in person in Arlington, VA. Keynote speaker Steven Parker, Chief Innovation Officer at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), highlighted TSA partnerships with industry that help to address needs in the transportation sector, drawing parallels to the HSSS teams working to advance DHS-relevant technologies to the commercial market. Watch the full Converge recording on YouTube.
Six finalist teams from the HSSS ‘24 cohort pitched their efforts to commercialize groundbreaking technologies from U.S. laboratories and universities. An expert panel of judges selected Detectix as the Converge 2024 winner. The team’s Canary technology integrates existing handheld hazmat sensors with commercial drone systems that will be sent into life-threatening environments to assess danger prior to or in lieu of first responders. The Audience Choice award went to veteran-owned Pressure Medical for its smart pneumatic tourniquet that offers an advanced, light-weight alternative to traditional technology that will save life and limb. View the 2024 Cohort Report for more details about the 2024 participating teams, program specifics, and outcomes.
2023 Cohort
In July 2023, HSSS hosted its third annual, and first in-person Converge in Arlington, VA. Eight teams pitched their efforts to commercialize groundbreaking technologies sourced from U.S. laboratories and universities to a hybrid audience and an expert panel of judges. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly provided a keynote addressing the HSSS entrepreneurs. View the Converge 2023 recording on YouTube.
The judges chose NAS-LIION as the Converge 2023 Winner. The team’s battery leak detection technology uses a colorimetric indicator to detect electrolyte leakage from Lithium-Ion batteries. The Audience Choice award went to Full Spectrum Imaging (FSI), an improved resolution imaging technology from S&T’s Transportation Security Laboratory. FSI's Randomized Precious-Metal Attenuation Filter (RPAF) is a simple after-market attachment used with any X-ray or Computed Tomography system, enabling full color (energy spectrum) pictures. View the 2023 Cohort Report for more details about the 2023 participating teams, program specifics, and outcomes.
2022 Cohort
Seven teams completed the 2022 cohort by participating in Converge in July 2022. View Converge on YouTube to watch the teams in action and hear opening remarks from Julie Brewer, then Executive Director of S&T’s Office of Innovation and Collaboration. Seven teams pitched their early-stage companies and technologies to a public audience and a panel of judges, highlighting market opportunities and plans for further development and growth.
The judges selected two winners of Converge ’22, HorizonAI and Aether. HorizonAI (now Signum) worked with a technology sourced from the DHS Federally Funded R&D Center HSSEDI that uses an optical sensor to safely collect accurate, real-time health vitals data from individuals and groups. Aether pitched a sensor technology from the Naval Research Laboratory that “sees” chemical threats and provides a higher level of selectivity and specificity than its predecessors.
Additional program information and outcomes can be found in the 2022 Cohort Report.
2021 Cohort
In the inaugural HSSS ‘21 cohort, T2C's partner, FedTech, assessed over 450 technologies from federal labs and academia to identify 10 commercially promising technologies that align with homeland security missions. They selected 30 entrepreneurs to participate in the two-phased program. In Phase I, 10 teams learned foundational entrepreneurial knowledge and skillsets to quickly assess potential use cases for their matched technologies. Phase I concluded with an internal pitch day that resulted in six teams progressing into Phase II, where they focused on forming early-stage companies to commercialize the technologies.
Featuring a broad array of distinguished experts across various fields (81% of whom were women or people of color), five teams capped off Phase II by pitching their matched technologies to venture capitalists, homeland security experts, and other innovators at the HSSS ’21 Converge event. With technologies ranging from network security and machine learning to nighttime facial recognition alert systems, each team had six minutes to present their progress in forming a company and licensing their technology.
Watch the Converge Event on YouTube to see the teams in action plus keynote remarks by the SOPDUSST. Detailed program information and outcomes can be reviewed in the 2021 Cohort report.