In North Carolina, there are approximately 40 business incubators, but with respect to defense and security, the DSTA remains the only accelerator in the state that focuses exclusively on defense, security, and intelligence technologies.

The DSTA has both a federal program and a state program. The state program is the Defense & Security Technology Accelerator. “The goal is to work with companies in the defense and security industry that have a dual-use application, both commercial and military, and we work with these entrepreneurs and innovators to assist them in commercializing their technology or bringing their technology to market in a very rapid time line of 8 to 18 months,” explained Perry

The DSTA offers several different ways to be affiliated with the program. Client companies are resident companies in Fayetteville; affiliate companies are nonresident. Said Perry, “Down the road we hope to be working under partnership with some large defense contractors. That would be an arrangement in which we would be providing some type of service for a large defense contractor.”

Currently, there are eight companies in the program — seven that are client companies, one affiliate, and four sponsors. There are another 10 or 12 companies interested in the program as either an affiliate or a client company. Resident client companies are provided with programs such as forums and educational venues that provide coaching and mentoring, and educational programs that help in marketing, sales, and business development — the entire commercialization process. “Those interested in our affiliate program are companies that do not want to move their office or staff to Fayetteville, but they want access to our clients and to our programs, and they want access to business development at Fort Bragg,” Perry said.

DSTA companies look to place their products into the DoD or other agencies that use defense and security technologies, whether it’s a security company, first-responders, or homeland security. “Of the companies we have in house right now,” said Perry, “they are working more than 25 contracts, either as a prime contractor or sub-contractor. Our companies have created more than 50 jobs, and if they don’t make another dime this year, they will close the year out at about $12 million.”

The DSTA can issue grants of $10,000 to $50,000 to clients when properly funded. When underfunded, the DSTA works with venture capitalists, angel investors, and other funding sources.