Army xTech Competitions

The Army xTech competition series sits inside Army FUZE PIT (Partnerships, Innovation & Transition) at the Department of the Army. It is a prize route for startups, small and large businesses, and academic teams that can show technologies relevant to Army missions, with active 2026 competitions spanning quantum sensing, photonics, robotics, drones, counter-drone, and broader national-security challenges. Prize pools vary by competition. xTech|Adaptive Strike reaches $1.5 million in total awards, xTechHumanoid offers $490,000 in prizes plus up to $1.25 million in follow-on contracts, xTech|Edge Strike: Ground reaches $2 million in total cash prizes, and xTech|Live at eMerge Americas 2026 offers up to $600,000. The National Security Hackathon uses smaller prizes, from $4,000 to $20,000. The competitions usually move through screening, live demonstration, and final award phases, with some finalists receiving $25,000 in earlier rounds. Winners may also be steered toward Army procurement channels and follow-on contract conversations. For applicants, the strongest fit is a team that can show a working technology, explain its Army use case clearly, and handle a fast challenge format rather than a long grant review cycle.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.