SBIR-STTR Award

The AFWERX Innovation Crowdsourcing Initiative seeks expertise in designing, implementing, and operating a system that effectively guides, trains, and supports 5,500+ aspiring innovator/warfighters with a minimum of moderators. LaunchPath proposes to: 1. Identify and analyze the user base of AFWERX innovation program participants and administrators, 2. Develop a problem interview script and conduct problem interviews of at least 30 AFWERX stakeholders in AFWERX hubs, 3. Clarify AFWERX needs for: a. Opportunity Identification – clear and systematic identification of business problems and opportunities that can be shared commercially b. Idea Management - strategies and tools for ideation, filtering, selection, and reporting c. Guidance - best practices for moving ideas forward d. Training –of intrapreneurs on lean startup process fundamentals e. Support—on-time, expert counsel for active project leaders. f. Mentorship—expert coaching on innovation management and implementation, 4. Define specifications for the best solution (based on interview results) and develop a low-resolution prototype, 5. Conduct solution interviews with AFWERX stakeholders to test fit of proposed solution to AFWERX needs, 6. Analyze closing problem and solution assumptions, and identify a. Table stakes and differentiating features of our proposed solution, b. Required supporting services, and c. Key terms and conditions.

LaunchPath is a web-based innovation platform that guides, trains, and supports intrapreneurs as they execute on big ideas. Our typical customer is an organizational leader who is trying to strengthen the culture of innovation, drive growth, and engage top talent by implementing and operating a formal innovation program. In Phase I of the SBIR program, we broadly canvassed the Air Force (AF) seeking leaders who fit this profile and eventually met Ryan Helbach, Chief Intrapreneur of the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL). Ryan is on a mission to create a more vibrant AFRL workplace, improve the culture of innovation, and accelerate the commercialization of technologies. Ryan believes that LaunchPath could play a key role in advancing these goals by removing unnecessary friction from the AFRL employee innovation process. That said, there are adaptations that AFRL will require to fully utilize LaunchPath, including: upgrading cybersecurity, enabling self-serve account administration, and customizing some of the training modules. Therefore, during this Phase II project, we will: test the efficacy of the LaunchPath platform by conducting a trial, upgrade the cybersecurity posture to prepare for FedRAMP authorization, enable 100% self-serve account administration and usage reporting, and deliver up to four custom-tailored training modules.