Pitch days, industry days, conferences, and proposal deadlines for 2026–2027. Dates shift — always confirm on the official page before booking anything.
Reported close date for a post-reauthorization USAF/AFWERX SBIR/STTR solicitation window on the DoD portal.
Virtual (DSIP)
Details ↗The premier global space gathering; SpaceWERX and Space Force leadership are regular presences.
Colorado Springs, CO
Details ↗Commercial and defense smallsat community meetup with strong SpaceWERX-adjacent programming.
Silicon Valley (Mountain View), CA
Details ↗The flagship academic-and-industry smallsat conference — a hunting ground for on-orbit startups.
Salt Lake City, UT
Details ↗Department of the Air Force IT & Cyberpower event; AFWERX and SpaceWERX engage industry across 200+ booths.
Montgomery, AL
Details ↗The Air & Space Forces Association's marquee event; senior leaders set priorities that shape open topics.
National Harbor, MD
Details ↗Uncrewed and autonomous systems defense showcase — a natural fit for AFWERX drone and counter-UAS topics.
Washington, DC
Details ↗Global commercial space expo where defense-space acquisition and startups increasingly overlap.
Orlando, FL
Details ↗Watch afwerx.com and DSIP for the 2026 focused open topics tied to specific mission gaps.
Virtual (DSIP)
Details ↗Transition funding is released on periodic Notices of Opportunity — line up matching money before it opens.
Virtual (Notice of Opportunity)
Details ↗The 2027 edition at The Broadmoor; expect fresh SpaceWERX transition and ISAM programming.
Colorado Springs, CO
Details ↗The 2027 AFA gathering — a bellwether for the following fiscal year's Air and Space Force innovation priorities.
National Harbor, MD (TBC)
Details ↗Flagship commercial space conference and expo (Commercial Space Week). Strong venue for dual-use space startups to meet SpaceWERX-adjacent primes, investors, and government buyers.
Orlando, FL
Details ↗Premier Air & Space Forces Association gathering with 150+ tech-exhibit booths. Prime ground for AFWERX founders to find program offices, end-users, and a TPOC.
Aurora, CO (Gaylord Rockies)
Details ↗A Department of the Air Force SBIR/STTR submission close date on DSIP following 2026 reauthorization. AFWERX runs an out-of-cycle rolling schedule, so confirm the live window on DSIP before you plan.
Online (DSIP portal)
Details ↗AFWERX and SpaceWERX teams attend to brief SBIR/STTR and innovation programs. A lower-cost venue to meet program staff and ask funding questions directly.
Las Vegas, NV
Details ↗The leading small-satellite conference. Essential for SpaceWERX / Orbital Prime founders building ISAM, on-orbit servicing, or smallsat payload technology. Exact 2027 dates unconfirmed (~).
Logan, UT (Utah State University)
Details ↗Chasing one program often means you qualify for others you haven't heard of. These sister guides cover more of the U.S. non-dilutive landscape — same honest, no-nonsense approach. Not sure which fits what you're building? Ask us — we'll point you at the right doors, even the ones that aren't ours.
America's ~$4B/yr non-dilutive seed fund across 11 agencies.
Visit →Commercial tech to DoD via fast OTA prototype contracts.
Visit →Tipping Point, TechFlights, NIAC and the space startup ladder.
Visit →Army prize competitions with a fast lane into Army SBIR.
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