The xTechIgnite competition, hosted by the U.S. Army, is an opportunity for eligible small businesses across the U.S. to engage with the Department of Defense (DoD), compete for up to $400,000 in cash prizes, and submit a Phase I or Direct to Phase II (D2PhII) Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposal. The program aims to identify cutting-edge technology solutions that advance military capabilities and enhance national security.

The competition consists of three rounds: submission of concept white papers, a final pitch event, and the opportunity to submit an SBIR proposal. Up to 64 finalists will receive $2,500 each and an invitation to pitch their innovations to Army and DoD experts in May 2025. Up to 24 final winners will be awarded $10,000 and the chance to submit a Phase I SBIR proposal (up to $250,000) or a D2PhII SBIR proposal (up to $2,000,000), depending on the topic and their projects maturity.

The submission period runs from February 5 to March 12, 2025, with winners announced on May 29, 2025. To learn more about this opportunity and submit your application, visit the competition website.