Draper

What Draper does

Draper (The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.) is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based nonprofit engineering research and development company that designs, prototypes, and deploys advanced technology for U.S. national security customers, with a stated legacy of more than 90 years and origins tracing to MIT instrumentation work. The company is organized around four mission areas — Strategic Systems (Navy Trident guidance, Air Force Sentinel ICBM support), Space Systems (NASA lunar lander prime contracting, GN&C, sensing), Electronic Systems (microelectronics design and advanced packaging, GN&C solutions, decision analytics, ISP secure processor), and Biotechnology Systems (the PREDICT96 microphysiological platform, LEAP growth-adaptive pediatric heart valve, biodefense, bioprocessing). Technical differentiation rests on multidisciplinary engineering talent, decades of cleared-facility and cleared-personnel certifications enabling classified work, 25+ years of accumulated microphysiological systems IP, and a growing four-layer Human Data Stack that combines EMR, donated organ, biopsy, and PREDICT96 data into AI/ML-driven in silico drug safety and effectiveness models.

Draper's commercial model is overwhelmingly direct U.S. government contracting: it serves as both prime contractor and subcontractor on cost-reimbursement and other-transaction agreements with the Department of Defense, NASA, ARPA-H, and BARDA, and it operates 12 facilities across eight states plus Washington D.C. supporting more than 2,500\u20132,600 employees. Ancillary channels include the DraperSPARX platform for small-business defense tech adoption, the Draper Scholars Program (17 partner universities, 1,300+ alumni since 1973), the NEMC advisory role for ASIC design and MPW readiness, and sponsored capstone and research collaborations. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; recent disclosed federal inflows include up to $26.7M from ARPA-H CATALYST (Feb 2026), $3M from ARPA-H (Nov 2024), and $26M from BARDA (Nov 2023), alongside ongoing support for Navy SSP, Sentinel ICBM, and NASA CLPS work. As a nonprofit, Draper reinvests surplus into R&D and facility capacity, with no equity holders and no parent company.

Name

Draper

Legal name

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.

Website

https://draper.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Draper is a Cambridge, MA-based nonprofit engineering R&D company serving U.S. national security and biomedical customers across Strategic Systems, Space Systems, Electronic Systems, and Biotechnology Systems, including Navy Trident guidance, Sentinel ICBM support, NASA lunar lander prime contracting, and the PREDICT96 microphysiological platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Security and Defense Engineering R&D

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

Reentry, Descent & Landing Systems (Capsules, Heat Shields, Parachutes) (IMABACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF), Structural Heart Valves (TAVR/SAVR) & Valve Repair (HLAHAFAB)

Keywords

• National security R&D
• Guidance navigation control
• Microphysiological systems
• Defense microelectronics
• Government engineering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government R&D Contracts: Draper generates revenue primarily through research and development contracts with U.S. federal government agencies, including the Department of Defense, NASA, and ARPA-H. These are typically cost-reimbursement or other transaction agreements for advanced technology development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Draper is a nonprofit research, development, and engineering company that designs, develops, and deploys advanced technological solutions for U.S. national security, space, and public health missions. It delivers multidisciplinary engineering products and services across Strategic Systems (missile guidance, nuclear deterrence), Space Systems (lunar landers, GN&C), Electronic Systems (microelectronics, secure processors, decision solutions), and Biotechnology Systems (PREDICT96 organ-on-chip, LEAP valve, microfluidics, biodefense) to DoD, NASA, ARPA-H, and other federal customers.

Product overview

Draper is a nonprofit research and development company delivering advanced technological solutions across four mission areas: Biotechnology Systems, Electronic Systems, Strategic Systems, and Space Systems. The product portfolio centers on the PREDICT96 microphysiological system (MPS) for drug discovery and disease modeling, complemented by the LEAP pediatric heart valve, microfluidic platforms, and bioprocessing systems in biotechnology. Electronic Systems include microelectronics design and packaging, GN&C (guidance, navigation, and control) solutions, the ISP secure processor, and decision analytics. Strategic Systems encompasses Navy and Air Force strategic weapons support including Sentinel ICBM. Space Systems include lunar lander development, navigation systems (DMEN), and sensor technologies. The DraperSPARX platform supports startup partnerships for defense technology adoption. These products work together to serve national security, healthcare, and scientific research missions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PREDICT96 Microphysiological System (MPS) Draper's flagship high-throughput microphysiological system that evaluates functioning human cells in a multi-cellular environment under physiologic flow for drug discovery, toxicity testing, disease modeling, and precision medicine applications. Used by federal health and biomedical research customers as an alternative to animal testing.
• LEAP Valve (Low-force Expanding/Adaptable Pediatric) Pediatric heart valve featuring a unique stent design that acts like a low-force spring, allowing it to adapt diameter from 7-14mm as infants and young children grow, reducing the need for multiple surgical replacements. Developed for U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity and pediatric cardiovascular research customers.
• Microfluidic ECMO Microfluidic extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system that mimics human blood pathways for improved oxygenation in clinical and research applications.
• End-to-end Bioprocessing System Integrated bioprocessing system for manufacturing biological products, leveraging Draper's microfluidic and biodefense expertise.
• Biodefense Systems Biodefense capabilities including pathogen detection, biosecurity applications, and threat countermeasures for national security and public health customers such as BARDA.
• Microelectronics Capabilities Microelectronics design and packaging services including ASIC design, MPW (multi-project wafer) readiness, and advanced packaging solutions for defense and aerospace customers.
• Advanced Packaging Solutions Advanced microelectronics packaging services including the Rapid Prototyping Center in St. Petersburg, FL for accelerating technology commercialization and supporting trusted defense electronics supply chains.
• GN&C (Guidance, Navigation, and Control) Solutions Guidance, navigation, and control solutions including assured positioning, navigation and timing (APNT), inertial measurement, and alternative navigation for maritime, space, and defense operations.
• Decision Solutions Decision support and analytics solutions for defense and strategic systems applications, including AI-enabled mission planning and decision-making.
• NASA CP-12 Lunar Lander Mission NASA task order for Draper's role as prime contractor on a U.S. lunar mission targeting Schr\u00f6dinger's Basin at the Moon's south pole, including GN&C, sensors, and lander integration.
• Sentinel ICBM Support Engineering and technical support for the Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile program, including guidance systems and strategic deterrence capabilities for U.S. Air Force customers.
• DraperSPARX Startup and small business partnership platform that accelerates adoption of emergent technology for national security, connecting small businesses with DoD and other U.S. government agencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• LEAP Valve demonstrated 50% diameter increase (from ~8-9mm to 13mm) after 6 weeks in preclinical testing with piglets
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Poppy HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2026Prime contractor leading the SCALE team in ARPA-H's BREATHE program to develop real-time indoor air quality monitoring systems. Draper contributes microfluidic pathogen isolation expertise.
• Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired EngineeringsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2026SCALE team member contributing to ARPA-H BREATHE program for indoor air quality systems.
• Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2026Draper provides advisory services to NEMC startups and small companies to support ASIC design and MPW readiness, reducing technical risks and accelerating technology commercialization.
• Krishnaswamy Lab at Yale UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Key academic partner in CATALYST program developing computational models of human physiology using AI and machine learning with multi-layered Human Data Stack.
• Revalia Bio, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026Partner in the CATALYST program developing AI-powered Human Data Trials using living human organs to replace animal models in drug development.
• LifeShare NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026Partner in CATALYST program contributing organ donation data and network for human organ research to support drug toxicity prediction.
• ispace Technologies U.S.supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2026Draper serves as prime contractor for NASA CLPS lunar mission with ispace as a key subcontractor for lunar lander services.
• ispace Technologies U.S.supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2025Psionic Inc. provides Space Navigation Doppler LiDAR (PSNDL) sensor for Draper-led NASA CLPS lunar mission targeting Schröding Basin at Moon's south pole.
• Wildfire Working GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2025Collaborative effort with The Aerospace Corporation, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Johns Hopkins APL, NASA JPL, MITRE, and NSF NCAR to address wildfire intelligence gaps.
• Worcester Polytechnic InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2025Academic collaboration through student research projects. WPI students present senior thesis projects sponsored by Draper alongside other companies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MIT Lincoln Laboratory: Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) operated by MIT for DoD, focused on national security R&D across air defense, space surveillance, and cybersecurity. Closest institutional analog to Draper's nonprofit defense lab model with overlapping mission areas in GN&C and electronic systems.
• Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL): University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) and nonprofit R&D organization that supports DoD, NASA, and intelligence agencies. Comparable in mission areas (strategic systems, space, biomedical) and in being a large, multi-disciplinary nonprofit serving federal customers.
• The Aerospace Corporation: Nonprofit FFRDC that serves as the nation's primary technical advisor for national security space programs. Directly comparable to Draper's Space Systems mission area in providing independent engineering and integration support to Space Force and intelligence community launches.
• MITRE Corporation: Nonprofit FFRDC operating multiple federally funded centers serving DoD, FAA, and intelligence agencies. Comparable as a multi-domain nonprofit R&D organization supporting national security missions including electronic systems and cybersecurity.
• Sandia National Laboratories: Federally funded national laboratory operated by Honeywell for the NNSA, focused on nuclear weapons engineering and national security R&D. Overlaps directly with Draper's Strategic Systems work on nuclear deterrence and microelectronics for weapons applications.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: Largest nonprofit applied R&D organization, managing national laboratories and operating across defense, biomedical, and energy. Comparable as a diversified nonprofit R&D enterprise with significant federal customer overlap and biomedical/strategic mission areas.
• Southwest Research Institute (SwRI): Nonprofit R&D organization with comparable multi-disciplinary federal client base spanning space, defense, automotive, and biomedical engineering. Competes with Draper in space systems, GN&C, and contract research support to DoD and NASA.
• RAND Corporation: Nonprofit research institution providing objective analysis to DoD, intelligence community, and federal agencies. Comparable as a large, mission-driven nonprofit research organization serving national security customers, though primarily policy/analysis rather than engineering.
• SRI International: Nonprofit scientific research institute with strong federal/defense R&D portfolio and biomedical/AI capabilities. Overlaps with Draper's Biotechnology Systems, AI/ML, and electronic systems work for DoD and intelligence customers.

Emerging players

• HRL Laboratories: Research laboratory jointly owned by Boeing and GM, focused on advanced sensors, microelectronics, and materials for defense/aerospace. Comparable in advanced microelectronics and GN&C adjacent to Draper's Electronic Systems mission, though organized as a commercial R&D entity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/draperlab
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkPfxecMtdihOIyWzrexOYw
• Facebookfacebook.com/DraperLaboratory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/draper-laboratory
• Instagraminstagram.com/draperlab

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments7 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Draper