401 Tech Bridge
Polaris Tech Bridge (formerly 401 Tech Bridge) is a Rhode Island non-profit technology commercialization organization that connects blue tech, ocean technology, and dual-use defense startups with makerspaces, strategic partners, and government contract pathways through its BlueTIDE event and accelerator programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersProvidence, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What 401 Tech Bridge does
Polaris Tech Bridge (formerly 401 Tech Bridge) is a Rhode Island-based non-profit economic development organization founded in 2019 that operates as a technology commercialization intermediary. The organization serves technology companies, small businesses, and defense/dual-use ventures by connecting them with makerspaces, strategic partners, and pathways to government contracts, with a specialization in national defense, dual-use, and ocean technology sectors. Polaris Tech Bridge does not develop proprietary technology products but instead provides access to physical infrastructure (makerspaces, facilities) and market pathways, including its flagship annual BlueTIDE in-water technology demonstration event held at Sail Newport in Newport, Rhode Island.
The company's service portfolio includes BlueTIDE (annual Technology In-Water Demonstration Event), Tech Scouting and Supplier Scouting services, Tech Showcases, Accelerator programs, the RISE-UP innovation program, and access to physical facilities including makerspaces and workspace. The organization's revenue model centers on program and service fees for participation in BlueTIDE showcases, accelerator programs, tech showcases, and scouting services, with corporate sponsorships (e.g., Anduril Industries as Flagship Sponsor of BlueTIDE 2026) also forming a notable revenue stream alongside a $724,674 U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration grant received in April 2021.
Polaris Tech Bridge serves two primary customer segments: technology companies and small businesses seeking commercialization pathways and access to defense and dual-use markets, and defense/dual-use technology ventures seeking to evaluate and adopt emerging innovations. The organization maintains a small team (1-10 employees) headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, and distributes its services through direct program delivery within Rhode Island and the broader New England region, supported by a content marketing presence across its website, news/insights blog, and social media channels.
401 Tech Bridge firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 401 Tech Bridge
- Legal name
- Polaris Tech Bridge
- Website
- https://401techbridge.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Polaris Tech Bridge (formerly 401 Tech Bridge) is a Rhode Island non-profit technology commercialization organization that connects blue tech, ocean technology, and dual-use defense startups with makerspaces, strategic partners, and government contract pathways through its BlueTIDE event and accelerator programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
401 Tech Bridge industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Technology Commercialization Services
- NAICS
- Engineering Services (54133)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization) (EDAHABAH)
Keywords
Where 401 Tech Bridge is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Providence
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
401 Tech Bridge business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Program and Service Fees: Revenue is generated through participation fees for programs such as BlueTIDE event showcases, accelerator programs, tech showcases, and scouting services. The organization serves as a commercialization intermediary connecting technology companies with Rhode Island's commercial and defense markets.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
401 Tech Bridge product offering
Product offeringCore offering
401 Tech Bridge (now operating as Polaris Tech Bridge) is a non-profit technology commercialization intermediary that helps technology companies and small businesses bridge the gap between discovery and market success. It provides access to makerspaces, strategic partners, and pathways to government contracts, with a focus on national defense, dual-use, and ocean technology ventures in Rhode Island.
Product overview
Polaris Tech Bridge (formerly known as 401 Tech Bridge) operates as a multi-service technology commercialization organization offering a portfolio of programs: BlueTIDE (annual in-water demonstration event), Tech Scouting and Supplier Scouting, Tech Showcases, Accelerators, RISE-UP, and Facilities access. These services collectively help technology companies and small businesses bridge the gap between discovery and market success by connecting innovators with makerspaces, strategic partners, and pathways to government contracts in the defense, dual-use, and ocean technology sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BlueTIDE Annual Technology In-Water Demonstration Event connecting blue tech innovators with defense and dual-use market opportunities. Features showcase alley, collaborative integration opportunities, and sponsorships, held at Sail Newport in Rhode Island.
- Tech Scouting and Supplier Scouting Service that helps businesses identify technology solutions and suppliers to meet their innovation needs and market requirements. Targets technology companies and small businesses seeking commercial and defense market pathways.
- Tech Showcases Events and platforms that allow technology companies to demonstrate their innovations to potential customers, partners, and investors. Supports visibility into emerging technologies and structured evaluation opportunities.
- Accelerators Programs designed to accelerate the growth and development of technology startups and small businesses through mentorship, resources, and networking. Targets emerging technology ventures in Rhode Island.
- RISE-UP Innovation program focused on supporting and developing emerging technology ventures in Rhode Island's innovation ecosystem.
- Facilities Access to physical facilities including makerspaces and workspace for technology companies and innovators to develop and test products in Rhode Island.
Companies that use 401 Tech Bridge
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
401 Tech Bridge technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
401 Tech Bridge partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Anduril IndustriesflagshipAnduril Industries was named the Flagship Sponsor of BlueTIDE 2026, Polaris Tech Bridge's annual Technology In-Water Demonstration Event. As flagship sponsor, Anduril Industries supports the premier blue/deep tech demonstration showcase held at Sail Newport, which connects defense and dual-use technology innovators with the defense and commercial buyer community.
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
401 Tech Bridge competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DEFENSEWERX: Non-profit intermediary that connects DoD end-users with commercial and dual-use technology providers. Highly comparable to Polaris's role as a defense/dual-use commercialization hub, with a similar event- and scouting-driven GTM model.
- National Security Innovation Network (NSIN): DoD program that links defense problems with venture-backed and non-traditional commercial innovators via accelerators, scouting, and showcase events. Directly comparable function and business model to Polaris Tech Bridge's defense/dual-use commercialization work.
- MassChallenge: Non-profit global startup accelerator running cohort programs, showcases, and corporate partnerships. Comparable as a non-profit, program-fee-funded commercialization intermediary serving early-stage ventures.
- Greentown Labs: Non-profit cleantech and climatetech incubator combining maker space/facilities, corporate partnerships, and an annual demo day. Closely mirrors Polaris's combination of facilities access, accelerator, and a flagship in-person showcase event (BlueTIDE).
- NavalX: U.S. Navy tech transfer and innovation network that connects Navy problems to non-traditional commercial solvers via outreach events, scouting, and partnerships. Directly comparable to Polaris's role as a regional Navy-facing dual-use commercialization hub.
Broad incumbents
- Techstars: Largest global tech accelerator network running mentor-driven cohorts and demo days across verticals (including defense). Operates the same accelerator + showcase GTM as Polaris, but at much larger scale and as a for-profit B Corp.
- Anduril Industries: Flagship sponsor of BlueTIDE 2026 and a major defense prime buyer of dual-use technology. Comparable in the dual-use / ocean technology commercial-defense space, though as a for-profit acquirer rather than an intermediary.
Regional players
- TechPlace (Makerspace + Incubator, RI/MA ecosystem): Regional Rhode Island/Southern New England innovation space providing makerspace, incubation, and programming for hardware and ocean-tech ventures. Comparable in regional scope, makerspace/facilities offering, and focus on RI-based innovators.
Others
- Sail Newport: Non-profit sailing center hosting BlueTIDE in Newport, RI. While not a direct competitor, Sail Newport is the venue and ecosystem partner that materially enables Polaris's in-water demonstration value proposition.
- MITRE Corporation: Federally funded R&D center operating in defense, maritime, and dual-use technology. Comparable in the federally-aligned, non-profit defense research and tech transition space, though at vastly larger scale than Polaris.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
401 Tech Bridge social profiles
Digital presence401 Tech Bridge financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
401 Tech Bridge leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
401 Tech Bridge funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
401 Tech Bridge M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 401 Tech Bridge
What does 401 Tech Bridge do?
401 Tech Bridge (now operating as Polaris Tech Bridge) is a non-profit technology commercialization intermediary that helps technology companies and small businesses bridge the gap between discovery and market success. It provides access to makerspaces, strategic partners, and pathways to government contracts, with a focus on national defense, dual-use, and ocean technology ventures in Rhode Island.
Is 401 Tech Bridge a public or private company?
401 Tech Bridge is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was 401 Tech Bridge founded?
401 Tech Bridge was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is 401 Tech Bridge based?
401 Tech Bridge is headquartered in Providence, United States, in the North America region.
How does 401 Tech Bridge make money?
One revenue line is on record: program and Service Fees.
Who are 401 Tech Bridge's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DEFENSEWERX, National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), MassChallenge, Greentown Labs and NavalX. Broad incumbents are Techstars and Anduril Industries. TechPlace (Makerspace + Incubator, RI/MA ecosystem) is listed as a regional player. Others are Sail Newport and MITRE Corporation.
Does 401 Tech Bridge have an API?
No public API is recorded for 401 Tech Bridge.
What industry is 401 Tech Bridge in?
401 Tech Bridge's product category is Technology Commercialization Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAH, Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization). Its NAICS code is 54133 and its SIC code is 8700.