Building Momentum
Building Momentum (BuildMo) is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that delivers rapid prototyping, systems integration, and hands-on technology training to U.S. and allied defense forces, intelligence agencies, corporate clients, and youth. Its Alexandria, VA facility produces field-ready hardware and operates bootcamps across drone, 3D printing, SDR, and CUAS disciplines.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersAlexandria, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Building Momentum does
Building Momentum, operating as BuildMo, is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business founded in 2015 by Brad Halsey and Dr. Albert Vega in Alexandria, Virginia. The company operates a multi-pillar innovation platform organized around three core service lines: Innovation Bootcamp (hands-on defense training covering drone build/pilot, CAD and 3D printing, SDR/CUAS, and custom curricula delivered to active-duty service members), Innovation Designed (rapid prototyping and systems integration that produces field-ready hardware such as the SEDNA maritime sonobuoy, NDAA-compliant indoor drone, RF Decoy Emitter, Starling 3D-printed drone frame, Mobile Truck Lab, and Shipping Container Lab), and Innovation Elevated (corporate team-building and innovation workshops). A fourth sub-brand, Innovation Academy, runs STEAM education camps and a school robotics curriculum for ages 7–15 from the same Alexandria facilities.
Underlying technology is a COTS-first rapid integration platform — emerging commercial parts, additive manufacturing (Formlabs SLS nylon), SDR and single-board computers, CNC milling, off-grid welding, and RF — designed to take concepts to operational prototypes in approximately six weeks rather than the multi-year cycle common in defense science and technology transitions. The 60,000+ square-foot Alexandria facility functions as both training campus and integration workshop. Distribution is direct: enterprise field sales to U.S. military branches, intelligence community, special operations forces, defense agencies (DTRA, DAU, EOD, NRO), USDA, and allied defense forces; a SANLAB distribution channel for simulation hardware; and direct registration for youth education through academy.buildmo.com. Pricing is quote-based across all B2B lines. The company claims four-continent delivery, 10,000+ personnel trained, and has announced plans for a hardware-focused incubator and accelerator alongside a 2025 leadership transition that installed Daniel Lagana as CEO and Glenn Gaffney (former CIA Director of Science and Technology) as President and Chairman.
Building Momentum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Building Momentum
- Legal name
- Building Momentum LLC
- Website
- https://buildmo.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Building Momentum (BuildMo) is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that delivers rapid prototyping, systems integration, and hands-on technology training to U.S. and allied defense forces, intelligence agencies, corporate clients, and youth. Its Alexandria, VA facility produces field-ready hardware and operates bootcamps across drone, 3D printing, SDR, and CUAS disciplines.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Building Momentum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defense Innovation and Rapid Prototyping Services
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Innovation & Design Thinking Programs (EDAMAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Creativity & Innovation Mindset (EDABAMAH), Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC), Entrepreneurship, Business & Innovation Camps (EDAMALAL), Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)
Keywords
Where Building Momentum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alexandria
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Building Momentum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government and Defense Training Services: Innovation Bootcamp training programs delivered to active duty service members, government officials, and defense organizations. Programs cover drone building, CAD/3D printing, SDR/CUAS, and custom training. Revenue from government contracts for training and capability development.
- Corporate Team Building: Innovation Elevated corporate team-building programs including welding team building, Viking Skeeball, slot car races, electric vehicle sprints, and egg bobsled challenges. Revenue from corporate clients seeking team development and innovation training.
- STEM Education Programs: Innovation Academy STEAM camps and programs for kids ages 7-15, including summer camps, robotics programs, scout merit badge workshops, field trips, and homeschool programs. Revenue from tuition and program fees for youth education.
- Product Design and Prototyping Services: Innovation Designed engineering and design solutions for complex challenges through rapid prototyping. Custom product development for defense and industrial applications including the Mobile Truck Lab and specialized hardware.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Building Momentum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Building Momentum delivers defense and corporate innovation services through three pillars: Innovation Bootcamp (hands-on training for service members on drones, CAD/3D printing, and SDR/CUAS), Innovation Elevated (corporate team-building workshops using engineering challenges), and Innovation Designed (rapid prototyping and custom engineering producing field-ready hardware such as NDAA-compliant drones, the SEDNA maritime sonobuoy, RF decoy emitters, and mobile fabrication labs). The company also operates Innovation Academy, a separate STEAM education sub-brand offering camps, field trips, and robotics curriculum for youth ages 7-15.
Product overview
Building Momentum operates as a multi-service innovation platform organized around three core pillars: Innovation Bootcamp (hands-on technology training for government and defense), Innovation Elevated (corporate team building workshops), and Innovation Designed (rapid prototyping and custom engineering solutions producing field-ready hardware). The company also operates Innovation Academy as a separate STEAM education sub-brand for kids ages 7-15. Innovation Designed produces specific hardware products including the SEDNA Programmable Maritime Sonobuoy, NDAA-compliant indoor drone, RF Decoy Emitter, Starling 3D-printed drone frame, Mobile Truck Lab, and Shipping Container Lab. Innovation Bootcamp and Innovation Elevated deliver experiential training programs using these same tools and facilities. Innovation Academy offers structured camps, field trips, scout programs, and school robotics curriculum using real tools (3D printers, laser cutters, CNC, welding, electronics). The portfolio is unified by shared maker facilities and instructors, with each offering serving distinct market segments from defense to corporate to youth education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Innovation Bootcamp: Hands-on problem-solving skills training through cutting-edge technology and practical innovation.
- Innovation Elevated
- Innovation Designed
- Innovation Academy
Products and services
- Innovation Bootcamp
Quantifiable outcome
- Fewer than 35% of defense S&T transitions reach end users in the field
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Building Momentum
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Building Momentum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Building Momentum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SANLABcoreSANLAB specializes in advanced simulation solutions for aviation, automotive, marine, and industrial applications. They deliver 6DOF motion platforms, stabilized systems, and driver-in-the-loop simulators for professional training, testing, and research. Headquartered in Kartal, Istanbul with global reach.
- MicrosoftminorTechnology partnership indicated by Microsoft logo appearing in BuildMo's partner/client list on the main website.
- Zero EyesminorZero Eyes logo appears in BuildMo's partner list, indicating collaboration in AI-based visual detection solutions.
- World Central KitchenminorNon-profit humanitarian organization logo appears in partner list. BuildMo collaborated with World Central Kitchen during COVID-19 disaster response efforts.
- Virginia TechminorVolunteers from Virginia Tech helped produce over 450 remote learning desks for underserved students during COVID-19 pandemic response.
- Capital OneminorCapital One logo appears in BuildMo's partner list indicating collaboration relationship.
- CACIminorCACI logo appears in BuildMo's partner list indicating collaboration in federal IT and systems integration.
- U.S. Space ForcecoreLongstanding engagement with the Space Force and predecessor organizations including creation of The Forge Lab at Patrick Space Force Base for Space Launch Delta 45, and training of Guardians who took over lab operations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Building Momentum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- In-Q-Tel: In-Q-Tel is the CIA's nonprofit strategic investment arm identifying and delivering emerging technology to the intelligence community. Not a direct competitor but deeply adjacent — BuildMo's leadership (Gaffney, Siddiqui) came from IQT, and BuildMo serves many of the same IC customers.
Broad incumbents
- SAIC: SAIC is a Fortune 500 federal IT and engineering services contractor serving defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies. Comparable to BuildMo in providing systems integration and training solutions to DoD, though as a much larger prime contractor.
- Battelle Memorial Institute: Battelle is a large nonprofit R&D organization managing national laboratories and delivering applied science and engineering solutions to defense and government clients. Comparable to BuildMo in its applied R&D and prototyping orientation, though at significantly larger institutional scale.
- Leidos: Leidos is a large defense, intelligence, and civil government services and solutions provider. Comparable in its delivery of engineering services, training programs, and rapid technology integration to defense customers, though at enterprise scale.
- Booz Allen Hamilton: Booz Allen is a major management and technology consulting firm with deep defense and intelligence community practices. Comparable in its delivery of training, innovation consulting, and prototyping-adjacent services to federal clients, though at vastly larger scale.
- CACI International: CACI is a large defense and federal IT services company offering systems integration, engineering, and mission support. Already a BuildMo partner, CACI represents both a collaboration channel and a competitor for the same defense customers at a much larger scale.
Direct peers
- DCS Corporation: DCS Corporation is an employee-owned defense engineering firm providing technical solutions across Army, Navy, Air Force, and intelligence community programs. Comparable to BuildMo as a mid-sized SDVOSB-style contractor delivering engineering services and rapid prototyping to defense.
- AFWERX: AFWERX is the Air Force's innovation arm focused on rapid prototyping and technology transition for Airmen and Space Force Guardians. Directly comparable to BuildMo's defense innovation training and prototyping model, particularly the Forge Lab engagement with Space Launch Delta 45.
- Applied Research Associates (ARA): ARA is an employee-owned research and engineering firm providing defense, homeland security, and civil government solutions including rapid prototyping and technology integration. Comparable to BuildMo in delivering applied engineering services and field-ready hardware to defense customers.
- SOFWERX: SOFWERX is a defense innovation hub that facilitates rapid prototyping, collaboration, and technology transition for U.S. Special Operations Forces. Directly comparable to BuildMo in its mission to close the S&T-to-operator gap, though operating as a government-sponsored intermediary rather than a private firm.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Building Momentum social profiles
Digital presenceBuilding Momentum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Building Momentum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Building Momentum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Building Momentum 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 Building Momentum
What does Building Momentum do?
Building Momentum delivers defense and corporate innovation services through three pillars: Innovation Bootcamp (hands-on training for service members on drones, CAD/3D printing, and SDR/CUAS), Innovation Elevated (corporate team-building workshops using engineering challenges), and Innovation Designed (rapid prototyping and custom engineering producing field-ready hardware such as NDAA-compliant drones, the SEDNA maritime sonobuoy, RF decoy emitters, and mobile fabrication labs). The company also operates Innovation Academy, a separate STEAM education sub-brand offering camps, field trips, and robotics curriculum for youth ages 7-15.
Is Building Momentum a public or private company?
Building Momentum is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Building Momentum founded?
Building Momentum was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Building Momentum based?
Building Momentum is headquartered in Alexandria, United States, in the North America region.
How does Building Momentum make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government and Defense Training Services are the primary driver. The others are corporate Team Building, STEM Education Programs and product Design and Prototyping Services.
Who are Building Momentum's main competitors?
In-Q-Tel is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are SAIC, Battelle Memorial Institute, Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton and CACI International. Direct peers are DCS Corporation, AFWERX, Applied Research Associates (ARA) and SOFWERX.
Does Building Momentum have an API?
No public API is recorded for Building Momentum.
What industry is Building Momentum in?
Building Momentum's product category is Defense Innovation and Rapid Prototyping Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAHAD, Innovation & Design Thinking Programs, with a secondary code of EDABAMAH, Creativity & Innovation Mindset. Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8711.