Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment

What Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment does

Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment (APEX) is a Department of the Air Force Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) program launched in 2019 and headquartered in Beavercreek, Ohio, under Agreement No. FA8650-19-3-9341 in support of the U.S. Air Force Science & Technology 2030 Strategy. APEX provides free advisory, navigation, and matchmaking services that connect academic researchers and small businesses with Department of the Air Force SBIR/STTR funding opportunities, executing its PIA through Parallax Advanced Research. The organization operates as a service intermediary rather than a product company: its five core service lines are Discovery & Engagement, SBIR/STTR Process Navigation, Technology Transition (Tech Pull), Education & Training (including Blue Sky Workshops and the SBIR/STTR MOOC), and Data Analytics supporting many-on-many technology matching across academia, industry, and government.

APEX does not develop proprietary technology products but does maintain a Data Analytics Platform for matching technology developers with Air Force technology consumers, an Innovation Strengths Preference Indicator (ISPI), Blue Sky Workshops, Innovation Challenge Programs, and two trademarked programs — STTReamline (April 2024) for universities and Atomic Anvil (February 2025) for regional defense innovation acceleration. All services are provided at no cost to eligible participants; APEX's funding flows entirely from the U.S. Air Force and AFRL through the PIA mechanism and is supplemented by a second AFRL grant (No. FA8650-3-9325) for Atomic Anvil. The organization has reported 20 Phase III contract transitions for client small businesses since inception, with documented client outcomes including $2M (krtkl), $1.8M (VISIMO), $750K Phase II (Engineering Products of Ohio), $700K (IconicAir), $500K (necoTech), and $300K (GhostWave) in U.S. Air Force SBIR/STTR awards, supported by consultants with a collective 100+ years of SBIR/STTR program experience.

Name

Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment

Legal name

U.S. Air Force Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment

Website

https://apex-innovates.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment (APEX) is a U.S. Air Force Partnership Intermediary Agreement program that provides free SBIR/STTR proposal navigation, matchmaking, and training services connecting academic researchers and small businesses with Department of the Air Force funding opportunities nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Defense Innovation Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Space Research and Technology (92711), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)

Keywords

• Defense innovation services
• SBIR/STTR consulting
• Government intermediary services
• Technology transition support
• Academic partnership facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Beavercreek

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funded Intermediary Services: APEX is a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) with the Department of the Air Force, funded by the U.S. Air Force. All services are provided free-of-charge to academic researchers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. The organization does not generate revenue from its end users.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

APEX is a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) program operated under the U.S. Air Force that provides free services to academic researchers and small businesses seeking access to Department of Air Force SBIR/STTR funding. Its core offerings include SBIR/STTR process navigation from Phase I through Phase III, technology transition matchmaking between developers and Air Force consumers, data analytics-driven identification of defense solutions, and education and training programs such as Blue Sky Workshops and Innovation Challenges. All services are provided at no cost to eligible participants, with funding flowing from the U.S. Air Force under a multi-year Partnership Intermediary Agreement.

Product overview

APEX (Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment) is a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) program operated by the U.S. Air Force that provides a suite of free services to help academic researchers and small businesses access Department of Air Force SBIR/STTR funding. The organization operates as a unified service platform offering five interconnected core services: Discovery & Engagement for initial connection and technology mapping, SBIR/STTR Process Navigation for proposal and award guidance, Technology Transition (Tech Pull) for matching technology developers with Air Force consumers, Education & Training including Blue Sky Workshops and Innovation Challenge Programs, and Data Analytics for identifying defense solutions. Additional specialized programs like STTReamline(TM) and Atomic Anvil extend these services to specific user segments. All APEX services are provided free of charge to eligible entrepreneurs and research institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• APEX PIA: Partnership Intermediary Agreement - the formal designation for APEX's role as an intermediary between the Department of the Air Force and academic/small business entities.

Products and services

• Discovery & Engagement Service that helps identify and connect academic researchers and small businesses with the Department of Air Force innovation ecosystem, including mapping technologies and facilitating initial partnerships between innovators and Air Force program offices.
• SBIR/STTR Process Navigation Pre-award and post-award consulting services that guide entrepreneurs and academics through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer proposal and award process, from solicitation review through Phase III transition.
• Technology Transition (Tech Pull) Connects technology developers with Air Force technology consumers using a many-on-many matching approach to scale technology transition beyond traditional single-need-to-single-technology methods.
• Education & Training Comprehensive training program including Blue Sky Workshops for ideation, Innovation Challenge Programs, and online SBIR/STTR courses (MOOC) to educate and engage workforce on innovation practices.
• Data Analytics Uses data analytics to identify transformational operational defense solutions, map technology capabilities, and match technology developers with technology consumers across academia, industry, and government.
• SBIR/STTR Online Course Part 1 (MOOC) Free online massive open online course (MOOC) of over 20 videos providing foundational training on the U.S. Air Force SBIR/STTR process for academics, small business innovators, and government professionals.
• SBIR/STTR Online Course Part 2 Second tranche of the free online SBIR/STTR course curriculum, expanding training content for academics, small business innovators, and government professionals.
• STTReamline(TM) Program Trademarked APEX program designed to streamline the path to Department of Air Force SBIR/STTR funding for universities and research institutions, providing a simplified pathway for academic partners to navigate defense funding opportunities.
• Atomic Anvil Defense innovation ecosystem initiative launched with Forge Institute and other partners to connect academic researchers, small businesses, and non-traditional entities with mission partners through connection, innovation acceleration, and defense technology development services focused on advanced manufacturing, photonics, AI, and cybersecurity.

Quantifiable outcome

• APEX has supported 20 Phase III contract transitions for small businesses
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Forge InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2025Strategic partnership to launch Atomic Anvil program, designed to bolster national security by connecting researchers, entrepreneurs, and non-traditional entities to mission partners within the DoD. The program focuses on defense advanced manufacturing, photonics, AI, cybersecurity, and other critical defense technologies. Funded through direct support from U.S. Senator John Boozman via a grant from AFRL under Partnership Intermediary Agreement No. FA8650-3-9325.
• Parallax Advanced ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParallax Advanced Research executes the APEX PIA on behalf of the Department of Air Force. Lee Watson, Chairman & CEO of Forge Institute, noted the collaboration with Parallax as the APEX PIA partner.
• Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)coreOthersAFRL is the primary research and development center for the U.S. Air Force. APEX is a Partnership Intermediary Agreement with the Department of the Air Force and works closely with AFRL on technology transition and the SBIR/STTR ecosystem.
• AFWERXcoreOthersAFWERX is a community of Air Force innovators who strive to connect Airmen to solutions across the force. APEX helps companies navigate the AFWERX SBIR/STTR process and connects them with AFWERX opportunities.
• Basic Research Innovation and Collaboration Center (BRICC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRICC is another PIA partner in the larger PIA ecosystem. Both APEX and BRICC are partnership intermediaries that connect innovators with the Air Force research ecosystem.
• Doolittle InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the PIA ecosystem and AFRL's Innovation Institutes. Named after Jimmy Doolittle, focused on rapid innovation through technology transfer mechanisms.
• C-TRACmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the larger PIA ecosystem that connects small businesses and educational institutions with federal laboratories for technology-related assistance.
• SOFWERXmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the DefenseWerx family and PIA ecosystem, focused on innovation and collaboration in special operations and advanced technology areas.
• STRIKEWERXmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the PIA ecosystem, operating as an innovation hub connecting defense stakeholders with technology solutions.
• TechLinkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the PIA ecosystem, providing technology transfer assistance and connections between defense needs and commercial technologies.
• Air Force Tech ConnectmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerA new product provided by the U.S. Air Force to ensure more external innovations have a transformational impact. The Tech Connect team reviews submitted ideas and establishes dialogue between submitters and potentially interested DAF/DSF programs.
• Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner94 PTACs with over 300 local offices form a nationwide network helping businesses compete in the government marketplace. APEX is highly collaborative with PTACs and recommends connecting with local PTACs for SAM registration assistance.
• Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Atomic Anvil program, leveraging expertise to maximize impact of defense innovation initiatives.
• Arkansas Aerospace and Defense Alliance (AADA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Atomic Anvil program supporting regional defense innovation ecosystem development.
• Arkansas APEX AcceleratorcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional APEX partner providing local support for defense innovation ecosystem development in Arkansas.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Doolittle Institute: AFRL Innovation Institute operating under the same PIA framework as APEX, focused on rapid innovation and technology transfer. Named after Jimmy Doolittle, it is a direct functional peer for connecting small businesses and educational institutions with Air Force research needs.
• SOFWERX: Part of the DefenseWerx family and the PIA ecosystem, focused on innovation collaboration in special operations and advanced technology areas. SOFWERX is a direct functional peer in facilitating defense-industry-academic partnerships and technology transition.
• BRICC (Basic Research Innovation and Collaboration Center): Another Air Force Partnership Intermediary Agreement organization within the DAF PIA ecosystem. BRICC directly parallels APEX's role of connecting innovators with Air Force research programs and shares the same sponsor (AFRL), making it the closest functional peer.
• TechLink (Montana State University): Part of the DAF PIA ecosystem providing technology transfer assistance and connections between defense needs and commercial technologies. TechLink's mission of brokering between DoD labs and commercial innovators is structurally identical to APEX's Tech Pull and Discovery & Engagement services.
• C-TRAC: Defense industry/university intermediary operating in the PIA ecosystem. C-TRAC focuses on connecting small businesses and educational institutions with federal laboratories, directly overlapping APEX's matchmaking and SBIR/STTR support role.
• STRIKEWERX: An Air Force innovation hub within the PIA ecosystem connecting defense stakeholders with technology solutions. STRIKEWERX performs the same intermediary function as APEX but with a different program focus, making it a direct peer in the same funding ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• AFWERX: The Air Force's flagship innovation arm, providing the SBIR/STTR solicitation process and direct funding pathways that APEX helps clients navigate. AFWERX is a broader incumbent that overlaps heavily with APEX's value proposition but operates at much larger scale as the program's sponsoring organization.
• Defense Innovation Unit (DIU): Department of Defense organization that accelerates commercial technology adoption into military use. DIU operates at significantly larger scale than APEX and overlaps in mission (connecting non-traditional defense vendors with DoD needs), serving as a broader incumbent in the same defense innovation category.

Emerging players

• Forge Institute: National-security-focused nonprofit that co-launched the Atomic Anvil program with APEX. Forge Institute has comparable mission scope (defense innovation, connecting researchers to DoD mission partners) but a more regional Arkansas footprint, making it an emerging peer in adjacent defense innovation work.

Others

• Parallax Advanced Research: Nonprofit research organization that executes the APEX PIA on behalf of the Department of Air Force. Parallax is the operational delivery partner and parent entity under which APEX runs, making it a direct operational enabler rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usaf-apex

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment