Defense Innovation Networking Group

What Defense Innovation Networking Group does

Defense Innovation Networking Group (D!NG) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization (tax ID #99-2635180) incorporated in April 2023 and headquartered at 302 W 6th Street, Jasper, Indiana. D!NG catalyzes innovation in the defense industrial base across Indiana and the broader Midwest by running collaborative education programs, networking events, and accelerator services that connect small and non-traditional businesses, large defense primes (NSWC Crane, L3 Harris, Motorola Solutions Applied Technology), academic institutions (Purdue University), and economic development organizations (NEI, NIDIA). The organization explicitly operates as a "force multiplier" addressing the gap that "great resources exist in our own backyard but they aren't talking to each other," with a stated focus on bringing products and services to the warfighter.

The organization's core programs are event-based and sequential: the 2023 Defense Innovation Rural Roadshow in the Indiana Uplands; the 2024 Statewide Defense Innovation Roadshow; and the 2025 Indiana Strategic Defense Accelerator (INSDA), a cohort-based accelerator designed to work with companies at all three levels of defense engagement. D!NG also hosts happy hours, afterparties, and welcome receptions at Midwest defense conferences, runs an interactive Midwest Defense Ecosystem map, and delivers one-on-one support. The organization employs approximately four operational staff (Executive Director Jeff Maurer, Director of Operations/General Counsel Virginia Caudill, Director of Marketing & Communications Lauren Murray, Data Visualization Engineer Steven Lacroix) supported by a six-member Board of Directors and an Industry Advisory Committee.

D!NG's revenue model is nonprofit and grant-driven. Primary inflows are government grants, including three $40,000 Community Collaboration Fund grants from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) in October 2023, August 2024, and July 2025, and a Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in 2025, totaling approximately $160,000 across the four awards. Secondary revenue streams are affordable event sponsorships and customized partnership arrangements. Programming is free to participants, the organization does not develop proprietary technology products, and there is no equity, venture, or private equity ownership. The organization has no parent company and is governed independently.

Name

Defense Innovation Networking Group

Legal name

Defense Innovation Networking Group Inc.

Website

https://dingmidwest.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Defense Innovation Networking Group (D!NG) is an Indiana-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs roadshows, networking events, and the Indiana Strategic Defense Accelerator to connect small and non-traditional businesses, defense primes, universities, and economic development organizations across the Midwest defense ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Industry Networking & Ecosystem Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAHAC

Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Defense & National Security

SECONDARYBPAEANAC

Technical Enablement & Adoption Services (Change Management, Adoption, Champions)

Business & Public Services/IT & Digital Services (Managed Services, Systems Integration)/IT Training & Technical Enablement Services

Keywords

• Defense industry networking
• Defense innovation programs
• Defense business accelerator
• Regional defense roadshow
• Defense workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Carmel

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Primary revenue stream from government grants including IEDC Community Collaboration Fund grants ($40,000 each in 2023, 2024, and 2025) and SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition grant. These grants fund roadshows, accelerator programs, and ecosystem development activities.
2. Sponsorships: Affordable event sponsorships that cover food, drinks, venue, signage, and social media for specific D!NG events. Provides cost-effective visibility for small businesses and community organizations.
3. Partnerships: Partnership arrangements with organizations seeking to support defense innovation ecosystem growth. Levels and types of support are crafted collaboratively.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Defense Innovation Networking Group (D!NG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that catalyzes defense-sector innovation in Indiana and the Midwest by organizing regional roadshows, networking events, and the Indiana Strategic Defense Accelerator (INSDA). Its core service is ecosystem facilitation — connecting small and non-traditional businesses with primes, government agencies, academia, and capital — funded primarily through government grants, event sponsorships, and partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Indiana Strategic Defense Accelerator (INSDA): Accelerator program designed to grow, mentor, and drive Indiana's businesses to compete and thrive in the national security marketplace, working simultaneously with businesses at all three levels of defense engagement.

Products and services

• Defense Innovation Rural Roadshow (Indiana Uplands) A regional roadshow series bringing defense ecosystem education and connections to small, rural, and non-traditional businesses in the Indiana Uplands region, helping them understand how to enter and operate in the defense market.
• Statewide Defense Innovation Roadshow A statewide expansion of D!NG's roadshow programming, providing training sessions, networking events, and one-on-one support for defense companies across Indiana.
• Indiana Strategic Defense Accelerator (INSDA) A training and accelerator program designed to grow, mentor, and drive Indiana's small, non-traditional defense companies to compete and thrive in the national security marketplace, working simultaneously with businesses at all three levels of defense engagement.
• D!NG Pilot Accelerator (SBA GAFC) A pilot accelerator program funded by the SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition grant, supporting Indiana defense tech businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of participants, companies and non-profits engaged through rural roadshow events
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey DoD partner participating in panel discussions at roadshow events. NSWC Crane is a major defense installation in southern Indiana and central to the regional defense ecosystem.
• Purdue UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic academic partner co-hosting Purdue Roadshow events. Purdue is pursuing vision of becoming the nation's #1 defense research university.
• Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership (NEI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development partner collaborating on Fort Wayne events and board representation through Nick Darrah.
• Northeast Indiana Defense Industry Association (NIDIA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDefense industry association co-hosting the 'Heartland Rising' Fort Wayne roadshow event.
• Ivy Tech FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial supporting partner that helped establish D!NG in April 2023.
• Regional Entrepreneurship Service Organizations (ESO)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of regional partners including Martin County Alliance for Strategic Growth, Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce, Jasper Chamber of Commerce, Crawford County Economic Development Corporation, Orange County Economic Development Partnership, and Regional Opportunity Initiatives who help extend D!NG's reach into local communities.
• Purdue School of Industrial EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner supporting defense innovation initiatives.
• The Mill/Trades District/The ForgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation hub partner in the Indiana defense ecosystem.
• Ohio University (Ohio APEX Accelerator)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the 'Building the Digital Reactor' Dayton event focusing on cyber-secure nuclear construction.
• Central Midwest Carpenters Union (CMC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host for Dayton event on nuclear construction and cybersecurity.
• Alliance for Working Together (AWT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhio manufacturing association partner for CMMC training events in Mentor, OH.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Bunker Labs: 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting military veteran entrepreneurs through local chapters, programs, and ecosystem building. Comparable to D!NG as a veteran-adjacent defense entrepreneur support organization with community-led local chapters and event-driven engagement.
• FedTech: Startup accelerator that helps technology companies navigate federal R&D and commercialization pathways, with a particular focus on DoD and civilian agency contracts. Comparable to INSDA's accelerator function for defense businesses but operates as a commercial accelerator nationally.

Broad incumbents

• Defense Innovation Unit (DIU): DoD organization accelerating commercial technology into military use, running solicitation programs (e.g., xTech) and operating regional outposts. Comparable to D!NG in mission (non-traditional vendor pathway into DoD) but is a federal government organization with vastly larger procurement authority and budget.
• National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA): Established defense industry trade association running divisions, conferences, and networking events connecting primes and suppliers. Comparable to D!NG in convening function and membership-driven model, but operates nationally and represents established defense industry rather than non-traditional entrants.
• NavalX: U.S. Navy's outreach and ecosystem-building program that connects non-traditional vendors with naval technologists and acquisition programs. Comparable to D!NG in mission (bridging non-traditional businesses to defense buyers) but federally resourced and Navy-specific rather than regional.
• Techstars (Industry & Defense programs): Global accelerator network running industry-specific programs including defense, aerospace, and government-tech cohorts. Comparable to D!NG's INSDA accelerator model but operates commercially at scale with equity-based participation and corporate sponsors.
• Army Applications Laboratory: U.S. Army's organic problem-solving organization connecting soldiers with industry and academia to rapidly prototype solutions. Comparable to D!NG's role as a bridge between defense end-users and non-traditional suppliers, but federally resourced and Army-specific.
• AFWERX: Air Force's innovation arm operating accelerators, challenges, and ecosystem programs that connect non-traditional businesses and startups with Air Force/DoD opportunities. Most directly comparable to D!NG as a defense innovation catalyst, but operates at national scale with significantly larger resources and federal backing.

Others

• Association of the United States Army (AUSA): Professional association for the U.S. Army and defense industry, hosting major conferences, networking events, and industry-education programming. Comparable to D!NG's networking and education function for defense ecosystem participants, though focused on Army and traditional industry.

Direct peers

• DEFENSEWERX: 501(c)(3) nonprofit defense innovation hub that facilitates technology transfer, small business engagement, and workforce development for the DoD. Closest analog to D!NG by structure (nonprofit) and mission (regional defense innovation ecosystem building).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/defense-innovation-networking-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Defense Innovation Networking Group