Draper Launches DraperSPARX™, a Partnership Platform for Defense Sector Startups and Small Businesses
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—Draper®, an engineering innovation company, today announced the debut of DraperSPARX™, a partnership platform designed to enable startups, small businesses, and government to accelerate the adoption of emergent technologies for the national security mission.
DraperSPARX™ exists to empower technology companies to rapidly prototype, validate and prove new technologies for scaled government adoption. Draper will provide business and technical expertise, a collaborative digital environment and access to secure facilities built and managed by Draper during its fifty years of service to the nation.
“Draper is uniquely qualified to serve startups and small businesses that develop defense technologies,” said Dr. Jerry M. Wohletz, President and CEO of Draper. “National security is our mission, and we have the talent and technology to partner with the innovation sector and strengthen the national defense ecosystem with DraperSPARX™.”
The company has appointed C. Colin Supko, Director of Market Intelligence, to lead DraperSPARX™. Supko is based in Reston, Va. and will report to Jennifer Santos, vice president and chief strategy officer at Draper. He is a Captain in the Navy Reserve and in his civilian capacity he is a two-time start-up founder, previous White House Presidential Innovation Fellow and corporate executive.
“Startups and small businesses are innovation engines that need champions, both capital and resource, to nurture, mature and commercialize emergent technologies to make them available to defense sector and government customers. DraperSPARX can be that champion,” Supko said.
Studies show the Defense Department faces challenges and barriers to modernization, including streamlining acquisitions and rapid fielding of technology. Additionally, the number of small businesses contracting with the Pentagon has significantly declined since 2011, according to the Government Accounting Office.
DraperSPARX is proud to play a pivotal role in driving technological advancements and fostering innovation in the defense sector. By bringing together talented startups and industry leaders, DraperSPARX™ aims to fast-track the development and deployment of technologies that will shape the future of the defense industry.
For more information about DraperSPARX™, visit the Draper website. Draper reserves the right to determine a candidate company’s eligibility and selection to DraperSPARX™.
Released June 17, 2024
