TAMPA, FL – At this year’s SOF Week, the mission was clear: accelerate innovation to the warfighter at the speed of relevance. govmates proudly partnered to deliver a high-impact matchmaking event designed specifically to connect small, non-traditional, and early-stage defense companies with government buyers, program managers, and strategic investors who are actively seeking emerging technologies in support of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) mission. 

And the numbers speak for themselves. 

✅ 26 Defense Primes, System Integrators and VC funds
✅ 200+ One-on-One Match Meetings
✅ 400+ Industry Participants Registered 

These weren’t your standard introductions. Each meeting was hand-selected, curated, and backed by targeted capability alignment to ensure real outcomes for the warfighter. 

What Buyers Were Looking For: 

1. Cutting-Edge Defense Technologies
   From AI/ML, ISR, OSINT, and advanced materials to AI chips, hypersonics, and counter-UAS, the event brought together innovators focused on anything on, near, or directly supporting the warfighter’s lethality and survivability. Organizations with DoD or SOCOM past performance had a particular edge.
2. Secure and Scalable Cyber Capabilities
   Buyers from across the Intelligence Community (TS/SCI environments), SOCOM, and other agencies sought solutions in RMF compliance, offensive/defensive cyber operations, cloud migration, data engineering, SOC/NOC, and DevSecOps. Cybersecurity was not a side note—it was a must-have.
3. Mission-Critical Support Services
   Matchmaking included requirements across logistics, intelligence analysis, language services, scenario design, and modeling & simulation. Whether supporting in-garrison or deployed SOF elements, buyers sought partners with proven past performance and mission-focused solutions.
4. Enterprise IT and Digital Transformation
   From smart campus operations and industrial control system cybersecurity to human performance, training systems, and AI-driven analytics—buyers were ready to connect with small businesses who could bring agility to digital transformation efforts.
5. Physical Products + Enhanced Ordering Capabilities
   Manufacturers and product-based companies with an existing contract footprint—or those looking to expand their digital interface for easier procurement—had opportunities to engage with acquisition teams prioritizing gear, optics, rescue equipment, and kitting solutions.

Why It Mattered: 

govmates matchmaking is more than a meeting—it’s an ecosystem built to remove friction, shorten the time to value, and put transformative capabilities in front of mission owners who need them now. The SOF community doesn’t wait, and neither do we. 

As always, we’re proud to connect purpose-built companies with real mission needs. SOF Week 2025 was a testament to what can happen when you match the right technology with the right buyer at the right time. 

Are you ready to get matched?
Whether you’re a small business innovator, a government buyer, or a prime contractor looking to diversify your supply chain, govmates is here to help. 

👉 Join the govmates ecosystem and get ready for what’s next. 

govmates is excited to unveil a new software platform update designed to enhance the experience of our members and streamline the process of building strategic partnerships. Our latest enhancements focus on transparency, accessibility, and ease of use, ensuring that members have the best tools at their disposal for teaming success.

Key Features of the Update

1. Enhanced Match Tracking

We believe that visibility is key to success, which is why we’ve introduced a new feature that allows members to see how many times they have been matched with potential partners. This added insight helps members understand their engagement level and identify new opportunities for collaboration.

2. Upcoming Events & Networking Registration Links

Networking is at the heart of govmates, and our latest update makes it even easier to connect with industry peers. Members can now access a dedicated section highlighting upcoming events, complete with direct registration links to ensure they never miss a key networking opportunity.

3. Access to Valuable Resources

Our members now have streamlined access to a wealth of resources, including webinars, videos, and blog content. This ensures that members stay informed with the latest industry trends, insights, and best practices to enhance their business strategies.

4. Improved User Interface for Profile Management

Managing and updating your govmates profile has never been easier. The newly improved user interface simplifies the process, allowing members to showcase their capabilities, update company information, and ensure their profiles remain relevant to potential teaming partners.

5. Advanced Partner Search for Primes

Finding the right teaming partner is critical for success. With our expanded search functionality, any prime contractor on a proposal or contract can request a customized search of our robust ecosystem of over 7,100 members. This feature ensures that primes can efficiently identify and connect with the most suitable teaming partners, maximizing their competitive edge.

A Platform Built for Your Success

At govmates, we remain committed to providing the tools and resources our members need to thrive in the competitive government contracting space. This latest update reflects our dedication to fostering meaningful partnerships and creating an ecosystem where collaboration leads to success.

Explore the new govmates platform today and take advantage of these powerful new features!

The govmates MOSA (Modular Open Systems Approach) Institute presented by ATI, convened on November 12, 2024, for a half-day educational session at the LMI venue, welcoming over 120 attendees. The event offered an in-depth exploration of MOSA, providing guidance to industry stakeholders on navigating this transformative procurement model. Participants represented a diverse mix of non-traditional companies, mid-tier organizations, primes, and integrators, reflecting strong industry interest in MOSA implementation. 

Key Highlights and Topics: 

1. Fireside Chat: Christina Brantley (OSD (A&S)) and Paul Dudley (ATI) discussed the implementation of the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program through the AMTC framework during Christina’s tenure as the CDRR. This conversation shed light on practical MOSA execution strategies and the collaboration required for success.
    

1. MOSA Roadmap Presentation: Nadine Geier, Director of Systems Engineering at OUSD (R&E), provided an insightful presentation detailing the MOSA roadmap. Her talk emphasized the critical pathways for industry to align with government MOSA objectives.
    

1. Panel on MOSA Requirements Definition: A panel discussion moderated by Rosemary Kramer of LMI featuring representatives from the office of Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Data, Engineering & Software), Defense Acquisition University, Parry Labs, and Booz Allen Hamilton offered invaluable insights into the MOSA requirements definition process. Attendees gained a clearer understanding of how this process differs from traditional procurement methods and how to participate effectively.
    

1. Legal Considerations of MOSA: A legal panel emphasized the importance of intellectual property (IP) management in MOSA contracts. Panelists including representatives from Bell Textron, C3.AI and PilieroMazza advised industry participants to negotiate strategically and identify critical IP elements to retain throughout the project lifecycle.
    

1. Real-Time Case Study: Moderated by John Stough, this session showcased industry leaders from companies including Avilution, Galois, Parry Labs, and Northrop Grumman, sharing their experiences with MOSA-related work. The panel highlighted best practices and strategies for successful MOSA implementation.
    

Key Takeaways: 

• Enterprise-Level MOSA Implementation: Industry attendees expressed strong interest in seeing MOSA adopted as a business model at the enterprise level. They highlighted the importance of broader access to services to achieve return on investment. 

• Clarity and Commitment from the Government: A consistent theme was the need for clear and committed government support for MOSA, enabling industry to forecast and plan investments more effectively.
   

This event marked a pivotal step forward in bridging the gap between government and industry in MOSA implementation. The insights and connections forged during this institute will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of modular, open systems in defense procurement. 

What exactly is MOSA? Modular Open Systems Approach is defined as a technical and business strategy for designing modularized, adaptable systems.  For those of us in the DoD community, this was codified into law in 2019 via Title 10 U.S.C. 4401(b) – stating that all major defense acquisition programs are required to be designed and developed (to the extent practicable) utilizing MOSA.

In layman’s speak, it represents DoD taking a stance that it desires a standardized, transparent approach to building major systems – from aircraft to ground vehicles to training systems and beyond.  It can be applied to hardware (widgets, components, parts, etc.) or software (systems, platforms, applications, etc.).  This approach affords DoD more supply chain visibility, builds the Defense Industrial Base, fosters more competitive solutions at both the program and component level and opens the door to further collaboration between industry and government.

MOSA also serves as the response to the rapidly increasing pace at which technology evolves and changes. In complex environments, an agile, modular approach to implementing subsystems achieves speed when it is needed most. The cessation of an advanced weapons system or avionics platform that costs billions of dollars to design, build and maintain is a scenario to be avoided at all costs. Rapid solutioning becomes a reality with MOSA, enabling shorter lead times with life cycle replacements.

In addition, for the DoD, the ability to gain full transparency into suppliers and solutions has become a national security issue.  Modularity in design allows for more incremental additions, substitutions or replacements over the life cycle of the system/platform while benefiting from enhanced innovation and competition in these product offerings.  While vendors of various parts and components have long been a part of OEM supply chains, MOSA introduces a new level of interoperability and fungibility for any one piece that makes up these critical subsystem technologies. MOSA also combats obsolescence issues and supply chain shortages.

From a standardization and scalability perspective, one can draw logical rationale for MOSA.   But where does that leave us with technical data rights for both government and industry?  How do major OEMs protect the intellectual property related to the aircraft they built because of their investment of billions of R&D dollars? How do small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors build subsystems to MOSA requirements and maintain a competitive offering amid increased levels of transparency and data sharing?  While the case for government to embrace MOSA is evident, industry’s adaptation of this paradigm will be driven by a combination of market forces, mission requirements and shareholder priorities.

And then, there’s price.  At what price can MOSA be achieved across DoD?  If speed, transparency and national security are key deciding factors in this acquisition process, then how do long-term life cycle costs come into consideration?  If MOSA requires primes and OEMs to relinquish a certain level of data rights and control, do they simply pass through their IR&D and architecture-related investment to the government?  MOSA entails a different financial model, one that industry (both OEMs and their vendors) are still adapting to and learning.

The Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD) continues to promote the development of MOSA enabling standards as they “are essential to the ability to rapidly share information across domains, with quick and affordable updates or improvements to both hardware and software components.”  A framework and guidance for program management related to MOSA is provided by the Defense Standardization Program (DSP), with the primary emphasis – at present – focused on identification and distribution of MOSA enabling standards.

Over the coming months, we’ll dive more into MOSA and its impact within government and industry, including case studies, business model adaptations, intellectual property implications and more. The desired end goals of increased interoperability, speed, and incremental transparency are ones in which the Defense Industrial Base will need to embrace in order to successfully sustain their support of the mission.

On May 8, 2024, govmates held a matchmaking event at SOF Week that brought together a dynamic mix of traditional defense contractors and innovative small and non-traditional businesses, creating a landscape ripe for innovation and partnership. Held in Tampa, Florida during the annual Special Operation Forces conference, the event saw participation from 19 Buyers and 150 Sellers, leading to over 150 meetings within just two hours. 

A Convergence of Cutting-Edge Capabilities 

The matchmaking event was a hive of activity as companies met to discuss an array of advanced capabilities. These capabilities are at the forefront of technology and critical to the future of the special operations community: 

Artificial Intelligence (AI): Companies showcased the latest in AI, including machine learning, predictive analytics, and autonomous systems designed to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency. 

Electrical Engineering: Discussions revolved around innovative electrical systems, from advanced circuitry to power management solutions, aiming to improve performance and reliability. 

Advanced Manufacturing: Participants highlighted state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing, precision engineering, and new material applications, promising to revolutionize production processes. 

C5ISR: Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance capabilities were in demand, with integrated solutions for superior situational awareness and mission effectiveness. 

Enterprise IT: Robust IT infrastructures, cybersecurity measures, and cloud-based solutions were discussed to meet the growing demands of enterprise-level operations. 

Modeling and Simulation: Companies presented sophisticated simulation technologies, including virtual and augmented reality applications, essential for training, planning, and operational readiness. 

Focused Matchmaking 

The structured matchmaking format allowed for over 150 meetings in just two hours, providing a unique platform for Sellers to present their capabilities and for Buyers to find solutions tailored to their specific needs. Following the matchmaking sessions, participants were able to head outside for SOF Week’s beloved Capabilities Demonstration. 

The govmates matchmaking event at SOF Week exemplified the power of collaboration and the importance of bringing together diverse expertise to tackle complex challenges. The event not only facilitated meaningful connections but also underscored the critical role of technology in enhancing defense and intelligence operations. As attendees left the venue, there was a palpable sense of excitement and optimism about the future possibilities that these new partnerships and technologies could unlock. The success of this event is a testament to the collaborative spirit and innovative drive of all participants. We look forward to seeing the developments and breakthroughs that will undoubtedly arise from the connections made at this year’s govmates matchmaking event.