Join us at the MTC in Coventry

 10-11 October 2024

Apply to attend as delegate

Powering tech adoption to defend democracy

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HOW DEMO DAY WORKS

An experimental adoption event to get the best start-up tech to UK military end users via partnerships with Primes

STAGE 1

STAGE 2

STAGE 3

STAGE 4

OPEN APPLICATIONS

Start-ups apply to participate in Future Forces Demo Day if they have a working product (~TRL6 and above) that can solve problems faced by UK frontline commands in the Sense, Decide and Effect technology area.

SELECT START-UPS

Independent advisors from mixed backgrounds provide feedback on start-up applications and then Future Forces selects who will demo their products in person on Fri 11 Oct at the MTC in Coventry on the basis of fit.

LIVE DEMO DAY

Start-ups then demo their products to the frontline commands and Primes who will bring their engineering, commercial and programme leads. Both parties then assess potential of start-ups to solve technological problems.

PARTNERSHIPS

For start-ups that meet the right criteria, we will set the conditions for partnerships to emerge with Primes who can then seek to include these start-ups into programmes they have or might one day have. This is how we get tech adopted.

Open Applications
Open Applications
Select Start-Ups
Select Start-Ups
Live Demo Day
Live Demo Day
Partnerships
Partnerships
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REGAINING THE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE IS A STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE

“Our technological edge has helped to keep our Alliance strong and our nations safe…But today, nations that do not share our values are challenging that lead. It is essential that we do everything in our power to remain at the forefront of innovation and technology”. 

NATO Secretary General
Jens Stoltenberg

SENSE, DECIDE AND EFFECT

This is our technology theme for 2024. We encourage applications from start-ups with working products that can enhance capabilities and compliment existing systems across domains. This includes both front-end platforms (such as autonomous vehicles/drones) that can process, protect and transmit data securely, and back-end tech that can analyse and feed into missions systems capable of deploying AI/ML to augment decision making on the battlefield.

 

Ultimately, this is about increasing the lethality of the frontline commands.

CONVENING THE RIGHT ACTORS FOR SUCCESS

Industry decision makers (in engineering, commercial and programme functions) with the intent and capacity to build partnerships with start-ups and get their tech closer to adoption by end users

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Apply to be a mission partner

CONVENING THE RIGHT ACTORS FOR SUCCESS

Rapidly developing start-ups from the NATO ecosystem (including Ukraine) with working products that can provide frontline commands with a technological advantage on the battlefield

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Apply to demo as a start-up

CONVENING THE RIGHT ACTORS FOR SUCCESS

Frontline command leaders (forces development, capability and programmes) that can assess the technological and programmatic suitability of start-ups to enable Prime partnership decisions

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APPLY TO ATTEND AS DELEGATE

CONVENING THE RIGHT ACTORS FOR SUCCESS

Leading defence tech and dual-use investors (VCs and family offices) will monitor demand signals and potentially invest in start-ups that emerge with Prime partnerships and enable them to develop and scale

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APPLY TO ATTEND AS AS DELEGATE
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we aspire FOR CONTRACTS TO EMERGE BETWEEN START-UPS AND PRIMES, underpinned by our charter

SUPPLIER AGREEMENTS

DIRECT INVESTMENTS

Pilot study to test products

R&D facility access

Future Forces Demo Day

MTC, COVENTRY, 10-11 OCTOBER 2024

Join us at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, one of the UK’s most advanced facilities geared to scaling start-up production. The evening of Thurs 10 Oct will be a welcome event with an adoption workshop on how to practically get as much of the start-up tech at the event adopted as possible. Fri 11 Oct will be for the demonstrations.

Apply to attend as a delegate

apply to demo here
by sun 15 sept 2024

FUTURE FORCES PEOPLE

Our Founders

Brigadier Nick Cowley OBE

Chairman & Founder

Nick recently commanded the British Army’s 16 Air Assault Brigade. He has conducted multiple tours of Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans. He commanded a tank regiment in Germany from 2017 to 2019. Nick has been awarded a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service, an MBE and an OBE. In 2009, Nick co-founded the social mobility charity, The Talent Tap. He studied at the University of Nottingham and completed a Masters in Strategy in the United States of America.

Richard Pass

Executive Director & Co-founder

Richard is an Atlantic Council Millennium Fellow and recently spent three years as a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Company in the UK and Colombia. He served under Nick as a full-time tank officer in the Queen’s Royal Hussars in Germany and is now a civil-military cooperation specialist focused on Eastern Europe. Before the Army, he was an economist in the Civil Service Fast Stream where he advised ministers and officials across Whitehall. He is a graduate of UCL and the University of Nottingham.

Our Advisory Group

Air Cdre Blythe Crawford CBE

Air & Space Warfare Centre

Lt Gen Richard Wardlaw OBE

Former Chief of Defence Logistics

Rob Murray

Saab US, formerly NATO

Chris Magazzeni

IQ Capital

Jon Williams

A2i

Eric Slesinger

201 Ventures

Eveline Buchatskiy

D3 VC

Piers Flay

J-Hub

Nicholas Hoare

Family Office Investor

Pete Scott

Microlise

James Gayner MBE

Plexal

Joe Smith

Airbus

IN THE NEWS

Silicon Valley chiefs urge Pentagon procurement overhaul

Silicon Valley defence tech founders and investors have urged the US government to reform its military procurement processes, warning that outdated methods are hindering access to cutting-edge technologies. In an open letter to Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, prominent venture capital firms and start-up leaders, including Lux Capital, Kleiner Perkins, and Anduril, called for changes to leverage commercial sector innovations. They proposed $20bn in additional R&D funding and a $250mn “bridge fund” to help companies transition from prototype to production. Despite increased venture capital investment in defence tech, which rose from $16bn in 2019 to $33bn in 2022, many start-ups struggle due to lengthy government contract processes. The letter emphasized the need for swift action to maintain technological superiority over adversaries like China and to integrate advanced technologies into military applications.

FULL ARTICLE

Army chief says UK must double its lethality or be prepared for war in 2027

General Sir Roly Walker, the new chief of the British Army, has warned that the UK must be ready for potential conflict within three years due to the growing threats from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. Walker emphasized the need to double the Army’s fighting power by 2027 and triple it by the end of the decade using advanced technologies like drones and artificial intelligence. He highlighted concerns such as China’s ambitions towards Taiwan, Iran’s nuclear pursuits, and Russia’s ongoing militarization. Despite not calling for conscription, Walker stressed the urgency of restoring credible military power to deter potential conflicts. He also noted the growing interdependence among these adversaries, complicating crisis management. With the British Army at its smallest in 300 years and recent defense spending commitments under review, Walker’s comments underline the need for modernization and potential future investment​.

FULL ARTICLE

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contact uS

Last Updated: JULY 2024

Welcome to Future Forces. This policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your personal data in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

  1. Data Collection and Processing

1.1 Types of Data Collected

We may collect the following personal information when you interact with Future Forces:

  • Name
  • Email
  • Work Title
  • Address
  • Telephone Number

1.2 Purpose of Data Collection

We collect this information to:

  • Communicate with you regarding Future Forces activities.
  • Provide you with relevant information about Future Forces Demo Day
  • Fulfil your requests for participation in events or activities organized by Future Forces.

1.3 Consent

By submitting your personal information through our forms, you consent to the collection, processing, and storage of your data as described in this policy.

  • Future Forces Demo Day

Demo day is an integral part of Future Forces. The data collected and processed for these sections will adhere to the same standards outlined in this policy.

  • Data Security

We take appropriate measures to safeguard your personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, or alteration. Access to your data is restricted to authorized personnel only.

  • Cookie Policy

4.1 Use of Cookies

We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help us analyse web traffic and tailor our services to your preferences.

4.2 Cookie Pop-Up

Upon visiting our website, you will encounter a cookie pop-up requesting your consent to use cookies. By continuing to use our site, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with this policy.

  • Contact Information

For any inquiries regarding this GDPR policy or the processing of your personal data, please contact us at:

Future Forces

 

Changes to the Policy

We reserve the right to update this GDPR policy as needed. Any changes will be posted on our website, and the date of the last update will be revised accordingly.

Thank you for being a part of Future Forces!

Future Forces Prize Ltd

Abbey Oak, Wherwell, Andover, England, SP11 7HY

Last Updated: JULY 2024

Welcome to Future Forces. This policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your personal data in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

  1. Data Collection and Processing

1.1 Types of Data Collected

We may collect the following personal information when you interact with Future Forces:

  • Name
  • Email
  • Work Title
  • Address
  • Telephone Number

1.2 Purpose of Data Collection

We collect this information to:

  • Communicate with you regarding Future Forces activities.
  • Provide you with relevant information about Future Forces Demo Day
  • Fulfil your requests for participation in events or activities organized by Future Forces.

1.3 Consent

By submitting your personal information through our forms, you consent to the collection, processing, and storage of your data as described in this policy.

  • Future Forces Demo Day

Demo day is an integral part of Future Forces. The data collected and processed for these sections will adhere to the same standards outlined in this policy.

  • Data Security

We take appropriate measures to safeguard your personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, or alteration. Access to your data is restricted to authorized personnel only.

  • Cookie Policy

4.1 Use of Cookies

We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help us analyse web traffic and tailor our services to your preferences.

4.2 Cookie Pop-Up

Upon visiting our website, you will encounter a cookie pop-up requesting your consent to use cookies. By continuing to use our site, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with this policy.

  • Contact Information

For any inquiries regarding this GDPR policy or the processing of your personal data, please contact us at:

Future Forces

 

Changes to the Policy

We reserve the right to update this GDPR policy as needed. Any changes will be posted on our website, and the date of the last update will be revised accordingly.

Thank you for being a part of Future Forces!

Future Forces Prize Ltd

Abbey Oak, Wherwell, Andover, England, SP11 7HY