Defense Innovation Unit

Defense Innovation Unit

Contracts commercial tech for national security

Overview

DIU accelerates the adoption of commercial technology for national security by contracting with commercial companies to solve defense problems. It identifies defense needs, sources relevant commercial tech, and runs rapid pilots to test and adapt these solutions for government use. It emphasizes speed and practicality by using streamlined contracting and dual-use technologies, contrasting with slow traditional procurement. Its goal is to quickly deliver commercially available technologies that enhance national security capabilities.

About Defense Innovation Unit

Simplify's Rating
Why Defense Innovation Unit is rated
B
Rated A on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Government & Public Sector

AI & Machine Learning

Defense

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Mountain View, California

Founded

2015

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • August 2026 Bridge Program targets clearance, accreditation, and testing bottlenecks immediately.
  • July 10 2026 OnRamp criteria open more hubs nationwide, broadening founder access.
  • FY2026 funding and September 2026 contracts show sustained demand for DIU prototypes.

What critics are saying

  • July 2026 reorganization under Owen West resets priorities, teams, and institutional memory.
  • Bridge still depends on DCSA, DOD offices, and local partners to move faster.
  • If Congress trims FY2026’s $661.2 million, DIU loses scale, hubs, and leverage.

What makes Defense Innovation Unit unique

  • DIU turns Pentagon pain points into commercial onboarding through Bridge and OnRamp hubs.
  • Owen West’s 2026 reorganization concentrates DIU on drones, kill webs, and 10x technologies.
  • DIU combines prototype funding, classified access, and transition pathways inside one federal field activity.

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Benefits

Remote Work Options

Company News

PR Newswire
Sep 10th, 2026
Nooks wins $146.8M Defense Innovation Unit contract to expand classified infrastructure nationwide

Nooks has been awarded a four-year contract worth up to $146.8 million by the Defense Innovation Unit to expand its Classified Infrastructure-as-a-Service nationwide. The contract supports DIU's Bridge Program, addressing barriers commercial companies face in accessing classified spaces and clearances. The award will fund new Nooks sites in six major markets: Austin, Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco Bay Area, and Honolulu. These additions will expand Nooks' network to ten locations, including existing sites in Arlington, Colorado Springs, El Segundo, and Huntsville. Nooks' model replaces lengthy construction timelines with subscription-based access to accredited facilities, workstations, and secure networks. The contract also provides FSO-as-a-Service for up to 100 DIU portfolio companies, offering fractional Facility Security Officer expertise to support clearance processes and compliance. Founded in 2021, Nooks pioneered the CIaaS model to help defence technology companies begin classified work faster.

Associated Press
Aug 18th, 2026
Australian 3ME Technology wins US Defense contract for EdgeVOLT battery system prototype

Australian battery innovator 3ME Technology has been selected by the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to deliver its EdgeVOLT portable energy storage system under the Portable Resilient Integrated Storage Module (PRISM) program. The Newcastle-based company will demonstrate its rugged, modular battery system designed for defense, emergency response, and remote industrial applications. The prototype program will include a standard configuration and a cold-weather variant featuring South 8 Technologies' LiGas battery cells, engineered to operate in temperatures ranging from -60°C to +60°C. As an AUKUS Authorised User, 3ME Technology's participation highlights the defense technology collaboration between the three partner nations. The EdgeVOLT system provides portable power for communications, sensors, autonomous platforms, and mission equipment whilst reducing reliance on fuel-based generation.

PR Newswire
Jul 15th, 2026
Gallatin AI wins DIU contract to bring AI-driven sustainment planning to US Army Europe and Africa

Gallatin AI has secured a contract from the Defense Innovation Unit to deploy its AI-driven sustainment planning platform for US Army Europe and Africa. The company's Navigator system uses machine learning to forecast demand, identify potential shortfalls, and recommend supply and movement plans in real time. The platform aims to help military planners respond quickly to challenges including adversary fires, infrastructure issues, and changing allied force movements. Navigator will support the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative by managing medical supplies and casualty evacuation planning. Scale AI will join as a partner, providing course of action validation capabilities through its generative AI platform. Founded in 2024 and backed by 8VC, Gallatin AI is headquartered in El Segundo, California, with additional offices in Washington DC and Austin, Texas.

PR Newswire
Jul 14th, 2026
Defense Innovation Unit selects Tesseract Ventures for autonomous drone delivery system prototype

Tesseract Ventures has been selected by the Defense Innovation Unit to advance in the Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System prototype project. The initiative aims to develop autonomous capabilities for deploying and managing unmanned aerial systems in contested environments. The project addresses the challenge of transitioning from single-operator aircraft models to scalable autonomous systems requiring minimal human intervention. Tesseract will demonstrate its modular platform for deploying, launching, recovering and managing multiple drones from containerised systems. The solution uses open systems architecture and advanced autonomy software to increase operational flexibility whilst reducing operator workload. The project requires systems capable of transporting, storing and managing diverse autonomous aircraft across land and maritime environments with minimal personnel. Successful prototypes may become eligible for follow-on production opportunities without further competition under the Commercial Solutions Opening process.

Associated Press
Jun 30th, 2026
EdgeCortix validates SAKURA-II edge AI platform with US Air Force flight test, receives Defense Innovation Unit success memo

EdgeCortix, a Japanese fabless semiconductor company, has demonstrated its SAKURA-II edge AI platform with the US Air Force and received a Success Memorandum from the Defense Innovation Unit recognising successful prototype validation. The platform delivered high-performance, low-power AI inference capabilities during aerial operations and large force exercises. The project included AI benchmarking with Carnegie Mellon University, NASA radiation resilience testing for space applications, and flight testing of an Advanced Intelligent Gateway System. NASA testing validated high radiation resiliency, supporting deployment from low Earth orbit through cislunar environments. The Tokyo-based company's SAKURA-II platform uses its Dynamic Neural Accelerator architecture for runtime-reconfigurable AI acceleration across defence, aerospace, robotics and manufacturing sectors. The demonstration increased the technology's readiness level for airborne deployments.

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