Resources for building and selling to defense.

Go-to-Market Resources

• Finding Problem Sponsors — How problem sponsors work in DoD and how to engage them — Hacking for Defense
• AFWERX Engagement Pathways — Overview of Air Force innovation pathways: Spark, Prime, and Ventures
• DIU Commercial Solutions Opening — How to engage Defense Innovation Unit through CSO process
• Other Transaction Authority Guide — WarU (formerly DAU) guide to OTA vs traditional FAR-based contracts

Acquisition 101 Resources

• Contracting Cone — Visual guide to contract types and dollar thresholds
• FAR for Startups — Federal Acquisition Regulation - the rules governing DoD procurement
• Contract Types Explained — FFP, T&M, CPFF, CPIF - when to use each and what they mean
• Understanding PPBE — Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution cycle explained

SBIR / STTR Resources

• SBIR Topic Search — Find open SBIR/STTR topics across all federal agencies
• Phase I Proposal Guide — SBIR.gov official tutorial on writing winning proposals
• Phase III Transition Strategies — SBA guide to transitioning SBIR tech to production contracts

Compliance Resources

• CMMC 2.0 Requirements — Official DoD CMMC program overview and requirements
• ITAR Basics for Startups — State Department ITAR portal - registration and compliance basics
• CUI Marking Handbook — NARA guide to marking and handling Controlled Unclassified Information
• Security Clearance Process — DCSA FAQ on obtaining and maintaining security clearances

Guides

• The 5-Step Design Process — Question, delete, simplify, accelerate, automate: Musk's engineering algorithm applied to defense.
• The Heilmeier Catechism — The eight questions DARPA has asked of every program since 1975, with the stealth program as the worked example.
• What is a Defense Venture Studio? — How venture studios differ from accelerators, incubators, and VC funds in national security.
• Crossing the Valley of Death: Why funded prototypes die before production, and the five moves that carry companies across.
• The Color of Money: Which appropriation can legally buy what you sell, and how to structure the ask to match.