About the ASC
The American Security Challenge is the only event in the nation devoted to bringing the latest and best security technologies to market for our nation's homeland security. Under the auspices of the National Security Initiative, the objective of the Challenge is to increase the visibility of innovative technology and help the commercialization process so that such technology can reach either the public or commercial marketplace faster to protect our citizens and critical assets.
Since its inception, the Challenge has received over 300 applications and awarded millions in cash and teaming agreements to finalists -- and to companies that were simply exposed to our industry partners.
The Challenge seeks out small but growing companies currently in the security markets and companies successfully selling into other markets that might have technologies which could be applied for security purposes. These companies range from recent completion of their working prototype to established but growing companies with millions of dollars in sales.
Security Through Partnerships:
Protecting our Citizens, Assets & Economy
As the largest competition and matchmaking opportunity in the nation, the American Security Challenge is the center of gravity for the critical stakeholders in the security technology ecosystem.
The Challenge’s mission is to move the latest technology into the markets faster to improve our long-term national security. We do this by bringing emerging and innovative security technology companies to the attention of qualified investors, strategic partners, serial entrepreneurs, public and private customers so that the probability of new technologies getting to market is increased while the time/cost it takes to get to market is decreased.
America has thousands of critical assets that have interdependencies and inherent vulnerabilities, which if disrupted can lead to cascading effects with the possibility of significant casualties, property damage and economic destabilization. These disrupting events can be caused by a disgruntled customer or employee, by negligence or neglect, vandalism or criminal activity, espionage, sabotage, process/equipment malfunction, earthquake, hurricane or other natural disaster, or an act of terrorism.
In its third year, the Challenge will again offer investment capital infusions ($2.5M in terms sheets last year), teaming and sub-contracting agreements (over $8M last year), and new creative transaction vehicles including pilot contracts for large customers to test-drive new technologies. In this way the Challenge and its participants are working to secure our nation's citizenry, our critical infrastructure, our economy and assure that our nation is resilient.
This “standing room only” event draws C-level technology executives, qualified investors and vendor-facing CIO/CSO/CTO technology buyers.
With your participation, the September 2010 event held in the Washington D.C area should prove to exceed all previous success.
Finalists-2009 American Security Challenge
From left to right: Brian De Frota, Prioria, John Cargasz, Innovative Wireless; Lew Meixler, MindCo; Joe Moran, MindCo; Larry Blue, Hi-G-Tek, Paul Sjogren, Cinch Systems; Mark Primo, EMZA Visual Systems
Governor Tom Ridge presents Admiral James Loy, former Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and Founder of TSA the 2009 Patriot Award
ASC History
In 2007, Mr. London was approached by the Department of Homeland Security to organize a technology competition as he had done in the past. This competition, similar in process to a business plan competition would be held at the end of the annual Homeland Security S&T Stakeholders Conference. After learning more about the requirements, Mr. London formed the non-profit National Security Initiative to be the events operator. Although Mr. London had substantial experience with technology scouting, early stage capital, security technology and requirements screening, he had little event management or sponsorship sales experience so he turned to Kristina Tanasichuk to co-found the 2008 event.
Knowing that entrepreneurs are always more attracted to opportunities that have financial incentives, Mr. London obtained a commitment from an early stage investor to provide a $100K investment in a Challenger they select. ASC received 75 submissions that first year and six finalists gave impressive demonstrations to a standing room only crowd as the Homeland Security S&T Stakeholders Conference concluded. Original Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, the Honorable Tom Ridge was nominated and received the first Patriot Award establishing a very high bar as did the keynote speaker, DHS S&T Undersecretary Jay Cohen.
Leveraging the success of the first year, Mr. London sought greater financial incentives for prizes and obtained commitments from Chart Venture Partners to provide a Series A investment (normally $250K to $2.5M) to a Challenger they select as well as commitments from Alion Science and Technology Corporation to team with Challengers meeting their criteria. Those incentives helped attract 200 companies to the 2009 Challenge netting over $10M in teaming agreements and investor term sheets. Delighting another packed house with an encore appearance, Governor Ridge keynoted the event and presented the 2009 Patriot Award to his nomination Admiral James Loy.
That success motivated Mr. London in August 2009 to commit full time to the Challenge program. Unable to commit more time to the Challenge due to her full time work at the Homeland Security & Defense Business Council and her fantastic part-time work founding and operating Women in Homeland Security, Ms. Tanasichuk resigned as the American Security Challenge Executive Director but still advocates for it through her public/private network.
