3rd Annual Innovation Rodeo "Call for Topics"

  • Published
  • By 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
  • 2nd Bomb Wing
AFIMSC is proud to announce their 3rd Annual Innovation Rodeo “Call for Topics”.  This year’s theme is “Base of the Future” and the campaign runs from September 1 to December 1, 2020.   

The last two Innovation Rodeos have been resounding successes. Barksdale has turned ideas into reality for UAVs + advanced sensors, artificial intelligence & machine learning, software bots, and mobile apps. Over that time, the innovation budget for the base has grown from $3M to over $65M in venture capital funding to help Airmen. 

Once the campaign concludes December 1, we will invite finalists to participate in a week-long workshop February 1 to 5, 2021, to refine their approach, get advice from senior technology mentors, and pitch their ideas in competition for $1M in AFIMSC Ventures funding. 

Please encourage your Airmen to submit their best ideas. Our target audience is the Mission Support Group and we are again partnering with AFWERX and using the successful Ideascale platform at https://usaf.ideascalegov.com/a/campaign-home/181. An innovator just needs to click “Submit New Idea” and our full-time innovation specialists will help connect your Airman with industry, investors and functional experts to shape, connect, collaborate, and refine their idea.

Finally, I’ve attached our 2021 Innovation Rodeo Kickoff Video:

For questions please contact the 2 BW Innovation Team at shane.Lafferty@us.af.mil or the AFIMSC Innovation Team at:  AFIMSC.Innovation@us.af.mil which can be directly contacted at Maj Christopher Weimer, christopher.weimer@us.af.mil, Mr. Dustin Dickens, dustin.dickens.1@us.af.mil, or Ms. Emilie Miller, emilie.miller@us.af.mil.