WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Chairman of the National Security Initiative Roger London today announced the inaugural American Security Challenge, a business plan competition for innovators with ideas and technologies aimed at bringing leading edge technology to market to secure America's long-term physical and economic security.
The Challenges seeks to bring the power of American innovation together with the power of the free market by providing critical bridge capital to start-up companies. Chairman London says, "Our free market economy is the foremost accelerator in the world for innovation. We believe that providing a forum for great minds to bring their ideas to fruition by providing access to that market will contribute greatly to our nation's long term security". London further states, "The market ultimately decides what technologies are adopted and what companies get funded. The American Security Channel makes cutting edge technology more visible to the market of customers, investors and strategic partners".
The Challenge invites innovators to submit executive summaries of their
technology for the opportunity of an award of
Investor financing for the Challenge is provided by Nobska Ventures. "Nobska Ventures is dedicated to supporting exceptional entrepreneurs -- committing some of those resources to early stage companies focused on the nation's long term security is an honor as well as an opportunity. We are very pleased to support the American Security Challenge and its mission." said Charles Moore , Chairman of Nobska Ventures.
Other supporting organizations include: the Greater Baltimore Technology Council; the Entrepreneur Center@NVTC; the Northern Virginia Technology Council; the Center for Business & Technology Development of Howard County, MD; the Center for Innovative Technology among others.
Submissions are not limited to tactical security products but encourage innovations that address America's long-term security interests such as technologies that reduce our dependence on foreign oil, protect our nation's financial systems, transportation systems, food supply, commerce, and other innovations that would mitigate the effect of a terrorist attack on our economy and way of life.
Participants in the Challenge include universities, incubators, entrepreneurs, researcher labs, early stage investors and others interested in taking their company or innovation to the next level. Beyond the initial great idea, the Challenge allows emerging technology firms high visibility among customers like the U.S. Government, integrators, licensors, manufacturing partners among other potential partners. It also provides exposure for further funding.
Attendees, judges and sponsors will include early stage angel and venture capitalists seeking additional deal flow; prime contractors and integrators looking for interesting technology to license, acquire or insert into a program; critical infrastructure owners and supporting members of our economy such as large financial, energy, communication, transportation, shipping, or healthcare stakeholders; service providers including law firms, investment bankers, accounting and management consultants; Senior members of the federal government such as the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Energy.
Eligible companies encouraged to apply include but are not limited to SBIR
winners; angel funded companies; companies with
Interested innovators, sponsors and others are encouraged to visit www.americansecuritychallenge.com for full information on eligibility, submission deadlines and other rules.
ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY INITIATIVE (NSI)
The National Security Initiative is a 501 (c)(3) organization devoted to promoting America's long-term national security interests by uniting the power of the market to the power of American ingenuity. One of the vehicles is through the American Security Challenge, an annual business plan contest that brings innovators and investors from around the country together to collaborate and support the best security technology devoted to our country's long-term national security. Learn more about NSI at www.nationalsecurityinitiative.com and about ASC at www.americansecuritychallenge.com
ABOUT NOBSKA VENTURES
Nobska Ventures supports exceptional entrepreneurs and management teams in Israel and the United States with early stage venture capital, experienced strategic and operational counsel, and global market access and relationships. Nobska Ventures brings an active, hands-on investment team experienced in business strategy, technology development and commercialization, sales and marketing, and other skill sets so critical to the earliest stages of a young company's growth. For Israeli companies, Nobska provides a US launch pad and hands-on support in team-building and global market entry. Nobska's investment focus areas include advanced Information and Communications technologies for Enterprise Management and Security, Defense Intelligence and Electronics, Homeland Security and Healthcare. Learn more at www.nobskaventures.com.
Contact: Roger London Chairman, National Security Initiative 410-340-5335 Robert Rosenbaum, Nobska Ventures 410.486.1848SOURCE The National Security Initiative
