OUR SCHEDULE
Issues that matter to us all. Technology that will help shape the future.
Unexpected topics. Hands-on tech demos. Tell-your-friends evening events. You’ll find it all at 800 Congress, March 11-15.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
BattleBots! Appetite for Construction
2PM-3PM
Two masterminds behind the mechanical mayhem on BattleBots share their experiences, strategies, and the relentless innovation that go into combat robotics. From design challenges to epic showdowns in the BattleBox, hear the stories and insights that make these teams perennial BattleBots contenders.
Whether you're a fan of metal-crunching clashes or intrigued by the engineering brilliance, Andrea and Will promise to go beyond the sparks – and spark inspiration for the next generation of bot builders.
SPEAKERS
Will Bales, Team Hypershock
Andrea (Suarez) Gellatly, Team Witch Doctor
Faruq Tauheed, Actor and Host
How to Get Free R&D Money From the Government
3PM - 4PM
Ready to take your groundbreaking idea from napkin sketch to reality without breaking the bank? Join us at SXSW for an energizing panel that cracks the code on government funding, with a spotlight on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
We’re bringing together a dynamic mix of entrepreneurs and government experts with insider tips on scouting the perfect opportunity, nailing the application process, and turning government jargon into compelling storytelling for your project. Whether you're a tech wizard, a scientific trailblazer, or a creative genius, this session is your ticket to transforming your wildest ideas into funded projects, with a little help from Uncle Sam.
SPEAKERS
Mike Dingus, Texas Research Institute Austin
Richard Fink, Applied Nanotech
Mike Mayo, Nanohmics
Bob Smith, Navy SBIR/STTR (moderator)
Real or Not: Defending Authenticity in a Digital World
4PM - 5PM
Ever wondered if that video you're watching, the photo you’re looking at, or even that person on the other line is the real deal? Deepfakes aren't just Hollywood magic anymore—they're part of our everyday lives, found in everything from the news we consume to the memes we share.
During this panel, we're diving into the world of deepfakes to break down the impacts of digital deception and what we can do about it. Join industry, government, and academic leaders as they discuss how new analytical tools — including an unexpected one from DARPA — can help organizations and individuals alike protect themselves against manipulated media. We’ll talk about how to tell what’s real, and how companies can get involved to help the government address this growing problem head-on.
SPEAKERS:
Dr. Wil Corvey, DARPA
Dr. Amruta Deshpande, Graphika
Nick Dufour, Google
Donie O’Sullivan, CNN (moderator)
Dr. Matt Turek, DARPA
Dr. James Verbus, LinkedIn
Artist & Industry Interviews + Live Music By SPIN Magazine
6:30PM-7PM - Artistic Expression with Taylor Hanson, Interviewed by Daniel Kohn
SPIN’s Daniel Kohn will chat with Taylor Hanson (of Hanson) about the current state of artistic expression and the challenges artists face in today’s climate.
6PM-11PM
Performances by Nima, As You Were, Kydd Jones, and Jon Muq
10AM-11AM We've all experienced depression and trauma. The wounds are not always visible, yet they can cast a long, debilitating shadow over daily life. Traditional treatments often fall short, leaving many in search of alternatives. Enter psychedelics and psycholytic therapies – powerful compounds and techniques now at the forefront of modern mental health research and treatment. In this session, you'll hear first-hand accounts of those who've found solace and those conducting research in progressive treatments. Learn why government organizations are leaning forward on psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, and more as a path to profound therapeutic breakthroughs. With the tireless advocacy of veterans at its heart, this movement illuminates a promising future for trauma sufferers everywhere. SPEAKERS: 11AM-12PM Mixed reality flight simulators from Vertex Solutions will support the USAF’s new tactical jet training course, training the next generation of fast-jet pilots. Join us for a peek at the tech behind the mission — and the chance to experience it for yourself. 12PM-1PM Dr. Angela Belcher is not like anyone you know. She's a super innovator who works with nature to help it do what it does best: invent. She trains biology to work as batteries, to clean and replace forever chemicals, and detect ovarian cancer. The award-winning inventor blends materials science, bioengineering, chemistry, electrical engineering, duty, gratitude, and whatever else is on her mind to design unexpected and unconventional deep tech solutions over and over again. SPEAKERS: 2PM-3PM The MINER — Mobile Immediate-Need Engineering Resource — is a mobile makerspace unit created by the US Combat Capabilities Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory (ARL), in collaboration with the Civil-Military Innovation Institute (CMI2), to support Soldier-driven innovation. Join us to hear how it works and try it yourself. 3PM-4PM More than 400,000 cases of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in US service members have been documented during the past 20 years — that we know of. TBI can have a wide range of impacts, both immediate and long-term, depending on the severity of the injury. From sensory impairments to behavioral changes, these injuries impact daily function and are notoriously difficult to treat. By examining cases from across the US Special Forces community, we are learning more about how to help people impacted with these injuries. Those lessons, gathered from treating elite professionals who operate at the peak of human performance, are pointing the way to treatment options for anyone facing similar injuries. By understanding how brain function is impacted by sleep, pain, environmental exposure, and more, we are establishing biomarkers and other scientific detectors that can bring healing and ensure we are prioritizing humans over hardware. SPEAKERS: 6:30PM-7PM - Publicists Spotlight: Building a Story 6PM-11PMPost-Traumatic Growth: Psychedelic Alternatives for Invisible Injuries
Dr. Shereef Elnahal, Department of Veteran Affairs
Dr. Eugene Lipov, Developer of SGB as PTSD Treatment, CMO Stella Center
Julie McEvoy, Heroic Hearts
Paul Rieckhoff, Righteous Media
Emily Rowley, Clinical Pharmacist, PharmD
Maia Szalavitz, The New York Times (moderator)TechTalk Pop-Up: F-16 Flight Simulator
Nature Finds a Way: Biological Batteries, the End of Forever Chemicals, and Other Incredible, Natural Inventions
Dr. Angela Belcher, James Mason Crafts Professor of Biological Engineering, MITTechTalk Pop-Up: Mobile Immediate-Need Engineering Resource (MINER)
Humans Over Hardware: Do Better and Do More for Whole Health
Dr. Gina Adam, Army Futures Command
Dr. Allison Brager, John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School
Dr. Sandi Chapman, University of Texas, The Brain Health Project
Dr. Tracy Jill “TJ” Doty, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Dr. Ron Hirschberg, Harvard Medical School Medical Director, Brain Health Program (moderator)
Chris McNamara, United States Special Operations CommandArtist & Industry Interviews + Live Music By SPIN Magazine
SPIN’s Daniel Kohn will chat with Ken Weinstein, Kate Jackson, Doug Hall, and Heather Wagner Reed about the art of crafting an editorial narrative for music artists.
Performances by Jorgen, Six String Soldiers, Omni, and David Shaw of the Revivalists
10AM-11AM The US Army eSports Team is a competition team with members drawn from across the Army and Army Reserves. Their mission: Soldiers on this team battle in various online gaming competitions, creating new ways to connect with young people and showcase the humans behind the mission. They'll be gaming live all week at Our House and taking this time to share more about their work as professional gamers. 11AM-12PM The STUB family is a groundbreaking new series of standardized, rugged, lightweight, rechargeable batteries that reduce Soldier battery burden and logistical footprint caused by needing different types of platform-specific batteries. The STUB family features a standard physical architecture and connection interface built around proven lithium-ion 18650 cell technology. See it in action — and grab a drink cooled with this technology. 12PM-1PM Delve into the future of space colonization as TechCrunch's Aria Alamalhodaei chats with Melodie Yashar of 3D printing pioneers ICON. We'll unveil the future of humanity's cosmic footprint in 3D-printed infrastructures for extraterrestrial living. Strap in for a journey that’s … out of this world. SPEAKERS: 2PM-3PM Fuel cell technologies are power-generating devices that convert alternative fuels into electricity at high efficiencies with reduced size, weight, emissions, and acoustics. Portable fuel cells offer Soldiers the ability to recharge batteries on the move while increasing operational efficiency by reducing weight — simply by wearing it. Watch it in action at Our House. 3PM-4PM Synthetic biology has experienced significant gains powered by next-generation sequencing, modern DNA manipulation tools such as CRISPR, structural prediction models, and high throughput screening. Now, the convergence of synthetic biology and AI is delivering revolutionary capabilities in DNA sequencing, protein structure prediction, and other descriptive DNA language models — generative synthetic biology is on the horizon. This session explores next-gen synthetic biology (with an awesome show and tell!) and how the field can emerge safely. SPEAKERS: 6:30PM-7PM - INTERVIEW: Bootsy Collins 6PM-11PMTECHTALK POP-UP: Army eSports
TECHTALK POP-UP: Small Tactical Universal Battery (STUB)
Extraterrestrial Architecture: 3D Printing Our Way to the Stars
Aria Alamalhodaei, TechCrunch
Melodie Yashar, ICONTECHTALK POP-UP: Soldier Wearable Power Generator
Converging Disrupters: Next-Gen, AI-Powered Synthetic Biology
Andrew Jones, Checkerspot
Xan Marshland, Checkerspot
Dr. Cindy Vindman, Army Research LaboratoryArtist & Industry Interviews + Live Music By SPIN Magazine
The legendary bass guitarist, singer-songwriter, and record producer will join us for a chat on his body of work and what comes next.
Performances by Jorgen, Cameron Adams, Sinkane, Nima, and Alexandra Kay
10AM-11AM Safety and security challenges in the ocean encompass vast distances, harsh environmental conditions, and the potential for maritime conflict. Navigating this complex environment has fueled the creation of innovation solutions for centuries. In 2022, Saronic Technologies – forged by a team of veterans, technologists, and engineers – began tackling these security challenges by merging AI, software, and hardware to build autonomous seagoing vessels. This visionary move, driven by first-hand experience, catapulted Saronic’s growth – attracting a sizable private investment that fueled the company’s ability to build out its autonomous fleet and to hire the brains and hands to support it. Saronic’s story isn’t a fairy tale; it’s an aspirational case study of what's possible with determination, cutting-edge techn, and an unwavering focus on addressing complex, meaningful challenges. The US defense-tech market is growing fast, with an expected compound annual growth rate of about 16% in 2024. In this session, we’ll discuss how, with the right mix of grit and vision, other startups can make that market trend work in their favor while helping ensure a safer future. SPEAKERS: 11AM-12PM Heven Drones and Arcimoto share a commitment to sustainable transportation solutions, with Heven Drones focusing on aerial mobility and Arcimoto specializing in electric three-wheeled vehicles. Both companies aim to revolutionize urban transportation, emphasizing efficiency and eco-friendliness in their respective domains. Meet the people behind the mission and hear more about what drives them. 12PM-1PM Forget sci-fi fantasies, quantum technology is real — and it powers your life today. When you tapped your phone this morning, it relied on lasers and transistors, both born from the mind-bending world of quantum physics. And this isn’t just dusty history. Quantum startups are harnessing this technology to build the next wave of paradigm-shifting devices. High-precision quantum sensors and clocks don’t just matter in obscure industries; they’re paving the way for mobile MRI scans, ultra-precise navigation, AI chatbots, and beyond. Join us to hear how quantum has changed your life already... and where the road is leading next. SPEAKERS: 2PM-3PM The Virtual Training Augmentation Layer from J&F Alliance allows users to experience training guided by body signals measured from wearable tech. Designed to provide accurate metrics of reactions and responses while training in either simulations or real life, this AR/VR tech has been used in law enforcement, but the technology can be applied to any learning environment. Learn how it works, how it's used, and how you can try it here at Our House all week long. 3PM-4PM Discover the intersection of entertainment and defense in “Project Vitreous,” one of the Army’s most exciting mixed reality (XR) endeavors. This session explores the fusion of Hollywood's creative visualization with the scientific rigor of military applications. Jayse Hansen — Hollywood's leading designer of holograms and HUDs for franchises such as Iron Man, Star Wars, Robocop and Top Gun — and Jeff Hansberger delve into the creation of advanced spatial interfaces for the military and unveil how the artistry of TV/film design blends with science to create situational awareness in complex environments like never before. SPEAKERS: 6:30PM-7PM - INTERVIEW: Randy Jackson, Paula Moore, Jimmy Hutcheson, Danny Klein 6PM-11PMHow One Startup Skyrocketed Growth Working on a Military Problem (And How You Can, Too)
Vib Altekar, Saronic Technologies
Clay Duarte, NavalX
Varun Gupta, Caffeinated Capital
Meg Vrabel, Chief Operating Officer, Capital Factory (moderator) TECHTALK POP-UP: POWERING A GREEN MOBILITY FUTURE
This Quantum **** is Real
Scott Faris, CEO of InfleqtionTECHTALK POP-UP: VIRTUAL TRAINING AUGMENTATION LAYER (VITAL)
From Movies to the Military: Designing Spatial Interfaces with XR Technology
Dr. Jeff Hansberger, US Army
Jayse Hansen, SpatialArtist & Industry Interviews + Live Music By SPIN Magazine
SPIN’s Jimmy Hutcheson and Danny Klein will be discussing the current state of artist development, growth, and long-term career sustainability in today’s music industry.
Performances by Jorgen, Hollo, Robot Sunrise, and Urban Heat
11AM-12PM TEVCON founder and Executive Director of the Energy Defense Council (EDC) Tom Holm will take the stage to talk about the crossover potential in electric vehicles and why TEVCOM continues to attract military, emergency response, and cleantech leadership to help securely electrify the world's most critical fleets, microgrids, and infrastructure. 12PM-1PM Our world thrives on the delicate balance between what we grow, the water we drink, and what we mine. These are the building blocks that contain the fabric of our world — and they are often the source of global competition. As the U.S., Australia, and Canada jumpstart a global resurgence in mining and processing rare earth minerals, join us as we unveil the hidden threads — and threats — across the intricate tapestry of geopolitics, technology, and environmental stewardship. This is a discussion about revolutionizing the way we harness Earth's resources, ensuring they journey seamlessly from extraction to innovation, enriching tables and shelves across the globe. SPEAKERS: 2PM-3PM If there were ever a question about how today's workers feel about, well, work, then The Great Resignation provided an answer. People no longer want to be treated like interchangeable parts in an industrial-age process. They want to be recognized for their unique talents. And the gig economy — characterized by its flexible, freelance, and often temporary work arrangements — has provided a new way to achieve that, revolutionizing how talent views the exchange of time for money. In this session, we'll break down the shifting landscape of employment — understanding that it's not just a trend of mass exits from traditional employment but a broader movement toward meaningful, fulfilling work that aligns with personal values and life goals. We'll examine how organizations can respond to these evolving expectations, offering insights into flexible work arrangements, enhancing job satisfaction, and the importance of purpose-driven missions to engage the workforce of the future. SPEAKERS:TECHTALK POP-UP: ELECTRIC TACTICAL VEHICLES
From Earth to Table: Unveiling the Secrets of the Earth's Bounty
Steven E. Aumeier, Idaho National Laboratory
Dennis Bartow, Polemarchoi
Nathan Cardinell, Lockheed Martin
Selina Hayes, Hayes Group (moderator)
Marshall Monroe, Marshall Monroe MAGICThe Great Reshuffle: Talent Wars & A Gig Economy
MAJ Jay Long, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
BG Mike McGinley, US Air Force (moderator)
Matthew Mottola, Human Cloud
Dr. Kris Saling, US Army Recruiting Command
* Schedule subject to change