MXO Pitch Day 2026

DARPA’s MXO Pitch Day 2026, under solicitation DARPA-PA-26-07, is a targeted funding opportunity designed to accelerate high-risk, high-reward scientific discovery in three core thrust areas: “a world beyond electronics,” “foundations beyond components,” and “materials beyond nature and current synthetic practice.” The initiative seeks to fund short-term efforts lasting no more than twelve months with a maximum award of $500,000, aimed at reducing technical uncertainty, generating novel concepts, and laying the groundwork for future DARPA programs rather than pursuing incremental improvements. This solicitation explicitly prioritizes non-traditional performers, including small businesses and universities whose Principal Investigators have never previously received a DARPA award as prime, with the goal of expanding the agency’s ecosystem and lowering barriers to entry for new participants in national security research. All proposals must be submitted as a five-page abstract via the DARPA BAAT portal by July 29, 2026, using a mandatory template, and must be unclassified while complying with CMMC Level 1 cybersecurity self-assessment and active SAM.gov and PIEE registration. The evaluation process is based on three qualitative, non-weighted factors: defining the problem and understanding the current state of the art, potential to catalyze future research, and the team’s vision and expertise, with no formal trade-off or price-based analysis. Selection outcomes will be determined during an in-person Pitch Day event in Chicago on November 2, 2026, where the Principal Investigator must be present. Awards will be announced within 15 business days after the event and are issued without negotiation of terms or conditions. Proposals must adhere to strict formatting guidelines, including font size, citation requirements, and page limits, and must not include subawards, travel, publication, or indirect costs. Intellectual property developed under the award must be licensed to the U.S. government with a non-exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free right. AI tool usage must be disclosed and cited in the bibliography but does not influence evaluation. Only one abstract per organization per thrust area is permitted, and all proposers must possess an active CAGE code prior to award. No contract line items, FOB terms, invoicing systems, or government representatives are specified, reflecting the program announcement’s focus on early-stage engagement rather than formal contracting.