HOW WE WIN: Fed Supernova DC

Presented by Air. Hosted by STATION DC.

How We Win brings technology and Washington into real conversation with one another. Each edition follows the same structure: a clear theme, semi-moderated breakout discussions, fireside conversations rather than panels, and a happy hour. The series runs across the year, building continuity and momentum in the STATION DC technology and policy community.

November 5: Deliver Capability Faster, Closing the Readiness Gap

America can invent it, fund it, and legislate it. It still cannot field it fast enough.

This edition puts the administration writing the rules on the same stage as the leaders fielding them, alongside the founders building the answers. Where Fed Supernova Austin runs Department of War heavy, the DC edition leans into the administration. With eighteen months left, that is where the pressure that moves the dial comes from.

One afternoon, straight talk, no translation required.

12:15–12:30 PM | Doors, Registration & Light Lunch

12:30–12:40 PM | Welcome

12:40–1:00 PM | Keynote: The Readiness Gap with Tara Murphy Dougherty

A keynote from Tara Murphy Dougherty, CEO of Air, on what it takes to move a capability from proven to fielded, and where the time actually goes.

1:00–1:45 PM | Fireside: De-Risking Adoption

Tara Murphy Dougherty stays on stage for a conversation across government leadership and private capital on what makes adoption safe enough to happen at speed. It covers where the risk actually sits, who carries it today, and what would have to change for a program office to move on a commercial capability without waiting for someone else to go first. Additional speakers announced shortly.

1:45–2:00 PM | Break

2:00–2:45 PM | Breakout Discussions

Structured, semi-moderated working sessions, each a subcategory of closing the readiness gap. The full room splits three ways and comes back together. Themes under consideration include:

  • Appropriations

  • Contracting vehicles

  • A third theme to be confirmed

Each session is built for active participation among founders, investors, operators and policymakers working directly on these problems. Breakout leads announced shortly.

2:45–3:30 PM | Clearing the Institutional Barriers

A conversation on the bureaucratic and institutional constraints companies hit as they move proven technology into the services, covering classified infrastructure, cyber authorization timelines and test and evaluation access, and the work underway across the department to remove them. Speakers announced shortly.

3:30–3:40 PM | Break

3:40–4:25 PM | Fireside: Judged by Delivery, Not Paperwork

Acquisition leadership, a service secretary and founders building at scale, on what changes when delivery is the measure. Speakers announced shortly.

4:25–5:10 PM | Panel

Announced shortly.

5:10–5:30 PM | First Look

A short run of pitches from companies worth meeting early. A chance to find emerging companies and meet founders before everyone else does.

5:30–7:00 PM | Happy Hour

An opportunity to connect with the room after the programming closes.

Presented By

  • Air, Enterprise Readiness for national defense. Formerly Govini.

Attendance and Access This event is invitation-only. Registrations will be reviewed.