​DEF NYC and Empire Corps invite New York's defense and dual-use technology community to an evening on how early-stage companies win SBIR/STTR and BAA awards, land their first government contracts, and begin scaling in the defense market.

​Presented by DEF NYC and Empire Corps

​Sponsored by Morrison Foerster (MoFo)

​Program

​Join local founders, operators, investors, and national-security innovators for a program that includes:

• ​A featured presentation on government contracting

  • ​Chair, Government Contracts Practice, Morrison Foerster

  • ​Session title to be announced.

• ​A conversation with founders who have sold to the DoW

• ​Closing fireside chat with Cindy Chin

• ​A networking reception with refreshments

​Additional speakers, participating funds, and the final agenda will be announced shortly.

​Speakers

​Cindy Chin
CEO, Chief Space Officer & Founder
Planetary Systems AI

​Cindy is a founder, operator, and inventor whose work spans AI and machine learning, space data, public-private partnerships, and early-stage deep-tech company building.

​She is a NASA Datanaut and a mentor to companies through the AWS Space and Google for Startups accelerators. At Planetary Systems AI, she works at the intersection of artificial intelligence, space operations, and national security.

​Cindy will join us for a moderated conversation about using SBIRs as a starting point, navigating the path from early government awards to larger opportunities, and communicating those early wins and the broader market opportunity to investors.

​What you'll leave with

• ​A clearer view of the government funding landscape, including SBIR/STTR and BAAs

• ​A better understanding of the path from early funding to first government contracts

• ​Insights into turning early government awards into larger opportunities

• ​Opportunities to meet active defense-tech investors, founders, and operators

• ​A stronger network in the New York national-security and dual-use ecosystem

​Who this is for

​Founders and operators in defense and dual-use technology who want to win their first government contracts, establish early traction, and scale a defense-tech startup.

​About the hosts

​DEF NYC is the New York chapter of the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum, a national community of founders, operators, veterans, and technologists working on national-security problems.

​Empire Corps is New York State's centralized SBIR/STTR support network, led by CUNY. It helps technology founders pursue federal non-dilutive funding and navigate the SBIR and STTR process.

​Together, DEF NYC and Empire Corps support national-security entrepreneurs and innovators building companies in the New York region.

​About the Event Sponsor

​Morrison Foerster (MoFo) is a global law firm with 19 offices across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Our comprehensive platform includes an award-winning Emerging Companies + Venture Capital (ECVC) practice that combines a deep understanding of market conditions with tailored legal strategies.

​MoFo advises more than 1,700 entrepreneurs, founders, and venture investors, partnering with clients at every stage of the business lifecycle – from initial formation and financings, through late-stage financings and investments, mergers and acquisitions, and public offerings.

​In just the last five years, we have guided our clients through venture capital financings totaling over $110 billion and mergers and acquisitions with an aggregate transactional value exceeding $850 billion.

​Details

• ​Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026

• ​Time: 3:00 to 6:00 PM

• ​Location: Manhattan, venue address to be announced

• ​Hosts: DEF NYC and Empire Corps

• ​Main Sponsor: Morrison Foerster

​Capacity is limited. The final agenda and event address will be posted shortly.