BlueTIDE – Where Innovation Surfaces

BlueTIDE is an annual, high-impact technology demonstration event hosted by 401 Tech Bridge in collaboration with the U.S. Navy, NavalX, and the Northeast Tech Bridge. Held in Newport, Rhode Island, it serves as a premier platform for showcasing cutting-edge maritime and dual-use technologies through live, mission-driven demonstrations.

Key Features of BlueTIDE:

• In-Water Demonstrations: Companies participate in Navy-designed mission scenarios, enabling them to demonstrate their technologies—such as autonomous systems, sensors, and communication platforms—in realistic maritime environments. 
• Showcase Alley: An area where over 30 companies from around the world display their innovations, providing attendees with insights into the future of ocean technology.  
• Networking Opportunities: The event attracts a diverse audience, including Department of Defense officials, industry leaders, investors, and academic researchers, facilitating meaningful connections and collaborations.  
• Data Collection and Analysis: Participants generate substantial data during demonstrations, which is analyzed in real-time, offering immediate feedback and validation of technological capabilities.
• Funding Opportunities: BlueTIDE has been instrumental in securing capital funding and grants for participating companies, supporting the advancement and commercialization of innovative technologies.  

BlueTIDE exemplifies 401 Tech Bridge’s mission to accelerate the development and deployment of technologies that enhance maritime capabilities and national security.

BlueTIDE is your gateway into the defense and dual-use ecosystem. Whether you’re pre-revenue or scaling fast, this is your chance to showcase your technology to the Department of Defense, Navy, industry leaders, and potential partners. With live demos, in-water testing, and curated networking, you’ll gain the kind of exposure and feedback that can fast-track your path to adoption. From VC conversations to tech integration discussions — BlueTIDE puts you in the room where decisions are made.

BlueTIDE brings together today’s operational challenges and tomorrow’s technological solutions. Experience hands-on demonstrations, meet emerging innovators, and evaluate dual-use capabilities in real-time, mission-based scenarios. It’s a rare opportunity to scout novel technologies and directly engage with the people creating them — from startups to established players. Whether you’re sourcing tech, informing requirements, or building collaborative pipelines, BlueTIDE delivers unmatched access to innovation aligned with national security needs.

BlueTIDE offers a unique lens into the technologies shaping both commercial and defense markets. This is where you’ll find early-stage companies solving high-stakes, high-value problems — with real traction and real mission alignment. From in-water experimentation to strategic showcases, you’ll see which technologies are built to scale and which founders are ready to lead. If you’re looking to fund the future, BlueTIDE is where to find it.

Showcase Alley is the centerpiece of BlueTIDE’s innovation ecosystem — a dynamic space where companies bring their technologies to life. Whether through static displays, interactive presentations, or hands-on demonstrations, Showcase Alley offers a powerful opportunity to connect directly with decision-makers from the Department of Defense, Navy, industry, and academia. It’s more than just a display area — it’s a launchpad for technologies to gain visibility, spark collaboration, and accelerate their path to deployment.

Participating in Showcase Alley positions your company at the forefront of innovation, offering unmatched access to networking, feedback, and potential partnerships and funding opportunities, that can shape your future.

Innovation Way is BlueTIDE’s dedicated space for emerging technologies, early-stage companies, and agile innovators ready to make an impact. Offering many of the same benefits as Showcase Alley — including opportunities to display, present, and network — Innovation Way is designed as a more accessible, scaled-down platform that still delivers powerful exposure. It’s ideal for startups, small businesses, or technologies in earlier development stages that are looking to connect with decision-makers from the Department of Defense, Navy, industry, and academia.

Whether you’re seeking feedback, funding, or future partnerships, Innovation Way is your entry point into a larger ecosystem of innovation and opportunity.