MacDill Air Force Base is upping its innovation with two new contracts with local startups.
Former Kansas City-based Tesseract Ventures announced it secured a Phase 3 contract with MacDill, which moves beyond research and development into implementation. It will provide a “smart table” for airmen to problem-solve and visualize in 3D spaces.
“It allows the airman to ideate in a different workspace than they’re used to,” Lt. Col Taylor Johnston said. He serves as chief of innovation for the 6th Air Refueling Wing. “[Often they’ll say], ‘I know what’s next, but don’t know how to do this about it in a greater space.’ Because too often, in offices, you’re sitting down and just have the computer in front of you.”
Tesseract Ventures moved to Tampa in 2021 and works out of the Industrious space in Sparkman Wharf. They’re best known for providing “smart spaces,” which bring data visualization hubs into a physical space.
“The innovation is allowing them to come together in one space to work on things instead of them going out on the flight line,” said Helena Boucard, chief administrative officer for military Tesseract Ventures. “It’s coming together for one technology, so they’re not running all around, and we’re putting it together in a smart space.”
The company has an ongoing contract with the U.S. Air Force, of which MacDill is a customer. The contract has no disclosed end date and is for an undisclosed amount.
“You can look at it in a 3D space or look at feeds coming in, such as for flight trackers,” Johnston said. “The possibilities are endless. And we’ve just started peeling back the onion.”
MacDill also awarded a Phase 3 contract to Largo-based EaseAlert, which helps reduce sudden cardiac arrest in firefighters.
Johnston was hired by MacDill in August 2021 to help launch its “bolt cell,” a reference to the Tampa Bay Lightning and hub for innovation. It is an effort to spur innovation daily on the campus.
“MacDill used to do pitch days, but while they do a great job awarding and getting talent, it’s shown those ideas come up every day,” he said. “And if you focus it to just one day a year, the ideas lose steam — which they shouldn’t.”
