FrostByte Defense Technologies, a company that won the 2024 High Tech West (formerly the RAC Grand) Challenge, has successfully moved their challenge-winning concept into a business and industry space within a remarkable two-year time span.

Written by Samantha Everton, Innovation & Research Communications Contributor 

High Tech West: An Opportunity for Funding and Networking

High Tech West is an annual R&D pitch competition accelerating solutions for national defense, aerospace, and medicine in complex environments. The challenge also connects academic, government, and industry partners to fast-track technology solutions addressing real-world medical and national security priorities.

This year, the challenge will run on February 25-26, and teams will compete for $1 million in funding, as well as the chance to position their organization at the forefront of national security innovation.

In 2024, FrostByte Defense Technologies was one of the winning teams, and have since developed their challenge pitch into novel technology that confronts the dangers of frostbite, protecting users’ dexterity in extremely cold environments.

Providing and Prolonging Safety in Cold Conditions

FrostByte’s glove-form frostbite mitigator has been developed based on medical research and science, as the team has engineered their technology to operate in response to its environment autonomously, using the lowest amount of battery power possible without placing a cognitive burden on the users to turn the device on or off in low temperature environments.

The company has also partnered with clothing developers to ensure that their product is flexible and can be integrated into any clothing or uniform, making it flexible and usable to individuals in industries like carpentry, maritime work, freight, and even recreators who are exposed to low temperatures.

By targeting a wider audience and emphasizing longevity in their product development, FrostByte has successfully prioritized keeping their users safe and warm for as long as possible, no matter where or why they’re exposed to low temperatures.

Two Years of Rapid Development

Since winning the RAC Grand Challenge in 2024, the team at FrostByte has used the resultant funding to bring on new team members to aid in technology development, as well as participate in business accelerators and other conferences and challenges that have allowed them to make connections and partnerships in key industries.

The company has entered significant partnerships within the clothing industry to develop their technology in glove form, as well as collaborate with the military to test and further develop their frostbite mitigation technology.

Most recently, FrostByte engaged directly with U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), field testing their prototype gloves during an official military exercise in Alaska. Operating in remote, austere conditions reaching temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the team deployed multiple prototypes alongside Special Forces personnel to gather performance data and user feedback.

High Tech West offers an opportunity to “take ideas from concept and deploy them with end users in a real, austere, and critical setting,” Jakob Travis, FrostByte cofounder, shared.

Looking Ahead

Currently, FrostByte is working on a rapid timeline to get prototypes testing in the field and then put products on the shelf within the next two years. Their partnership with manufactures will prove especially helpful in this process, and will mark their frostbite mitigation technology’s remarkable progress from a pitch presented at the High Tech West Challenge to a tangible product in under three years.

Learn more about FrostByte Defense Technologies.

Learn more about High Tech West.