The Foundry Challenge
The Foundry Challenge: Contestant Presentations + Awards Dinner
2:00 PM – Contestant Presentations
5:30 PM – Awards & Dinner
Contestant Presentations
Watch the Foundry Challenge teams pitch their bold solutions in a fast-paced format:
10 minute presentations per team
Followed by 5-minute Q&A
Support the innovation and hear directly from the next wave of problem-solvers.
Awards & Dinner
Join us in celebrating the talent and hard work behind this year's Foundry Challenge. Enjoy dinner and networking as we present:
Pitch Competition Awards
Manufacturing Innovation Awards
Come for the ideas. Stay for the celebration. We can't wait to see you there!
Understanding the Impact of the "Big Beautiful Bill"
47G Member CFO Roundtable: Understanding the Impact of the “Big Beautiful Bill”
Audience: 47G member CFOs and finance leaders.
Breakfast included. CPE credit will be offered.
Topics Covered
R&D credits and Incentives Update
Domestic and International Tax Implications
Roundtable Discussion among Finance Leadership
Agenda:
Light breakfast and networking
Welcome remarks from 47G
Tanner-led updates with Q&A following each segment
Group discussion and peer insights
USU Industry Day
Join us for a dynamic series of rapid-fire presentations from Utah State University’s top engineering faculty, sharing their industry-leading findings to members of the 47G community.
This is your front-row seat to the technologies shaping the future of aerospace, defense, energy, and mobility.
Get insights in just 10 minute sessions, with additional time for Q&A.
Presenters
Dr. Haoran Wang
Assistant Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Focuses on computational modeling and material design for:
High-capacity energy storage materials for next-gen batteries
Soft active materials for robotics and actuators that respond to heat, light, or electricity
Dr. Ryan Berke
Associate Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Specializes in how materials behave and break under extreme temperatures, with applications in:
Hypersonic vehicles and spacecraft re-entry
Gas turbines, rocket nozzles, and nuclear reactor materials
Dr. Tianyi He
Assistant Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Develops control systems for advanced aerospace vehicles, including:
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) aircraft
Flexible aircraft requiring complex guidance and navigation solutions
Dr. Todd Moon
Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Applies signal processing and AI to:
WiFi-based indoor radar for security and automation
“Cone of silence” noise cancellation using active arrays
Satellite geolocation via synthetic arrays and orbital motion
Dr. Nadia Kouraytem
Assistant Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Leads efforts in additive manufacturing for:
Defense and aerospace components built for high-temperature use
Advanced materials analysis for nuclear and solar energy systems
Dr. Doug Hunsaker
Associate Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Expert in aerodynamics and flight systems, his research covers:
Low-speed to hypersonic flow regimes
Flight dynamics, control, simulation, and experimental testing
Trajectory optimization for efficient flight paths
System identification for accurate modeling and performance tuning
Dr. Som Dutta
Assistant Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Focuses on developing high-fidelity CFD and ML models for:
Swarm Formation Dynamics
Deformable and moving wings
Bio-inspired drag reduction
Digital twins
Utah's Strategic Investment in Autonomous Aviation
Utah is quickly becoming a national leader in autonomous flight—and we’re bringing together the trailblazers driving that momentum. Join us for a high-energy panel and networking event focused on the future of UAVs, air mobility, and strategic aviation investments across the state.
Panel Theme: Utah’s Strategic Investment in Autonomous Aviation
Thank you to our venue hosts, Kirton McConkie!
Featured Panelists
Aaron Starks, CEO, 47G
Andy Yakulis, CEO, Vector
Ben Lambert, General Partner, Pelion
Moderated by: Bethany Coates, CEO, BreakLine
Following the 60-minute panel discussion, we’ll open the floor for networking with members of the BreakLine and 47G community, a unique blend of military-connected professionals and leaders from Utah’s aerospace and defense innovation ecosystem.
Quantum & Cocktails
Ready to mix a little quantum with your cocktails? After our Navigating the Quantum Era panel, head across the street to Seabird and join the SQS and 47G teams for a lively hour of networking, conversation, and good vibes.
Grab a drink, meet some new faces, and toast to the future—see you there!
