Last month, APEX joined the 2026 Life Cycle Industry Days (LCID) and Wright Dialogue with Industry (WDI) at the Dayton Convention Center, July 27–31. Co-hosted by DaytonDefense alongside the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the event brought together industry, government, and small business innovators for a week of engagement, sessions, and one-on-one conversations across the Department of the Air Force's science and technology enterprise.
APEX maintained two points of presence throughout the week: a booth in the main Exhibit Hall and a table in Small Business Alley, giving the team a chance to connect with a wide cross-section of attendees, from established primes to first-time small business exhibitors.
A Strong Presence in the Exhibit Hall
The APEX booth drew steady traffic at the event, with many visitors arriving by way of direct referrals from partner organizations exhibiting nearby. Conversations ranged from companies explaining their technology and current government work to newcomers exploring how to engage with the DAF for the first time.
One especially memorable stop: a representative from a U.S. Senate office representing Ohio visited the booth and offered to attend future Ohio-based APEX events in support of the region's innovation ecosystem.
Building Connections in Small Business Alley
APEX also staffed a table in Small Business Alley, a dedicated space on the third floor that brought together roughly 20 tables representing DAF and AFRL Small Business offices, prime contractor small business leads, and other resource partners. The Alley proved to be a valuable hub for helping new entrants understand the small business landscape, make connections, and identify next steps. Several existing APEX partner companies stopped by, and multiple visitors referred other companies to the APEX network.
By the Numbers
- 43 visitors to the Exhibit Hall booth (July 27–30)
- 25 leads generated at the booth, a 52% conversion rate
- 19 visitors to the Small Business Alley table (July 27–28)
- 10 leads generated at the table, also a 52% conversion rate
What Made the Week a Success
- New outreach materials: an updated banner communicated APEX's services in plain language, and a new lightbulb-shaped stress ball giveaway became an easy conversation starter.
- A clean, professional booth setup that gave APEX a strong, cohesive visual presence in the Exhibit Hall.
- Strategic partners who actively redirected attendees to the APEX booth, reinforcing the strength of the APEX referral network.
- Direct, in-person conversations that let the team explain APEX's services and identify follow-up opportunities on the spot.
- A reinforced connection to the small business resource network, including AFRL/SB and AFMC/SB.
Looking Ahead
With another successful LCID/WDI behind it, APEX is already thinking about how to grow its presence at next year's event. Each event is a chance to sharpen how APEX shows up for the industry, small business, and government partners it serves.
Interested in connecting with APEX or learning more about how we support small businesses navigating the DAF/DoD ecosystem?
Reach out to us at by clicking here: https://apex-innovates.org/services/sbirsttr-process-navigation