Delphos Labs Selected by AFWERX for SBIR Phase I to Advance AI-Powered Analysis of Software Artifacts

The R&D effort will evaluate how Delphos’ software understanding platform will support Air Force cybersecurity and software assurance needs.

LEANDER, Texas — [AUGUST 21, 2026] — Delphos Labs, Inc. announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract focused on AI-Automated Analysis of Source-Denied Software Artifacts to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on July 13, 2026, Delphos Labs will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.

“Air Force missions run on software drawn from a vast and complex supply chain. Much of that software is closed-source and has historically had to be taken largely on trust. Delphos makes software understandable and auditable even without source code, allowing analysts to vet third-party software, investigate malware, find vulnerabilities, and answer questions about what software is actually capable of doing. In this Phase I effort, we are evaluating how to put that capability in the hands of more Air Force analysts, bringing work historically limited to a small number of specialists to a much broader group and across a far greater volume of software,” said Caleb Fenton, CTO and Co-Founder of Delphos Labs and Principal Investigator for the Phase I effort.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of War, or the U.S. government.

About Delphos Labs

Delphos Labs helps security teams understand what software actually does. Its AI-powered platform analyzes any file and explains its behavior, enabling teams to approve software, triage threats, and investigate with confidence. Delphos surfaces malware, vulnerabilities, third-party and supply chain risk without requiring source code.

Delphos is built for organizations operating in defense, financial services, critical infrastructure, and other regulated and mission-critical environments.

Delphos was built by a team with experience from SentinelOne, Palo Alto Networks, Palantir, CIA, FBI, Google, and other leading security and technology organizations, and is backed by Decibel VC, In-Q-Tel, SentinelOne Ventures, and Outpost Ventures.

About AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory is the Department of the Air Force’s primary scientific research and development center and one of six centers within Air Force Materiel Command. AFRL leads the discovery, development and delivery of technologies for air, space and the multidomain. With a workforce spanning seven mission areas at more than 40 locations worldwide, AFRL conducts research ranging from basic science to advanced technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.

About AFWERX

AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force and a division within the Air Force Research Laboratory, partners with small businesses, startups and nontraditional vendors to address challenges facing Airmen and Guardians. Headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, AFWERX strengthens the defense industrial base by expanding access to innovators, building partnerships and accelerating the transition of critical technologies to operational capability. In fiscal year 2025, AFWERX awarded more than 1,000 contracts totaling $1.37 billion and achieved 438 Phase III transitions valued at $8.1 billion. For more information, visit afwerx.com.

Company Press Contact:

Cindy Berman Delphos Labs cindy@delphoslabs.com