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THE PROBLEM
Great technology stalls. So do good pilots.
Too many pitches
Agencies field constant vendor calls, with no time to separate mission-ready tools from hype.
A hard market to enter
Long sales cycles, opaque procurement and thin credibility stop good products before they get a fair shot.
Bandwidth, not merit
Promising pilots stall when no one's job is to drive them to a decision.
Evaluations that go nowhere
A failed evaluation burns staff time, goodwill and momentum on both sides of the table.
THE SOLUTION
One program. Both sides of the pilot.
Agencies bring the problem. Innovators bring the technology. Our advisor bench of retired chiefs, 9-1-1 leaders and industry executives brings the experience.
FirstWave Labs turns all three into well-structured, low-risk pilots that reach a clear decision, and turns that proof into traction.
CHOOSE YOUR PATH
Where do you fit?
Launching in public safety?
A selective six-month accelerator for companies with real technology and the drive to move fast.
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Pressure-test your fit with operators who know the work
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Get pilot-ready: positioning, procurement, pilot design and go-to-market
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Warm introductions to agencies whose needs match your solution, based on fit, never pay-to-play
Want to try new technology, without the risk?
Free to join. No obligation. Your agency makes every call.
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Tell us your priorities in a short quarterly conversation
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See only companies we've screened and coached
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Pilot on your terms, with preferred pricing where your rules allow and lessons shared across peer agencies
WHY FIRSTWAVE
We've sat on both sides of the pilot.
We know what vendors need to be pilot-ready, and what agencies need to say yes.
20+
years launching public safety technology
Dozens
of new public safety products brought to market
12
seat advisor board across fire, 9-1-1, law enforcement, emergency management and industry
10+
agencies in the founding network, growing to 30+
DD
Led by Drew Delaney, former FirstNet Authority leader in enterprise strategy, products and government affairs, head of business development and advisory services at The Public Safety Network, early sales leader at startups Armada, Hypha and Allerio, and government affairs lead for wireless policy and public safety business at Lucent Technologies.
NOW FORMING
The founding cohort is forming now.
We're convening a founding network of agencies and a small, selective first cohort of companies for a 2027 launch. Spots are limited.
Tell us who you are, and we'll follow up with the details.
Experienced public safety leader or industry executive? Ask about joining our advisor bench.
Agencies join free. No obligation, no endorsements, no pay-to-play.