Phoenix Xcelerator names cohort for aerospace and defense startups
Summary
The Forge Institute announced the startups selected for the Phoenix Xcelerator program, a no-cost, no-equity accelerator designed to fast-track promising startups tackling aerospace and defense challenges.Through a structured 12-week program, these companies will receive mentorship from industry experts, access to defense networks, technical guidance, and learn how to access potential non-dilutive funding to refine their business models, validate their technologies, and accelerate their growth.The selected startups will culminate their work in a Demo Day showcase scheduled for May 29th, where they will present their innovations to military, defense contractors, investors, and industry leaders.The Phoenix Xcelerator is sponsored in part by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) and the Walton Family Foundation. A propulsion system that will revolutionize mobility, transportation, logistics and defense by enabling a single hydro-terrain vehicle to travel on land, afloat, and underwater to reach previously prohibitive locationsOrion Edge Group, Lakewood, Colo. Enables troops to disrupt and deny the communications and navigation networks of adversary robotics on the battlefield with wearable, individual electromagnetic warfare solutionsFirewatchAI, Fayetteville, Ark. Provides advancements of AI and additive material manufacturing into defense applications to increase the survivability of the modern warfighterGentry Professional Services, Little Rock, Ark. Were excited to support their journey and watch them scale.Arkansas is home to more than 170 aerospace and defense companies, including Lockheed Martin, Dassault Falcon Jet, Raytheon, and Aerojet Rocketdyne.Aerospace products and parts are the states leading export, bringing in approximately $1.8 billion per year and employing more than 10,000 people in skilled technical jobs such as machinists, mechanics, engineers, and researchers.