Immerse

Boston, MA

Air Force Techstars  | MassChallenge Boston | MassChallenge HealthTech

 MassRobotics | NSIN | FORGE | MeHI Digital Health Sandbox | Envision Accelerator (virtual)

New York, NY

Newlab | NSIN

Washington, DC

AFWERX DC | Mach37 | NSIN

Tampa, FL

SOFWERX

Dayton, OH

Wright Brother’s Institute

Colorado Springs, CO

Catalyst Accelerator

Los Angeles, CA

SCALE | Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator

Austin, TX

AFWERX Austin | Capital Factory | MassChallenge Texas | NSIN

Providence, RI

MassChallenge Rhode Island

Las Vegas, NV

AFWERX Vegas

Hartford, CT

Techstars STANLEY

Montgomery, AL

MGMWERX

Shreveport, LA

STRIKEWERX

St. Louis, MO

Stadia Ventures

Austin, TX

AFWERX Austin

The Austin hub, located within the Capital Factory, serves as a channel through which pioneers in their respective industries can acquire the necessary resources to bring an idea to fruition within the Air Force.  As a strategic networking organization, they provide the interface required for innovators to connect across industry, academia, and government.

AFWERX Austin focuses on developing strategic partnerships with various government entities such as Defense Innovation Unit, Air Force Research Laboratory, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigations to identify technological and procedural requirements. Through these collaborations, they are able to harness the developments in technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning, additive manufacturing, robotics, virtual reality, immersive learning technologies, and blockchain to strengthen the capabilities across nationwide defense organizations.

AFWERX Austin specializes in:

  • Integrating innovative technologies with Air Force programs
  • Augmented and Virtual Reality technologies for Airmen training
  • Rapid testing and evaluation with Air Force stakeholders

Visit AFWERX Austin site.

Capital Factory

Capital Factory meets the best entrepreneur in Texas and introduces them to their first investors, employees, mentors, and customers.

They serve startups in all stages.  From first time entrepreneurs, to late stage tech companies.  No matter where they are at in their entrepreneurial journey, Capital Factory can help them get to the next level.

Visit Capital Factory site.

MassChallenge Texas

MassChallenge Texas is the second domestic and sixth international location in MassChallenge’s global network.  The region launched in 2018 in Austin, Texas and accelerated 84 companies from 5 continents, 11 countries, and 5 major Texas cities.  In 2019, the program expanded to Houston, attracting more startups from around the world to the Lone Star State.  With the support of corporate partners, innovation leaders, and local government, the Texas team is delivering on their promise to connect the Texas innovation “tapestry” and bring the world to Texas to innovate.

Visit MassChallenge Texas site.

NSIN

MD5 is now NSIN, the National Security Innovation Network. Our new name reflects our mission, to build new networks of innovators. We remain dedicated to the work of bringing together defense, academic and entrepreneurial innovators to solve national security problems in new ways.

Visit NSIN site.

Boston, MA

Air Force Techstars

Air Force Techstars is interested in dual-use technologies that detect, track, identify, characterize, attribute or mitigate unmanned systems, to include sensors, compute hardware/software, image processing, AI, sensor fusion, secure comms, trusted ID, power systems, advanced materials, and man-machine interface. In addition, they seek immersive-training technologies, to include AR/VR and adult learning methods, gamification, social delivery and self-directed learning, data-enabled recruiting, training and education.

Visit Air Force Techstars site.

Envision Acclerator

Envision is a virtual accelerator for womxn and/or people of color who are currently in college. Our goal is to diversify the entrepreneurship and venture world by providing grant funding, hands-on workshops, resources, mentorship, and individualized support for those who are working on a company.

Visit Envision Accelerator site.

FORGE

The Manufacturing Initiative was built at Greentown Labs in 2015, when its CEO Emily Reichert recognized the opportunity to create value for both startups and suppliers through forging these connections. FORGE (formerly Greentown Learn), the nonprofit sister organization of Greentown Labs, was created to execute this impactful initiative.

Today, FORGE maintains innovation headquarters at, and partners closely with, Greentown Labs (the largest cleantech incubator in North America) to serve their community of 90+ companies. Beyond Greentown Labs, we reach and serve a broader community of hardware and materials startups through strong relationships with a wealth of regional innovation support organizations including MassRobotics, BOLT, MIT, and others. Through these networks we’ve reached and helped 200+ startups to date.

Visit FORGE site.

MassChallenge Boston

As MassChallenge’s flagship location, MassChallenge Boston has brought together corporates, policy makers, and innovation leaders to support and inspire the next generation of innovators. Over the past eight years, we have accelerated more than 1,000 startups from across the world – startups that have made patients healthier, our communities more connected, and our communities safer. 

Visit MassChallenge Boston site.

MassChallenge HealthTech

To support digital health startups, the City of Boston, MeHI, MACP, and MassChallenge established the digital health innovation hub MassChallenge HealthTech, formerly PULSE@MassChallenge. We believe that when entrepreneurs and the community come together to solve problems, we will accelerate innovation and transform healthcare. Our community comprises startups, Champions, business mentors, medical healthcare professionals, digital health enthusiasts, and people passionate about our shared mission of improving health through entrepreneurship.  

Visit MassChallenge HealthTech site.

MassRobotics

An independent, non-profit organization serving as the innovation hub for robotics and connected devices. Through their programming and events, they help bring together innovative startups and existing technology organizations to nurture the next generation of talent, and promote economic growth and innovation. By working with diverse local talent, they are helping to bring about the next global evolution of robotics.

Visit MassRobotics site.

MeHI Digital Health Sandbox

Massachusetts is home to a variety of cutting-edge research and development facilities, or ‘sandboxes.’ These organizations provide a wide range of services supporting the lifecycle of validation and testing for digital health companies. On April 24, 2019, Governor Charlie Baker announced a new grant program administered by the Massachusetts eHealth Institute at the MassTech Collaborative and designed to both support digital health companies in their product development and expand the user base for sandbox environments.

Massachusetts organizations that help digital health companies validate new products and services can apply to join the Sandbox Network under the Digital Health Sandbox Program. Approved sandboxes will be highlighted on the program page and are eligible to receive grant funding to support projects working with Massachusetts digital health companies.

Many small digital health companies would benefit from the services offered at these sandboxes, but the cost of entry is often prohibitive. Massachusetts companies can partner with sandboxes in the network to apply for grant funding to test their products and services. There are eight sandboxes approved under the program, providing a variety of testing and validation environments. The program is administered by the Massachusetts eHealth Institute and advised by an Independent Steering Committee.

Visit MeHi Digital Health Sandbox site.

NSIN

MD5 is now NSIN, the National Security Innovation Network. Our new name reflects our mission, to build new networks of innovators. We remain dedicated to the work of bringing together defense, academic and entrepreneurial innovators to solve national security problems in new ways. 

Visit NSIN site.

Colorado Springs, CO

Catalyst Accelerator

Catalyst Campus for Technology & Innovation is a collaborative ecosystem where industry, small business, workforce training, entrepreneurs, startups and venture capital intersect with Colorado’s aerospace and defense industry to create community, spark innovation and stimulate business growth.

Catalyst Campus provides an infrastructure platform for small business to support the rapid innovation of technology to solve operational needs for the warfighter and mature technological capabilities to launch new products and services in the commercial market.  Providing a “hub and spoke” research and development environment, the campus thrives through collaboration and engagement with federal agencies, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, small business, business resource partners and venture capital to support innovation and the advancement of technology across the industrial base of the western region of the United States and beyond.

Catalyst Campus provides an agnostic ecosystem focused on accelerating our nations’ industrial, security and innovation base by advancing technology innovation and development in support of national defense and homeland security priorities.  Catalyst Campus aspires to improve the rapid development and deployment of emerging technologies, fulfilling one of the highest priorities at the Department of Defense as they push to keep up with more advanced threats to national security.

Visit Catalyst Campus site.

Dayton, OH

Wright Brothers Institute

The Wright Brothers Institute provides a total of 58,000 square feet of space to ideate, collaborate, and create solutions.  In these spaces government, industry, and academia share ideas through collaborative teams, workshops, and prototype development.

Visit Wright Brothers Institute site.

Hartford, CT

Techstars STANLEY

Global industry leader, Stanley Black & Decker and Techstars, the worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed, have partnered to run The STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator in Hartford, CT. Focused on additive manufacturing and eco-friendly sustainable packaging solutions, we are looking for companies developing innovative solutions in either of those two areas, and they may have software, hardware or material solutions.

Visit Techstars STANLEY site.

Las Vegas, NV

AFWERX Vegas

With 26,000 square feet of collaboration space in the heart of the conference capital of the U.S.–Las Vegas, Nevada–as well its proximity to Nellis Air Force Base and UNLV, AFWERX Vegas is positioned to connect people and resources across government, the private sector, and academia. The Air Force supports and provides collaborative spaces and tools for innovation efforts.

AFWERX Vegas specializes in:

  • Industry challenges which provide fast, non-bureaucratic pathways for Air Force stakeholders to scout the best solutions from industry and academia
  • A prototyping workshop where Airmen, students, or garage tinkerers build and test technologies
  • Trained design thinking facilitators who convene subject-matter experts from the Air Force, industry and academia to support Airmen intrapreneurs
  • Event and office space for Air Force teams or entrepreneurs

Visit AFWERX Vegas site.

Los Angeles, CA

SCALE

SCALE is building an aerospace ecosystem to advance new technologies and accelerate business growth.

SCALE is run by Starburst in collaboration with UCLA, federally funded by the EDA Venture Challenge, and backed by industry and authorities across the greater Los Angeles area.

Visit SCALE site.

Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator

Starburst provides startups mentoring and access to the largest Aerospace & Aviation stakeholders group to get ready for Series A.

Starburst connects Aerospace & Defense corporates with innovative startups worldwide and support lab to industry initiatives.

Visit Starburst site.

Montgomery, AL

MGMWERX

Located in Montgomery, Ala., MGMWERX was created under a Partnership Intermediary Agreement between DEFENSEWERX and the Air Force Research Laboratory to align with the education initiatives of Air University. MGMWERX augments ongoing Air University programs to enhance production of high-quality, innovative research and ideas that span issues of importance to the Air Force.

Visit the MGMWERX site. 

 

New York, NY

Newlab

We build companies. We bring founders together. We pair experts with industry and civic leaders and use our shared resources to power entrepreneurs. We are relentless in the pursuit of solving systemic challenges with frontier technologies.

At Newlab, we don’t just think about solving problems; we do it.

Visit Cornell Tech site.

NSIN

MD5 is now NSIN, the National Security Innovation Network. Our new name reflects our mission, to build new networks of innovators. We remain dedicated to the work of bringing together defense, academic and entrepreneurial innovators to solve national security problems in new ways. 

Visit NSIN site.

Providence, RI

MassChallenge Rhode Island

Launched in 2018, MassChallenge Rhode Island connects entrepreneurs to a powerful community of resources and support in Rhode Island and regional opportunities in Boston, in addition to our global network of leading corporate partners, policymakers, and innovation leaders. We are committed to supporting and inspiring the next best innovations that will reshape our world. 

Visit MassChallenge Rhode Island site.

Shreveport, LA

STRIKEWERX

STRIKEWERX provides industry, academia and the warfighter access to opportunities where all three entities can combine resources to solve the critical needs of Air Force Global Strike Command.

Visit STRIKEWERX site. 

St. Louis, MO

Stadia Ventures

Stadia Ventures is the global Sports Innovation Hub for entrepreneurs, industry partners and investors.

We create an ecosystem for sports and esports innovation growth by leveraging our team’s core strengths: education, investment, network, and industry expertise.

Visit Stadia Ventures site.

Tampa, FL

SOFWERX

SOFWERX was created under a Partnership Intermediary Agreement between Doolittle Institute and the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).  Located in Tampa, FL, SOFWERX has a very dynamic environment designed to create a high rate of return on collision for all participants.  Through the use of our growing ecosystem, promotion of divergent thought, and neutral facilitation, their goal is to bring the right minds together to solve challenging problems.

Visit SOFWERX site.

Washington, DC

AFWERX DC

Located five blocks from the Pentagon, at Eastern Foundry, AFWERX DC provides a public workspace for Air Force innovation and collaboration. This allows them to identify and connect people and resources across government, industry, and academia in partnership with Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation (VT-ARC).

AFWERX DC specializes in:

  • Indentifying and engaging experts to support Airmen innovation projects
  • Forecasting and reporting on technology trends to inform the AFWERX team
  • Building and managing a database of contributors interested in working with the Air Force

Visit AFWERX DC site.

MACH37

MACH37 is designed to facilitate the creation of the next generation of cyber product companies.  Their unique 90-day program design places heavy emphasis on the validation of product ideas and the development of relationships that produce an initial customer base and investment capital – accelerating a founder’s path to a sustainable business model.  Since 2013, MACH37 has launched 57 cyber companies.  73% of their graduates are still in business and 60% have raised follow-on investment.

MACH37 is majority-owned and operated by VentureScope through a partnership with the Center for Innovative Technology.

Visit MACH37 site.

NSIN

MD5 is now NSIN, the National Security Innovation Network. Our new name reflects our mission, to build new networks of innovators. We remain dedicated to the work of bringing together defense, academic and entrepreneurial innovators to solve national security problems in new ways. 

Visit NSIN site.

Success Story

Bridging Innovation with Air Force Techstars Autonomous Technology Accelerator

What did we do?

We sourced companies for the inaugural AF Techstars Autonomous Technology Accelerator and provide government connections and opportunities post-program.

For the next program, MITRE will source companies, develop workshops, provide technical and domain mentoring, offer access to lab facilities, and engage interested sponsors in how to take part in the program.

Charlie Benway with SECAF Heather Wilson and AF Techstars Managing Director, Warren Katz, at the showcase event. Bridging Innovation organized event with AF Techstars.

Charlie Benway with SECAF Heather Wilson and AF Techstars Managing Director, Warren Katz, at the showcase event Bridging Innovation organized event with AF Techstars.

Outcomes

  • 1 of the 10 inaugural cohort companies was a MITRE recommendation
  • Expanded the AF Techstars network by connecting the program to multiple Boston-area resources
  • Increased funding opportunities through direct introductions to the Rapid Reaction Technology Office (RRTO) (OSD – $100M in potential funding)
  • Exposed the program to various federal sponsors, including organizing a showcase event with SECAF Heather Wilson
  • Identified opportunities for joint collaboration; submitted proposals for internal MITRE funding
  • Continued collaboration with other innovation organizations such as AFWERX, MD5, and other accelerator programs

MITRE has been a valuable partner to the Air Force Accelerator Powered by Techstars. Marissa, Russ, and team have turned up opportunities inside the DoD for cohort companies to sell their products and have fostered introductions into MITRE where startups could utilize resources such as subject matter expertise, laboratory test equipment, etc.

We’re delighted to work with them on the joint mission of speeding innovative new products from startups into warfighter’s hands.

Warren Katz

Managing Director, Air Force Accelerator Powered by Techstars