Oregon UAS Accelerator Welcomes 34 Companies to Its Largest Innovation Cohort Yet

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The Oregon UAS Accelerator selects 34 startups for its third and largest Oregon UAS Innovation Challenge cohort, accelerating breakthroughs in defense, logistics, agriculture, advanced air mobility, and maritime autonomy.

The Oregon UAS Accelerator has announced its most ambitious and expansive cohort to date—34 companies selected for the Oregon UAS Innovation Challenge, representing a cross-section of the most promising technologies in uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), robotics, and autonomous systems. Spanning defense, logistics, agriculture, AI integration, and maritime autonomy, this cohort brings together startups from Oregon, across North America, and South Korea, underscoring Oregon’s role as a global hub for advanced aviation and autonomous technology development.

“These companies aren’t concepts confined to a slide deck. They’re building, deploying, and testing real systems in real environments,” said Joseph Wyno, Executive Director of the Oregon UAS Accelerator. “Our investor events give funders and strategic partners direct access to high-quality uncrewed systems deal flow across aerial, ground, and maritime domains, including live demonstrations, facility tours, and meaningful time with founders who are focused on execution, not theory.”

Why This Cohort Matters for Uncrewed Systems Innovation

This third cohort is the largest and most diverse in the history of the Oregon UAS Innovation Challenge, aligning cutting-edge technology with urgent real-world needs. Each startup is building solutions that address national security, rural logistics, climate resilience, advanced mobility, and frontier infrastructure.

“Our goal with Cohort 3 was to bring in companies that not only have compelling technology, but also a clear path to real customers and real impact,” said Chris Ponzillo, Director of Operations & Expansion. “From maritime deterrence and counter-UAS to wildfire mapping and medical logistics, this group represents some of the most practical and urgent applications in the UAS space.”

Eight Core Verticals Driving the Future of Autonomy

The 34 selected companies span eight major industry verticals, highlighting how uncrewed and autonomous systems are transforming critical sectors of the economy.

• Defense & counter-UAS: Startups advancing sensing, deterrence, and interception capabilities to protect national security and critical infrastructure.
• Logistics & delivery: Platforms focused on medical delivery, rural access, heavy-lift cargo, and last-mile logistics in hard-to-reach environments.
• Agriculture & environmental: UAS-enabled crop management, reforestation, and environmental monitoring to improve yields and support ecological restoration.
• Advanced air mobility: Next-generation eVTOL and long-endurance platforms designed for regional transport, special missions, and persistent operations.
• Public safety & emergency response: Tools that support wildfire response, search and rescue, and law enforcement with real-time aerial data and situational awareness.
• Infrastructure & construction: Aerial and robotic systems that deliver inspection, mapping, and automated build processes for modern infrastructure.
• Maritime & autonomous systems: Surface and aerial solutions supporting ports, offshore operations, and maritime security and deterrence.
• Manufacturing & components: Enabling technologies in propulsion, materials, 3D printing, avionics, and ground control systems that underpin the broader ecosystem.

Oregon UAS Innovation Challenge: Cohort Roster

The 34 selected companies reflect the depth and breadth of innovation emerging in Oregon and beyond. From hybrid propulsion and counter-UAS solutions to volumetric 3D printing and autonomous maritime platforms, each member of this cohort is building toward deployment at scale.

Complete Cohort List

• AeroBond Secure Systems — Oregon, USA
  NDAA-compliant ground control systems for UAS operators.
• Aghawk Dynamics — Washington, USA
  U.S.-manufactured agricultural UAS platforms and services.
• AIRSHIP Technologies Group — Oregon, USA
  Counter-UAS and long-endurance UAV systems.
• American Tenet — Indiana, USA
  Thermal-soaring, long-endurance ISR aircraft.
• Aurora Air — Washington, USA
  Hybrid propulsion for heavy-lift and long-range drones.
• BuzzCare — Minnesota, USA
  Drone-enabled medical delivery for rural and frontier healthcare.
• Davis Consulting LLC — Oregon, USA
  Hybrid drone/ground vehicle solutions for public safety.
• DIFly — Oregon, USA
  Stereo-vision systems for improved FPV and autonomous navigation.
• DRONE CMD, LLC — Oregon, USA
  Distributed operating system for multi-asset UAS and robotics fleets.
• Droning On LLC — Oregon, USA
  Aerial seeding and ecological restoration via custom UAS.
• EIVIE Corp. — Oregon, USA
  Circular-wing VTOL aircraft for rescue and evacuation missions.
• Ether Form Inc — Oregon, USA
  Long-endurance surveillance and special-mission platforms.
• Flyupav — California, USA
  Hybrid air/ground delivery platforms for last-mile logistics.
• FlyX Technologies Inc. — California, USA
  Mid-flight powerline charging for extended UAS operations.
• Ganaio, Inc. — California, USA
  Regenerative damper technologies for unmanned ground systems.
• GlowSens, LLC — California, USA
  Counter-UAS solutions using luminescent tracers and AI control.
• Haast Autonomous — Texas, USA
  Heavy-lift VTOL aircraft for logistics and disaster response.
• Half Rock Avionics — Oregon, USA
  UAS integration, avionics, and services.
• HumanKind Homes — Oregon, USA
  Drone-swarm enabled construction and automated building systems.
• Krishibotics LLC — Oregon, USA
  Agricultural robotics and autonomous field systems.
• Lorica Technologies — Oregon, USA
  Maritime security and deterrence via Drone-Augmented Autonomous Deterrence (DAAD).
• MAV Unlimited, Inc. — Oregon, USA
  Volumetric 3D printing for airframes and components.
• Narma US, Inc — Texas, USA
  Dual tilt-rotor UAS for medical and critical logistics.
• Nefeli Air Inc. — Wyoming, USA
  AI-powered passive counter-UAS detection and response.
• Nimbus Aerospace Co. — Washington, USA
  Hybrid-electric eVTOL for regional air mobility.
• Oregon UAV, LLC — Oregon, USA
  High-performance STOL autonomous fixed-wing platforms.
• Osprey cUAS — Oregon, USA
  Passive RF counter-UAS detection solutions.
• Outcome Group — California, USA
  Fixed-wing VTOL with onboard compute for ISR and logistics.
• Outer Rim Exploration — Delaware, USA
  Muon-based sensing for mineral exploration and geophysics.
• Pachyderm Industries — Washington, USA
  Heavy-lift UAS for industrial and logistics operations.
• ParaUAS LLC — Oregon, USA
  VTOL platforms for construction, survey, and industrial inspection.
• PrairieSchooner Inc. — Seongnam, South Korea
  AI Command & Control Platform for UAS Operations.
  
• Rogue Reconnaissance — Oregon, USA
  UAS-enabled wildfire and incident mapping platform.
• SeaStereo, Inc — Oregon, USA
  Autonomous maritime systems and sensing platforms.

Building a Hub for Advanced Aviation and Autonomy

Pendleton and Eastern Oregon have rapidly emerged as a leading hub for advanced aviation, uncrewed systems testing, and autonomous technology integration. With access to the Pendleton UAS Test Range and a growing network of partners, the region provides a real-world environment where companies can safely test, validate, and scale their solutions.

Through the Oregon UAS Innovation Challenge, companies gain exposure to investors, public agencies, and industry leaders while participating in a curriculum designed to align technical development with market traction and commercialization. This hybrid model helps founders accelerate progress from prototype to pilot deployments and beyond.

About the Oregon UAS Accelerator

The Oregon UAS Accelerator is a leading program dedicated to advancing innovation in uncrewed aerial, ground, and maritime systems. Through strategic partnerships, cutting-edge resources, and expert mentorship, the accelerator empowers startups to transform groundbreaking ideas into market-ready solutions and drive the future of uncrewed systems technology.

Since 2023, the accelerator has been helping founders validate their technology, build scalable businesses, and integrate into Oregon’s growing unmanned systems ecosystem. The program is a state and federally designated nonprofit 501(c)(3), committed to expanding access to world-class infrastructure, non-dilutive funding, and investor networks.

Explore the Cohort and Get Involved

To learn more about the Oregon UAS Innovation Challenge, explore detailed profiles for each company in the cohort, or discover ways to partner as an investor, mentor, or sponsor, visit oregonuas.org/cohort26.

Whether you are advancing new uncrewed systems technologies, searching for high-quality deal flow, or looking to bring real-world autonomy solutions into your operations, the Oregon UAS Accelerator offers a front-row seat to the future of UAS and autonomous innovation in Oregon and beyond.

Media Contact

Chris Ponzillo
Director of Operations & Expansion
Phone: 714-614-2646
Email: chris@oregonuas.org