Who We Serve
We work with founders, co-founders, and technical leaders building uncrewed aerial, ground, and maritime systems, along with the enabling technologies that make those systems useful in the real world. That includes autonomy, robotics, AI, sensing, communications, payloads, mission software, and related hardware platforms designed for deployment in complex operating environments.
Our ideal startups are typically at the prototype, MVP, or early validation stage and are building for commercial, public-sector, homeland security, or defense use cases. We prioritize Oregon-based startups and founders committed to establishing a meaningful Oregon footprint, while also welcoming domestic and international companies looking to soft-land, test, and scale in the state.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
Focus Areas Include
UAS & Advanced Air Mobility
Uncrewed aircraft, VTOL systems, and new flight concepts for commercial and public-sector missions.
Ground & Maritime Robotics
Land and sea vehicles designed for autonomous or remotely operated missions in complex environments.
Autonomy, AI & Mission Software
Decision-making, perception, and control software that powers intelligent uncrewed operations.
Counter-UAS & Security Systems
Detection, tracking, and mitigation technologies that protect critical assets from rogue drones.
Public Safety, Infra & Environment
Solutions for emergency response, infrastructure inspection, utilities, and environmental monitoring.
Manufacturing & Systems Integration
Production, assembly, and integration of hardware, payloads, and full UxS platforms at scale.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
What We Offer
The accelerator is built to help founders reduce risk and move faster through a combination of structured programming, practical support, and strategic access. Rather than offering generic startup advice, the program is tailored to the realities of uncrewed systems, regulated markets, technical validation, and dual-use commercialization.
Business mentors support and supplement the accelerator’s curriculum, helping founders apply strategy, fundraising, commercialization, and execution concepts to real company decisions. Technical mentors help founders navigate engineering, integration, testing, deployment readiness, and technical risk across UAS and related systems.
The accelerator also supports founders preparing for non-dilutive funding paths such as SBIR/STTR and related grant opportunities, alongside investor readiness and commercialization strategy.
What founders can access
- Structured accelerator curriculum and coaching.
- Business, investor, and grant readiness support.
- Technical, industry, and regulatory mentorship.
- Pilot customer introductions and ecosystem partnerships.
- Investor pitch preparation and demo opportunities.
- Fast-track support for testing and demonstration through regional partners, including the Pendleton UAS ecosystem.
Why Oregon and Pendleton
Oregon offers founders a rare combination of industry infrastructure, strategic partners, and room to test and grow. The Oregon UAS Accelerator is designed to help companies plug into that environment quickly, especially through pathways connected to Pendleton and the broader unmanned systems ecosystem.
Pendleton matters because it provides access to a real operating environment where founders can build, validate, and demonstrate capabilities in conditions that are more meaningful than a classroom or generic coworking setting. The accelerator’s role is to help companies connect technical development, market readiness, ecosystem relationships, and real-world testing opportunities.
Oregon Military Department
The Oregon UAS Accelerator supports dual-use technologies and has a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the Oregon Military Department that establishes a broad, non-binding framework for collaboration around UAS and Counter-UAS innovation, testing, workforce development, competitions, and pursuit of federal funding opportunities. This collaboration is aligned with the Oregon National Guard’s drone dominance strategy and reflects a shared interest in strengthening Oregon’s role in unmanned systems development.
The MOU does not obligate funds and does not automatically grant access to facilities or resources, because any specific activities involving installations, materials, or personnel must be governed by separate written agreements. Even so, it is an important signal of ecosystem alignment and gives the accelerator a stronger foundation for supporting founders working in dual-use, public-sector, and defense-relevant markets.
Areas of collaboration include
- Innovation and training opportunities tied to OMD installations, where feasible and approved.
- Dual-use technology development and joint events or competitions.
- Workforce development opportunities and training alignment.
- Joint pursuit of federal grant and funding opportunities.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
Impact
The Oregon UAS Accelerator is designed not just to run programs, but to produce measurable outcomes across company growth, ecosystem activity, and statewide innovation capacity. Impact is tracked through company support, jobs, capital, grants, events, and broader commercialization progress.
For the current program window, the accelerator is also focused on enrolling 12 to 15 companies in the high-touch cohort model, supporting additional startups and alumni where capacity allows, tracking SBIR/STTR submissions and awards, and documenting innovation outputs such as new products, prototypes, and intellectual property milestones.
Current and recent proof points include
- 35 companies supported in the previous cohort.
- 124.5 jobs created or retained.
- $4.59 million in capital raised by supported companies.
- 30 events and workshops delivered.
- 33,000 square feet of innovation space and access to the Pendleton UAS Range ecosystem.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
Leadership and Network
The strength of the Oregon UAS Accelerator comes not only from its programs, but from the people behind them. Our team, mentors, and board members help founders access practical expertise, strategic guidance, ecosystem relationships, and real-world perspective across technology, commercialization, capital, and public-sector opportunity.
