OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
Why This Network Matters
Founders building in unmanned systems, robotics, autonomy, and dual-use markets face a different path than traditional software startups. The Oregon UAS Accelerator is designed to provide not just curriculum, but access to people who understand technical risk, testing pathways, commercialization, public-sector complexity, and the relationships that help startups move forward.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
Leadership Team
The leadership team shapes strategy, manages programs, builds partnerships, and supports founders throughout the accelerator experience. This group is responsible for creating a high-touch environment that connects technical innovation with commercialization, ecosystem access, and long-term growth.
Our team brings experience across startup acceleration, UAS commercialization, strategic partnerships, public-sector engagement, marketing, operations, and ecosystem development.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
Business & Technical Mentors
Our mentor network includes both business mentors and technical mentors who provide practical, experience-based guidance to founders building in UAS, robotics, autonomy, and adjacent sectors. These mentors support the accelerator’s curriculum, help founders think through difficult decisions, and contribute expertise across product, market, engineering, funding, and growth.
Business mentors may support founders in:
- Go-to-market strategy and commercialization.
- Pricing, business model, and revenue strategy.
- Fundraising, investor readiness, and capital planning.
- SBIR/STTR, grant readiness, and non-dilutive funding strategy.
- Partnerships, sales, and organizational growth.
Technical mentors may support founders in
- UAS, robotics, and autonomy system development.
- AI, sensing, payloads, communications, and mission software.
- Testing, validation, and deployment readiness.
- Manufacturing, integration, and scale-up pathways.
- Regulatory, compliance, cybersecurity, and technical risk.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
Board Members
Our board helps provide strategic guidance, governance, and long-term perspective as the Oregon UAS Accelerator continues to grow its impact across the state’s innovation ecosystem. Board members strengthen the organization by bringing leadership experience from industry, entrepreneurship, economic development, public-sector collaboration, and regional ecosystem building.
Dave Hyem
Board Chair
Oregon UAS Accelerator
Don Hendrickson
Treasurer
Oregon UAS Accelerator
Hank Childs
Secretary
Oregon UAS Accelerator
Brady Gibbons
Director At-Large
Oregon UAS Accelerator
Kevin Martin
Director At-Large
Oregon UAS Accelerator
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
How This Supports Founders
The Oregon UAS Accelerator is designed so founders are not navigating commercialization alone. Through the combined support of staff, mentors, and ecosystem leadership, companies can access practical help across business readiness, technical problem-solving, strategic introductions, and next-stage growth.
That support is especially valuable for startups working in dual-use, public-sector, regulated, or technically complex markets, where the right introduction or insight can meaningfully change the path forward.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
Join the Network
Whether you are interested in mentoring founders, supporting the accelerator through partnership, or learning more about how the Oregon UAS Accelerator works, there are multiple ways to get involved.