UAS Accelerator names 2024 grant recipients
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, May 15th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – (News release from the Oregon UAS Accelerator) The Oregon UAS Accelerator has announced the seven innovative startups selected for its highly anticipated inaugural cohort. These pioneering companies, spanning solutions in autonomous flight, drone payloads, aerial data, and more, will gain access to a comprehensive suite of resources, mentorship, and over $100,000 in support to propel their growth within the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) industry.
The members of the 2024 cohort are:
- Zing Drone Solutions (Sarasota, FL)
- Phenix Solutions Inc. (McMinnville, OR)
- Cloud UAS Payloads (Cambridge, MA)
- Zepher Flight Labs, Inc. (Bingen, WA)
- Aerial Industries Pte. (Singapore)
- Cyphra Autonomy (Fenton, MO)
- Rangair LLC (Beaverton, OR)
Over the next four months, these startups will participate in an intensive accelerator program designed to accelerate their product development and investor readiness.
Key elements include:
- $40,000 non-dilutive grant award for each participating startup
- Access to state-of-the-art workspace and facilities at the Pendleton UAS Range
- Strategic partnerships and mentorship from industry experts
- Extensive flight testing opportunities at the Pendleton UAS Range, including up to 180 staffed range flight days, access to 14,000 square miles of airspace up to 15,000 feet MSL, secured storage facilities, a dedicated 50′ x 50′ flight test pad, and no-cost use of mission control assets and infrastructure
- An intensive 12-week curriculum taught by startup entrepreneurship experts, preparing startups to be business and investor ready
- The nation’s only dedicated 12-week intensive curriculum for SBIR/STTR grant writing, tailored specifically for accelerator programs, providing unmatched support in securing federal grants
- Comprehensive training on technical development, business strategy, investor readiness, and pitch preparation
Through the Oregon UAS Accelerator’s partnership with the renowned Pendleton UAS Range, participants will have access to world-class facilities and airspace to rapidly test and iterate their solutions.
“We’re thrilled to provide this exceptional group of startups with unparalleled resources to accelerate their solutions from concept to market readiness,” said Joseph Wyno, Executive Director of the Oregon UAS Accelerator. “Their pioneering technologies have the potential to transform a multitude of industries through UAS applications.”
The accelerator will culminate with the Pendleton Investor Round-Up on September 10th, where cohort members will pitch their polished solutions to an audience of investors, industry leaders, and potential customers.
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About the Oregon UAS Accelerator
The Oregon UAS Accelerator is a leading program supporting the growth of unmanned aerial systems startups. Through its comprehensive accelerator, grant funding, access to world-class testing facilities, and mentorship, the program provides startups with the tools to rapidly advance their innovative solutions. Learn more at www.oregonuas.org.
