Catalyst Accelerator

What Catalyst Accelerator does

Catalyst Accelerator is a non-profit, equity-free accelerator program headquartered at the Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with a secondary location in Ogden, Utah. Founded in 2018, it operates semi-residential, three-month cohort programs for small businesses developing space, defense, and dual-use technologies, with each cohort accepting 6-8 companies selected through an application and pitch process. The program's core product is the cohort experience itself, in which participating startups receive business development training, mentorship through the Navigator Program (with Air/Space Force, Commercial, and Allied Navigators from primes such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, and L3Harris), informal technology vetting with Government and Industry subject matter experts, and access to a semi-private workspace on Catalyst Campus. Each cohort concludes with a Demo Day at which companies pitch to Government, Industry, Academia, and Investor stakeholders.

The accelerator's technology platform is best characterized as a curated program methodology rather than a software product. Its defensible mechanisms are co-location with space-based DoD units on Catalyst Campus, a structured Navigator network that compresses customer discovery from an industry-average of two years to under three months, and a recurring cadence of problem-sponsorship relationships with entities such as Space Delta 7, the Space Security and Defense Program, the SDA TAP Lab, SpaceWERX, and the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate. Cohorts have been organized around themes including Positioning, Navigation and Timing (2018), Resilient Space Communications (2019), Cyber for Space Applications (2020), Data Fusion (2020), Digital Engineering (2021), Space Domain Awareness (2022 and 2024), Digital Model Certification in Ogden (2023), AI/ML for Space and Maritime Applications (2023), Space-Based Joint Spectrum (2025), Directed Energy and Electromagnetic Warfare (2025), and an AI/ML Orchestrator cohort (2026).

The business model is sponsorship-and-grant funded. Catalyst Accelerator does not charge participating companies and does not take equity, instead relying on corporate sponsorships from defense primes and government grants (most recently a $50,000 SBA 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition award) to cover program costs and company travel stipends. With 1-10 employees organized around four named program staff, the entity operates as a small, mission-aligned intermediary rather than a venture-backed startup, and is structurally a program of its parent Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation.

Name

Catalyst Accelerator

Legal name

Catalyst Accelerator

Website

https://catalystaccelerator.space

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Catalyst Accelerator is a non-profit, equity-free accelerator program in Colorado Springs and Ogden that runs three-month cohorts for small defense and space technology companies seeking to enter the DoD market, providing mentorship, customer discovery, and connections to military and industry stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Technology Accelerator Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

Keywords

• Defense technology accelerator
• National security innovation
• Small business acceleration
• Space technology commercialization
• DoD contractor readiness

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship funding: The Catalyst Accelerator relies on corporate sponsors to fund the program. Sponsors provide financial and in-kind support to enrich curriculum through social events and collision opportunities, receiving public recognition and marketing opportunities in return.
2. Government grants: The accelerator has won SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition awards ($50,000 in 2024) to support small business R&D in STEM fields and space defense industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Catalyst Accelerator is a semi-residential, three-month equity-free accelerator program for small businesses that provides business development training, connections with DoD liaisons, and mentorship with industry and DoD subject matter experts. The program operates cohort-based sessions in Colorado Springs, CO and Ogden, UT, culminating in a Demo Day where cohort companies pitch their technology to government, industry, academia, and investor stakeholders. The accelerator does not take equity from participating companies, relying instead on corporate sponsorships and government grants.

Product overview

Catalyst Accelerator is a semi-residential, equity-free accelerator program that operates primarily from Colorado Springs, CO with a secondary location in Ogden, UT. The core offering is a three-month program where small businesses receive business development training, mentorship from DoD and industry subject matter experts, and connections with government stakeholders. The program includes the Navigator Program for mentorship, Demo Days for pitching to investors and government officials, and various cohort programs focused on specific defense technology areas including Space Domain Awareness, Directed Energy & Electromagnetic Warfare, AI/ML Orchestrator, and Space-Based Joint Spectrum. The Accelerator does not take equity but relies on sponsorship funds to support companies' travel costs and program enhancement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Colorado Springs Accelerator The main Catalyst Accelerator program location in Colorado Springs, CO, co-located on Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation alongside space-based DoD units and industrial corporations. Provides a three-month semi-residential equity-free cohort experience with Demo Day pitches to government, industry, academia, and investor stakeholders.
• Ogden Accelerator Secondary Catalyst Accelerator location in Ogden, Utah, focused on Air Force digital modernization initiatives and powered by the Air Force Research Lab's Digital Transformation Office. Provides semi-residential cohort programs for small businesses serving Air Force digital transformation priorities.
• Navigator Program Mentorship program embedded in every Catalyst Accelerator cohort in which Air/Space Force Navigators, Commercial Navigators, and Allied experts assist participating companies in navigating the complex space and defense markets, providing advice, customer discovery support, and vital industry connections.
• SDA TAP Lab – Catalyst Campus Mini Accelerator Mini-accelerator program at Catalyst Campus focused on developing technologies for space domain awareness for national defense, conducted in collaboration with the Space Domain Awareness Tools, Applications & Processing (TAP) Lab.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ new potential customers discovered in 3 months
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

35 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles DirectoratecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2024Primary strategic partner for Catalyst Accelerator programs. AFRL serves as problem sponsor and provides Air/Space Force Navigators to assist cohort companies in navigating DoD and making vital connections.
• U.S. Space ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary customer for accelerator cohorts. Space Force determines focus areas for each cohort and provides operational problem statements and user feedback.
• Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation (CCTI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatalyst Accelerator is headquartered on Catalyst Campus, providing co-location with DoD units and industrial corporations. Companies embed in the campus ecosystem during the 3-month program.
• Space Delta 7coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProblem sponsor for CAAMO (AI/ML Orchestrator) cohort, focused on automating Tasking, Collection, Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (TCPED) lifecycle for intelligence operations.
• Space Security and Defense Program (SSDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for CADEW (Directed Energy & Electromagnetic Warfare) cohort focused on electromagnetic warfare capabilities for U.S. Space Force.
• SpaceWERXmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpaceWERX seeks to form partnerships between military operational experts and top problem solvers in industry, academia, and government. Provides pathway for cohort companies to engage with Space Force.
• SDA TAP LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace Domain Awareness Tools, Applications & Processing Lab serves as problem sponsor for SDA cohorts, focused on strengthening awareness of space environment using commercial data and tools.
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Demo Day video production using professional studio and green screen facilities. UCCS Bachelor of Innovation teams provide market research reports for cohort companies.
• Maxar IntelligenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSession sponsor for CASDA2 cohort, providing support for exceptional programming and happy hour sponsorship.
• LeonidminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for cohort happy hours (Mix and Mingle events) connecting companies with industry and government professionals.
• General DynamicsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Navigator providing feedback from military/Government perspective and guidance on navigating defense sector.
• Lockheed MartinmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Navigator providing industry perspective and connections for cohort companies.
• Northrop GrummanmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Navigator providing guidance and potential partnership opportunities for cohort companies.
• KratosmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Navigator providing industry perspective and briefing on how small businesses can engage.
• COLSAmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLead Navigator serving as primary contact for all Navigators, providing guidance and scheduling assistance.
• American SystemsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCyber Navigator assisting companies with NIST/CMMC compliance and cybersecurity foundation requirements.
• Scout SpaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Navigator providing guidance on engaging with Government as a small business.
• Freedom SpaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Navigator and Navigator sponsor sharing industry experience and best practices.
• ViasatminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Navigator and sponsor providing briefings on Space & Cyber Applications and spectrum solutions.
• DeloitteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Navigator for CAAML cohort providing industry perspective.
• LeidosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Navigator and presenter on how Leidos interfaces with small businesses.
• L3Harris TechnologiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Navigator and sponsor providing briefings on space ground communications and ATLAS.
• Two Six TechnologiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Navigator providing business development insights and industry connections.
• KBRminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Navigator for CASJS cohort providing guidance on space and cyber operations.
• Hawkeye 360minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Navigator for CASJS cohort providing RF spectrum and space domain awareness expertise.
• AxelliominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Navigator and sponsor providing data scaling expertise and industry briefings.
• Blue Sky InnovationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Navigator for CASJS cohort providing space industry expertise.
• U.S. ArmycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partner for CASJS (Space-Based Joint Spectrum) cohort, focusing on electromagnetic warfare, SATCOM, and AI/ML capabilities for operational mission environments.
• DeployHubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany participating in SDA TAP Lab - Catalyst Campus Mini Accelerator third cohort for space domain awareness technologies.
• UtopiaCompressionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany participating in SDA TAP Lab - Catalyst Campus Mini Accelerator third cohort for space domain awareness technologies.
• Palmetier LawminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSponsor for cohort happy hours and presenter on SBIR data rights and government contracting.
• Delta Solutions and StrategiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Community Day events connecting cohort with key organizations.
• 5 Star BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor and presenter on choosing the best banking solutions for cohort companies.
• U.S. NavycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partner for CAAML (AI/ML for Space and Maritime Applications) cohort focused on AI/ML technology gaps and Navy mission requirements.
• U.S. Air ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProblem sponsor for Ogden accelerator cohorts, particularly Digital Transformation Office initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Starburst Aerospace: Starburst operates a global aerospace and defense accelerator program connecting startups with primes, government agencies, and investors. It is one of the largest private accelerators in the same space-defense tech category as Catalyst.
• FedTech: FedTech runs defense and federal innovation programs pairing commercial startups with government R&D needs, including dual-use and emerging-tech cohorts directly comparable to Catalyst's space, AI/ML, and spectrum problem statements.
• Capital Factory: Capital Factory runs defense and government-tech accelerators out of Texas and serves as a hub connecting commercial startups with DoD customers and defense primes — directly comparable to Catalyst's cohort-to-DoD pipeline play.
• MassChallenge: MassChallenge runs global startup accelerator programs with dedicated defense, government, and dual-use tracks, including partnerships with defense primes and agencies comparable to Catalyst's sponsor ecosystem.
• Techstars: Techstars operates global cohort-based accelerator programs, including defense- and government-tech-focused verticals that connect startups with defense primes and public-sector buyers — a comparable model targeting the same DoD funnel.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Plug and Play runs multi-vertical accelerator programs with dedicated defense and space industry tracks, partnering with the same class of defense primes and government agencies that constitute Catalyst's sponsor ecosystem.
• Dcode: Dcode is a defense and federal-tech accelerator that connects commercial technology companies with government buyers, operating a cohort-based model very similar to Catalyst Accelerator and targeting the same nontraditional-vendor pipeline into DoD and federal agencies.

Broad incumbents

• AFWERX: AFWERX is the U.S. Air Force's own innovation arm operating accelerators, prizes, and SBIR-style challenges across air, space, and cyber domains. It targets the same nontraditional-vendor funnel as Catalyst Accelerator but at significantly greater scale and with direct Air Force backing.
• Defense Innovation Unit (DIU): DIU is a DoD organization that accelerates commercial technology adoption into the military, running programs structurally similar to an accelerator but operating as the government-side counterpart to organizations like Catalyst.

Emerging players

• NATO DIANA: NATO DIANA is an emerging pan-NATO defense and dual-use accelerator network with U.S. footholds. It targets the same defense-tech innovator pool as Catalyst, including space, AI/ML, and electromagnetic-spectrum startups, and competes for global defense accelerator prestige.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CatalystAccelerator
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/showcase/35578385/admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/catalystaccelerator/?hl=en
• Xx.com/CatalystAcceler

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments6 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Catalyst Accelerator