The FISTA

What The FISTA does

The FISTA (Fires Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator) is a public-private innovation park and defense technology accelerator headquartered in Lawton, Oklahoma, at 200 SW C Ave, minutes from Fort Sill. Founded in 2023, the organization operates more than 650,000 square feet of secure, reconfigurable office, laboratory, and manufacturing space, including two MIL-STD- and RTCA-compliant anechoic chambers (an 85'x33'x30' large chamber meeting MIL-STD 464D/461G for full-scale vehicle and RF/acoustic testing, and a 10'x10'x10' compact chamber for rapid component testing), Internet-2 supercomputer access, and a 20,800 sq ft conference center. A STEM Lab & Makerspace opened in October 2025 adds 40+ industrial 3D printers, laser cutters, water-jet, full metal/wood fabrication, electronics suite, 5-axis CNC, and metal additive manufacturing equipment. The facility serves defense contractors (Raytheon, Leidos, Anduril, BlueHalo, Eprius, Picogrid, DZYNE, CAES and others), defense-adjacent startups, military/warfighter stakeholders, K-12 students, and civic/economic leaders in the Lawton-Fort Sill region.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: subscription-based commercial real estate leasing of build-to-suit and ready-to-go office suites (private offices from 110 sq ft, multi-office suites from 825 sq ft) on multi-year contracts, one-time conference and event space rental across three named rooms (RILEY L. PITTS, HERMAN C. WALLACE, BENNIE G. ADKINS), and professional-services-style STEM programming and scholarships managed through the FISTA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit subsidiary. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting defense contractors, aerospace firms, cybersecurity companies, and advanced manufacturing tenants, supplemented by event-driven marketing through the FIRES Symposium, C-UAS Forum, and partner meetings. The organization is led by Executive Director Dr. Krista Ratliff (appointed April 2023), with $98M+ in cumulative facility investment and 165+ active jobs supported at the park (200+ projected by end of 2025), $19M in annual payroll, and 3,000+ students engaged in 2025 STEM programs.

Name

The FISTA

Legal name

The FISTA

Website

https://thefista.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The FISTA is a public-private defense innovation park in Lawton, Oklahoma, adjacent to Fort Sill, providing 650,000+ sq ft of secure office, lab, and manufacturing space with MIL-STD anechoic chambers to defense contractors, military stakeholders, and STEM students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Commercial Real Estate Leasing: FISTA generates revenue through leasing customizable workspaces including ready-to-go office suites and build-to-suit configurations. Private offices start at 110 sq ft; multiple-office suites start at 825 sq ft. The facility offers lab, testing, and manufacturing environments with high-speed connectivity.
2. Conference and Event Space Rental: The FISTA Conference Center hosts industry summits, STEM workshops, government briefings, and community events. Features flexible configurations up to 20,800 sq ft total event space with 2,292 max chair capacity.
3. STEM Programs and Services: STEM Center offers programs, internships, and educational services for students and creators. The FISTA Foundation supports scholarships and community outreach.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The FISTA (Fires Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator) is an innovation park adjacent to Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma, providing secure, reconfigurable office, lab, and manufacturing space for defense contractors and technology firms. It also operates specialized testing facilities (anechoic chambers), a 20,800 sq ft conference center, a public STEM makerspace, and the FISTA Foundation for scholarships and community STEM outreach.

Product overview

The FISTA (Fires Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator) is Oklahoma's Innovation Park and Defense Tech Accelerator offering a multi-faceted portfolio of physical innovation infrastructure and educational programs. The core offering includes secure, reconfigurable office, lab, and manufacturing space for defense contractors and technology companies. Supporting facilities include specialized Anechoic Chambers (RF/electromagnetic and acoustic testing meeting MIL-STD standards), a Conference Center with 20,800 sq ft of event space, and a STEM Center/Makerspace with fabrication equipment. The FISTA Foundation serves as the nonprofit arm managing STEM scholarships and community outreach. Together, these offerings create an ecosystem supporting defense innovation, workforce development, and regional economic growth in Lawton-Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FISTA Foundation: The philanthropic arm of FISTA Innovation Park, dedicated to advancing STEM education, supporting underserved communities, and catalyzing innovation-driven community growth in Southwest Oklahoma. Operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Products and services

• Innovation Park Space (Office, Lab & Manufacturing)
• Anechoic Chambers
• Conference Center
• STEM Center & Makerspace
• FISTA Foundation

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AEONcoreTechnology or IntegrationDefense technology partner operating within the FISTA defense ecosystem, contributing to innovation in areas aligned with the warfighter mission.
• ACScoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner within the FISTA defense ecosystem providing technology solutions and innovation capabilities.
• ANPCcoreTechnology or IntegrationDefense industry partner at FISTA contributing to the innovation ecosystem around Fort Sill.
• AndurilcoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor defense technology company partnered with FISTA for access to the defense innovation ecosystem and Army decision-makers.
• BlueHalocoreTechnology or IntegrationDefense technology company (AV Division) partnered with FISTA. Gregory Thomas, Director AV at BlueHalo, cited benefits including specialized facilities, skilled talent pipeline, and alignment with ADA and C-UAS missions.
• CAES (by Honeywell)coreTechnology or IntegrationDefense electronics and aerospace company partner within the FISTA ecosystem.
• CGIcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology and consulting partner contributing to defense innovation initiatives at FISTA.
• DB AerospacecoreTechnology or IntegrationAerospace defense partner operating within the FISTA Innovation Park ecosystem.
• DunlevycoreTechnology or IntegrationDefense industry partner within the FISTA ecosystem.
• DZYNEcoreTechnology or IntegrationDefense technology partner at FISTA Innovation Park.
• FireHawk AerospacecoreTechnology or IntegrationAerospace defense partner. Contributed $25,000 to launch a scholarship endowment through the FISTA Foundation alongside Aeon Industrial.
• KnowMadicscoreTechnology or IntegrationDefense technology partner within the FISTA ecosystem.
• LeidoscoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor defense contractor partner with mission-ready space at FISTA, leveraging proximity to Fort Sill.
• MyDefense (Counter Drone Technology)coreTechnology or IntegrationCounter-unmanned aerial systems technology partner within the FISTA defense ecosystem.
• NavanticoreTechnology or IntegrationDefense technology partner within the FISTA ecosystem.
• NEROScoreTechnology or IntegrationDefense industry partner at FISTA Innovation Park.
• PicogridcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia-based defense technology firm that has expanded at The FISTA Innovation Park, developing counter-drone and advanced defense technologies.
• R4coreTechnology or IntegrationDefense technology partner within the FISTA ecosystem.
• RaytheoncoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor defense contractor partner at FISTA with presence in the innovation ecosystem.
• Resonant SciencescoreTechnology or IntegrationDefense technology partner within the FISTA ecosystem.
• SBIRcoreTechnology or IntegrationSmall Business Innovation Research partner within the FISTA ecosystem.
• SkillQuestcoreTechnology or IntegrationDefense technology partner within the FISTA ecosystem.
• TorchcoreTechnology or IntegrationDefense technology partner within the FISTA ecosystem.
• WFSScoreTechnology or IntegrationDefense industry partner within the FISTA ecosystem.
• PSO FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided $50,000 grant in 2025 to support STEM outreach and education in Lawton through the FISTA Foundation.
• Cameron UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed $300,000 gift to support STEM access through the FISTA Foundation, strengthening education-innovation partnerships.
• Aeon IndustrialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed $25,000 to launch a scholarship endowment through the FISTA Foundation alongside FireHawk Aerospace.
• McMahon FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the development of the STEM lab and makerspace at FISTA through funding and partnership.
• EpriuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner featured in C4ISRNET for developing high-powered microwave counter-drone technology. FISTA provides facility access and ecosystem connections for Eprius's defense technology development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub combining physical workspace, sector programming, and tenant services for high-growth companies. Comparable in operating a large, multi-purpose innovation district with curated tenant ecosystems, though oriented to broader tech rather than defense.
• Halcyon: Washington DC-based social impact and defense-adjacent incubator providing residential and non-residential programs for founders. Comparable as a mission-driven accelerator with structured cohorts and ecosystem support.
• Capital Factory: Austin-based defense and technology innovation hub combining coworking, accelerator programming, and a curated tenant ecosystem. Operates a similar physical-infrastructure-plus-defense-focus model serving startups, defense primes, and government stakeholders.

Others

• In-Q-Tel: Not-for-profit strategic investor for the U.S. intelligence and defense communities. Adjacent as a public-purpose/private capital model serving defense innovation, though focused on venture investment rather than physical infrastructure.
• SOSV (HAX): Multi-program accelerator operator including HAX for hardware and deep-tech startups. Comparable as an accelerator platform with hardware focus (relevant to FISTA's prototyping and makerspace capability), though program-based rather than facility-based.

Broad incumbents

• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global innovation platform operating physical hubs, accelerator programs, and corporate partnerships across multiple verticals. Comparable in its hub-and-accelerator model serving startups and enterprise tenants, though broader in scope than defense-specialized.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network with industry-specific programs including government tech and defense. Comparable as a multi-tenant accelerator platform, though primarily program-based rather than physical-infrastructure-led.

Emerging players

• MassChallenge: Global accelerator running defense- and dual-use-focused programs with cohort-based cohorts and mentor networks. Comparable in accelerator programming and defense/startup ecosystem focus, though lacking the physical infrastructure scale of FISTA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FISTAinnovation
• Facebookfacebook.com/FISTAInnovationPark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fista-innovation-park

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The FISTA