UAS Cluster Initiative
UAS Cluster Initiative is an SBA-funded ecosystem builder in Oklahoma City that supports unmanned aviation and advanced air mobility startups through mentoring, investor matchmaking via the UAS Angel Network, SBIR/STTR training, and the Vertical Marketplace technology transfer platform. It serves UAS startups, venture and angel investors, and universities across the U.S.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersOklahoma City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What UAS Cluster Initiative does
UAS Cluster Initiative (legally operated by Development Capital Networks, LLC) is an SBA-funded ecosystem development organization headquartered in Oklahoma City that builds the unmanned aviation and advanced air mobility (UAS/AAM) industry in Oklahoma and the broader United States. The entity does not develop proprietary hardware or software but functions as a first-class mentoring and matchmaking hub for UAS startups, providing free access to a network of successful entrepreneurs, venture capital and private equity expertise, and practical technology commercialization training. Its service portfolio targets three core constituencies: UAS startups and young companies seeking capital, mentors, and customers; investors (VC, PE, angels) seeking deal flow through the UAS Angel Network; and universities and federal laboratories seeking commercialization pathways for emerging aerospace technologies.
The organization's product surface centers on four primary offerings: the Vertical Marketplace, a web-based platform providing access to emerging aerospace technologies from universities and federal laboratories (including technologies from Purdue University and University of Kansas); the UAS Angel Network, which runs industry-specific investor pitch sessions connecting UAS startups with capital providers; the Rethink Vertical Podcast hosted by Executive Director Craig Mahaney; and the Vert Brief newsletter, a bi-weekly publication (Volume 185 as of April 2025) covering UAS ecosystem news since its inaugural issue in February 2017. Core services also include B2B demo days, technology pitch sessions, UAS product testing facilitation, and SBIR/STTR training delivered via the OK Catalyst Funding Labs partnership.
The business model is anchored on a contract with the U.S. Small Business Administration, which underwrites the cost of services to qualifying startups and small businesses. Strategic program partnerships extend the offering: OK Catalyst provides SBIR/STTR training and post-award support, OCAST enables access to the OARS Applied Research Support program (up to $500,000 in non-dilutive funding), and BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting supports women-owned businesses through the Women Catalyst Advantage Network. The customer base spans 700+ startups, spin-outs, and researchers over time, with no disclosed revenue figures and a small operational team (1-10 employees). The organization positions itself as a thought leader in the sector through publications such as the September 2023 "Charting the Course: Workforce Dynamics in Oklahoma's Emerging Aerospace Industry" report.
UAS Cluster Initiative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UAS Cluster Initiative
- Legal name
- Development Capital Networks, LLC
- Website
- https://uascluster.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- UAS Cluster Initiative is an SBA-funded ecosystem builder in Oklahoma City that supports unmanned aviation and advanced air mobility startups through mentoring, investor matchmaking via the UAS Angel Network, SBIR/STTR training, and the Vertical Marketplace technology transfer platform. It serves UAS startups, venture and angel investors, and universities across the U.S.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UAS Cluster Initiative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- UAS Ecosystem Development Services
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO)
Keywords
Where UAS Cluster Initiative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oklahoma City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
UAS Cluster Initiative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- SBA Funding: Primary funding from a Contract with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The initiative operates as a non-profit ecosystem development organization. Services to startups appear to be provided at no cost.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
UAS Cluster Initiative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UAS Cluster Initiative is an ecosystem-building organization that operates a portfolio of mentoring, matchmaking, and capital-attraction services for unmanned aerial systems startups in Oklahoma and across the U.S. It runs the Vertical Marketplace platform for accessing university and federal lab technologies, the UAS Angel Network for investor pitch sessions, mentoring programs, business demo days, UAS testing facilitation, the Rethink Vertical Podcast, and the Vert Brief Newsletter. Services are delivered at no cost to qualifying startups through SBA-funded programming operated by Development Capital Networks, LLC.
Product overview
The UAS Cluster Initiative is an ecosystem-building organization rather than a traditional software product company. It operates as a first-class mentoring and matchmaking hub that supports UAS startups through a portfolio of interconnected services: the Vertical Marketplace platform for accessing emerging technologies; the UAS Angel Network for capital attraction; Rethink Vertical Podcast for industry insights; the Vert Brief Newsletter for ongoing updates; and direct services including mentoring, business demo days, technology pitch sessions, and UAS testing facilitation. The organization also partners with programs like OK Catalyst Funding Labs and OARS Funding to provide SBIR support, and publishes research such as the Charting the Course workforce report. Together, these services create an integrated ecosystem where unmanned aviation startups can access networks, capital, technologies, and practical commercialization training.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Rethink Vertical Podcast: Podcast bringing emerging aerospace industry insight, hosted by Craig Mahaney, featuring interviews with industry innovators
- UAS Angel Network
- Vert Brief
- Vertical Marketplace
Products and services
- UAS Angel Network
Quantifiable outcome
- Worked with over 700 startups, spin outs, and researchers to commercialize emerging technologies
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use UAS Cluster Initiative
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
UAS Cluster Initiative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
UAS Cluster Initiative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- OK CatalystcoreProvides no-cost training and mentorship for Oklahoma and Heartland small businesses to win SBIR/STTR awards from DoD, DOE, NASA, NSF, and other agencies. OK Catalyst's Funding Labs assist with finding SBIR opportunities and preparing competitive proposals, including post-award TABA Lab support for Phase I and Phase II awards.
- BBC Entrepreneurial Training & ConsultingminorProvides SBA-funded training opportunities through the Women Catalyst Advantage Network (Women-CAN), including SBIR training, one-on-one consulting, and leadership training for women entrepreneurs (>51% women-owned companies) seeking SBIR/STTR awards.
- OCAST (Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology)coreOARS (Applied Research Support) program awards up to $500,000 in non-dilutive funding to Oklahoma companies leading innovation projects. SBIR-awarded companies can use their SBIR funding to fulfill the matching funding obligation for OARS eligibility.
- Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE)minorKansas State University is one of 23 universities in ASSURE, which brings together leading research institutions with 100+ industry/government partners overseeing three FAA UAS test sites, four FAA research centers, seven airfields, and a 340 UAS fleet.
- Kansas State University Polytechnic CampusminorPartner in UAS ecosystem development, offering training options and hosting events like the Tech Forum. Features advanced facilities including GoCreate (maker space) and NIAR (National Institute for Aviation Research).
- Wichita State UniversityminorFeatures GoCreate, a high-tech maker space facility for innovators and inventors, open to community members. Paired with NIAR (National Institute for Aviation Research) for industry partnerships and drone development.
- FLC National SummitminorFederal Laboratory Consortium event bringing together federal labs from around the country to share best practices in technology transfer. UASCI participates to facilitate technology commercialization for UAS startups.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
UAS Cluster Initiative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Techstars: Techstars is a leading global accelerator network running mentorship-driven cohorts and demo days connecting startups to investors. Comparable to UAS Cluster Initiative's mentoring, demo-day, and investor-pitch programs, though Techstars typically takes equity and operates across industries.
- Capital Factory: Capital Factory is a Texas-based startup accelerator and investor network running mentoring, demo days, and pitch sessions. Comparable as a regional ecosystem builder with mentor networks and investor matchmaking, though broader in vertical focus.
- 1871 Chicago: 1871 is a Chicago-based nonprofit technology hub and incubator that provides mentorship, workspace, and corporate connections to startups. Comparable as a regional, non-profit ecosystem hub model, though broader in vertical scope than UAS Cluster Initiative.
- ASSURE (Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence): ASSURE is a 23-university FAA UAS research consortium operating test sites and research centers. Already a UAS Cluster Initiative partner, it is a direct comparable in UAS-specific research and ecosystem collaboration with universities and federal agencies.
- MassChallenge: MassChallenge is a global nonprofit startup accelerator that connects early-stage companies with mentors, investors, and corporate partners. It is comparable to UAS Cluster Initiative as a non-equity, community-led ecosystem builder, though it operates across multiple verticals rather than UAS-specific.
- Drone Industry Insights (DroneII): DroneII is a research and market intelligence firm dedicated exclusively to the commercial drone industry, providing reports, insights, and ecosystem data. Comparable to UAS Cluster Initiative as a UAS-specific industry intelligence and commercialization-support player.
- Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI): AUVSI is the largest nonprofit association dedicated to unmanned systems and robotics, including UAS. It runs industry events, advocacy, training, and the XPONENTIAL conference — directly comparable to UAS Cluster Initiative's UAS-specific ecosystem-building, networking, and policy engagement activities.
- Oklahoma Catalyst (OK Catalyst): OK Catalyst provides no-cost SBIR/STTR training and mentorship to Oklahoma small businesses. Already a partner, it is a direct comparable as a grant-funded, non-profit commercialization support program with overlapping funding sources (SBA) and target customers.
Emerging players
- Skyward, a Verizon company: Skyward provides UAS operation management, drone flight planning, and commercial drone program software. Comparable as a UAS-vertical commercial enabler, though it sells software products rather than running an ecosystem hub.
Broad incumbents
- FAA Center of Excellence for UAS / UAS Integration Pilot Program: The FAA's UAS Integration Office and affiliated programs coordinate federal UAS integration policy, test sites, and research. Comparable as a federally-funded UAS ecosystem builder, though operating at federal rather than regional scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
UAS Cluster Initiative social profiles
Digital presenceUAS Cluster Initiative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UAS Cluster Initiative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
UAS Cluster Initiative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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UAS Cluster Initiative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UAS Cluster Initiative
What does UAS Cluster Initiative do?
UAS Cluster Initiative is an ecosystem-building organization that operates a portfolio of mentoring, matchmaking, and capital-attraction services for unmanned aerial systems startups in Oklahoma and across the U.S. It runs the Vertical Marketplace platform for accessing university and federal lab technologies, the UAS Angel Network for investor pitch sessions, mentoring programs, business demo days, UAS testing facilitation, the Rethink Vertical Podcast, and the Vert Brief Newsletter. Services are delivered at no cost to qualifying startups through SBA-funded programming operated by Development Capital Networks, LLC.
Is UAS Cluster Initiative a public or private company?
UAS Cluster Initiative is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was UAS Cluster Initiative founded?
UAS Cluster Initiative was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is UAS Cluster Initiative based?
UAS Cluster Initiative is headquartered in Oklahoma City, United States, in the North America region.
How does UAS Cluster Initiative make money?
One revenue line is on record: SBA Funding.
Who are UAS Cluster Initiative's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Techstars, Capital Factory, 1871 Chicago, ASSURE (Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence), MassChallenge, Drone Industry Insights (DroneII), Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and Oklahoma Catalyst (OK Catalyst). Skyward, a Verizon company is listed as an emerging player. FAA Center of Excellence for UAS / UAS Integration Pilot Program is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does UAS Cluster Initiative have an API?
No public API is recorded for UAS Cluster Initiative.
What industry is UAS Cluster Initiative in?
UAS Cluster Initiative's product category is UAS Ecosystem Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAO, UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid). Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.