Frequently Asked Questions

Our program is unique among accelerator programs due to its co-location in Colorado Springs alongside space-based DoD units and industrial corporations. By locating the Accelerator on the resource-rich Catalyst Campus in proximity to the customer, the customer discovery process is significantly reduced, from an average of two years in the typical government market to less than three months through the Catalyst Accelerator. Participating companies are designated an Air/Space Force Liaison to help companies navigate DoD and a Commercial Sherpa to assist companies to make vital connections they need to accelerate their business.
“We joined the Catalyst Accelerator to get a crash course on dual-technology (commercial and government) business development strategies and learn as much as possible about Air Force customer needs.  We were not disappointed!  The accelerator content and discussions with the other cohort companies created a fantastic synergy and environment for our growth.” – Gareth Block, CEO and Founder, Third Insight, Inc., Austin, TX “We recognized that access to the defense market would complement our commercial activities and substantially accelerate development, but had struggled to make in-roads. The insight and connections into this space that Catalyst Accelerator has provided have been invaluable!” – Markus Novak, President and Founder, Novaa, Columbus, OH  “I’ve had trouble getting attention from the Government prior to the Catalyst Accelerator and my expectation going in was that this might get my toe in the door, and I would still struggle. The reality was that the door was kicked wide open. I still have work to do and follow up, but I leave convinced that the government, certainly the Air Force, knows who we are and will support us.” –John Beane, CEO, MemComputing, Inc., San Diego, CA

The Catalyst Accelerator is a defense and national security industry accelerator, headquartered on the Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation (CCTI) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Each Catalyst Accelerator cohort has unique and specific focus areas determined by the United States Space Force and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Startups and small businesses that match the focus areas for that specific cohort should apply to the Accelerator. 

If you have funding or not, the key component is your ability to provide a solution for the designated problem statement for the specific accelerator cohort. The selection process is focused around determining the best strategic and technological fit between the applicant, the Air/Space Force, and our industry partners.

Applicants should apply through our website HERE.

Each startup or small business will submit an application through SurveyMonkey’s Apply platform. Applicants who pass the initial screening will be invited to participate in a pitch event. After the pitch event, CCTI, with advisement from DoD, Allied Partner organizations, and industry experts, will select the applicants that have the best strategic and technological fit for our program and invite those teams to join the Catalyst Accelerator program.  

Collaborate with both Government and Commercial Stakeholders

  • Work hand-in-hand in a collaborative environment where participants will have access to Government and Commercial Stakeholders in the Space Domain Awareness ecosystem.

NewSpace Ecosystem 

  • Participants of the Catalyst Accelerator can take advantage of office space at Catalyst Campus whether the cohort is virtual or in-person.

No Equity Requirements 

  • The Catalyst Accelerator does not take equity from startups and small businesses. The Catalyst Accelerator uses grant funding from Corporate Sponsors, when available. 
  • Startup or small business focused on technology relevant to the problem statement 
  • Startup or small business with under 50 employees (ideally)
  • Ability to attend in-person (same individual each week) programming

The Catalyst Accelerator is a tailored 3-month accelerator program where participating companies have access to: 

  • potential users, stakeholders, and decision makers from the U.S. DoD, Government entities of Allied Partners and Industry
  • training workshops that serve to accelerate a company’s business development
  • networking opportunities
  • mentorship from U.S. DoD, experts from Allied Partners and industry experts alike

At the culmination of the program, we will facilitate a Demo Day and invite Government and Commercial investors, NewSpace champions, industry experts, venture capitalists, and others.

Yes, the Catalyst Accelerator is a program where participants will travel to Colorado Springs every other week for workshops, mentoring and customer engagement. The program will kick off with continental breakfast each morning at 8:00 AM followed by programming at 8:30 AM on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and will end each Friday at 12:00pm.  On the “off weeks”, participants will continue to conduct customer engagement and attend virtual meetings and workshops when necessary.  

The Catalyst Accelerator team has observed that founders and/or c-suite individuals are able to gain the most out of the program while also pulling in key members from their team for specific topics (i.e. accounting, legal, and human resources).

While in Colorado Springs consecutively for two weeks at a time during the 3 months, customer discovery and business development briefings will take place from 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM on Tuesday-Friday with personal one-on-one meetings on Tuesday-Thursday afternoons. Wednesday and Thursday evenings are typically networking focused. 

Participation in the Catalyst Accelerator is free to companies selected for the cohort. Participating companies, however, must cover their own travel and lodging costs. To offset these costs, the Catalyst Accelerator team secures grant funding for up to $15k from a Corporate Sponsor.

Each participating company will receive $5K per month of the Accelerator. The final check will be sent out once deliverables have been submitted. Deliverables include, but are not limited to, customer discovery logs, business development documentation, Demo Day pitch deck, and dutiful participation in cohort sessions for the 3-month duration.

The Catalyst Accelerator accepts eight companies in each cohort.

The Catalyst Accelerator program provides participating companies with the opportunity to be mentored on both business topics and technology-specific topics relevant to the NewSpace vertical. The curriculum provides cohort members with strategic planning and customized market research to overcome market and growth barriers. 

The Accelerator team recommends that all companies keep what they share during the Accelerator at a public level.  With that said, NDAs are signed between cohort companies and individuals in the program with which they have to share sensitive information in order to participate in the program (e.g. the Accelerator management team and the Accelerator’s primary subject matter experts).  Government employees are automatically under an NDA with all commercial companies they talk with, but industry participants are not.  Companies will most likely feel the necessity to enter into an NDA with their Commercial Sherpas; however, it is up to each individual cohort company to decide with whom they wish to enter into an NDA.

Catalyst Accelerator uses SurveyMonkey’s Apply platform to manage our application, evaluation, and feedback processes. To view the SurveyMonkey Apply Data and Privacy information, please visit click HERE. 

Sherpas assist participating companies in navigating the complex space market by offering sound advice, helping with customer discovery, and assisting participating companies to make the connections they need to be successful. Participating companies will receive support from Air/Space Force Sherpas, Commercial Sherpas, and Allied experts. Air/Space Force and Allied Sherpas provide feedback from a military and Government perspective and guidance on how to approach individuals within these sectors. Commercial Sherpas offer the same from an industry perspective.