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Crucible Accelerator, led by the Inland Empire Tech Bridge and powered by FedTech, is launching its Fall 2026 cohort in October. The program runs through December, with weeks structured around the program offices, Warfare Centers, and acquisition leads that make up the Naval enterprise. It closes with Demo Day in week 8, a pitch to a curated room of investors, prime contractors, and government stakeholders. Top teams carry that into February 2027 with an invitation to the Warfighting Innovation Summit in Southern California.
<div anchor>Program highlights</div>
Program Highlights
- 12 companies per cohort (Fall and Spring)
- Exposure to program offices, Warfare Centers, and Tech Bridge directors across the Naval enterprise
- Structured feedback from DoW operators and buyers
- Week 8 Demo Day: curated audience of investors, prime contractors, and government stakeholders
- All teams will be invited to attend the Warfighting Innovation Summit (February 2027, Southern CA). Top teams will have the opportunity to pitch at the event.
- Investor-readiness track covering due diligence, term sheets, and cap table structure, run by practitioners
- No equity. No fees. We give you the tools you need to move your work forward.
- About 5 hours per week over 8 weeks
<div anchor>Who Should Apply?</div>
Who Should Apply?
Technology maturity: TRL 4-6.
Company stage: You have built something real, have evidence of demand, and are ready for direct feedback from defense buyers on your acquisition pathway.
Founder profile: You have done this before: built a company, shipped a product, run a sales process. You’re ready for real buyers.
Technology areas: Dual-use technologies aligned with the Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering’s Critical Technology Areas. This includes applied artificial intelligence, biomanufacturing, contested logistics technologies, and more.
Cohort size: 12 companies. Applications are reviewed, and finalists are interviewed before final selection.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Participating startups must be incorporated and headquartered in the United States of America.
- Participants must be United States citizens.
- The program is designed specifically for founders and C-suite participation.
If you have any questions about eligibility requirements, contact crucible@fedtech.io
<div anchor>Alumni Highlights</div>
Alumni Highlights
- Hybron Technologies: Generated 5 Letters of Intent and raised $4M in follow-on funding during the program in 2025. In 2026, closed an oversubscribed $25M seed round, including investment from Ultratech Capital Partners — a connection made through FedTech's VentureMatch platform.
- Khasm Labs: Completed a field deployment at the Joint Interagency Field Experimentation (JIFX) exercise, and was selected for Crucible Afterburner. Through Crucible Accelerator, partnered with New Use Energy (NUE) to launch a unified system that eliminates energy dependencies that cause mission failure.
- Battery Streak: Executed a CRADA with NSWC Crane.
- GlowSens: Executed its first pilot with NSWC Dahlgren.
<div anchor>About the National Tech Bridge Network</div>
About the National Tech Bridge Network
Regional Tech Bridges help Naval leaders address operational challenges with solutions that can scale globally. This connected network of innovation hubs enhances collaboration between Naval Labs, industry, academia, and other military organizations.
Tech Bridges serve as technology scouts, local networking hubs, and connection points to Naval Warfare Centers and Labs to make sure the best possible technology is brought to the table for consideration. These strategically located teams offer a more easily accessible way for the Department of the Navy to foster collaboration, build productive partnerships, and speed delivery of solutions to sailors and Marines. Tech Bridges are an essential link between Naval technologists and local startup ecosystems across the country — and around the world.
What participants get
1:1 Mentorship and Expert Access
One-on-one mentorship from advisors with direct defense experience. Every advisor in the Crucible network has a defense background, including veterans and executives from defense agencies, not just venture or startup experience.
Virtual Targeted Workshops
Workshops cover the topics most relevant to where your company is headed, and may include go-to-market strategy, investor readiness, pitch coaching, and federal market navigation. A dedicated investor readiness track covers due diligence, term sheets, and cap table structure, run by practitioners including Harpoon Ventures and Shield Capital.
Industry Network Access
Every company receives targeted institutional exposure and a pitch at Demo Day, in front of a curated audience of investors, prime contractors, and government stakeholders. Top teams are invite to pitch at the Warfighting Innovation Summit in February 2027, a closed door gathering of senior federal decision makers with no general registration. Access to additional program offices or agencies varies by company and is not a guaranteed feature of every cohort.
Post-Program Funding Support
Crucible Catalyst provides funding that continues supporting a company after the accelerator ends, distinct from the access and introductions built during the program itself. Catalyst is free for Crucible Accelerator graduates and does not take equity.
Featured Events
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Warfighting Innovation Summit
The Warfighting Innovation Summit is a curated national security convening hosted by the Creative Defense Foundation in partnership with FedTech. The Summit will highlight emerging capabilities and early-stage technologies from across the Department of War’s technology transition accelerators and will serve as the culminating pitch showcase for the Crucible Ignitor and Accelerator cohorts.
Partners
Frequently asked questions
Does the program take equity?
No. Crucible does not take equity in any participating company.
Does the program require exclusivity or IP rights?
No. The program does not require exclusivity or any assignment of intellectual property.
How is this different from Crucible Ignitor?
Ignitor pairs entrepreneurs with lab developed technology to build a company from the ground up. The Accelerator is for companies that already exist and already have a working product ready for the market. Companies not yet at that stage may be better served by Catalyst, which is designed to close that gap. Learn more about Crucible Ignitor here.
What stage should a company be at to apply?
Companies should have a working product, evidence of demand, and readiness for direct feedback from defense buyers on the path to a contract. The program is designed for founders with prior experience building a company, shipping a product, and running a sales process. It is not designed to help a company find product market fit.
What does the program cost?
Nothing. The Accelerator is federally funded, and no participation fee is charged.
Can a solo founder apply?
Yes. Applications are accepted from solo founders as well as full teams.
Is a security clearance required?
Most participants take part without an active security clearance. Certain downstream engagements with a specific program office may call for one, but a clearance is not a requirement for entry into the program.
Is this only for technologies with Navy applications?
Not exclusively. The program is Navy funded, and the Navy is the primary path to engagement, but technology relevant to other services or federal customers is welcome as well. The requirement is dual use technology with a credible Navy application.
Are there citizenship or incorporation requirements?
Yes. Founders must be U.S. citizens, and the company must be U.S. based or incorporated in the United States.
Who should submit the application for my company?
The program is only available for startup founders and C-suite. If you have any questions about this requirement, contact crucible@fedtech.io