The Defense Accelerator, hosted by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with aerospace consultancy Treble One, is an intensive 8-week, no-cost, non-dilutive accelerator program designed to support early-stage technology companies entering the defense sector. This national initiative provides strategic guidance and access to Department of Defense (DoD) resources and decision-makers to help companies refine their go-to-market strategies and scale their solutions in both the commercial and defense markets. The program is especially interested in participants that may spin out of Alabama-based Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other local universities.

Five companies will be selected to join the program and benefit from a structured framework comprising four phases—Identify, Engage, Plan, and Execute—centered around five key focus areas: Strategic Deep Dive, Mentor Engagement, Tactical Business Development Planning, Defense-Specific Marketing Collateral Development, and Investor, Customer, and End-User Introductions. Participants will work directly with national security advisors, business development professionals, proposal specialists, and mentors to assess the viability of their technologies and build defense-specific strategies.

The Defense Accelerator is open to early-stage tech companies from across the U.S., with no equity taken or fees charged. Selection is highly competitive, with a multi-round interview and evaluation process conducted by a selection committee. The program culminates in a Demo Day where participants can present to defense stakeholders, investors, and strategic partners.

The application opens on February 18, 2025, and closes on April 17, 2025. Following the application close, the selection process spans three rounds of interviews, beginning with Round 1 notifications on April 25, 2025, and concluding with final selections on May 16, 2025. The program officially kicks off with a networking reception on June 5, 2025, and ends with a Demo Day on August 26, 2025.

For more information or to apply, interested companies should visit the Montgomery TechLab website and submit their application during the open window. The accelerator provides a unique opportunity for emerging innovators to access critical defense sector pathways and scale dual-use technologies.