Forge Institute Spotlights Arkansas's Future Aerospace & Defense Leaders at Phoenix Xcelerator Demo Day on May 29
See Arkansas’s Warrior Ethos on Full Display
Forge Institute invites the community to experience the next wave of aerospace and defense innovation at the highly anticipated Phoenix Xcelerator Demo Day. This premier event, taking place on Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM at the Clinton Presidential Center, marks the culmination of an intensive 12-week accelerator program featuring a cohort of promising startups from Arkansas and across the country, poised to impact national security and boost Arkansas’s economy.
Initiatives like this are crucial in the current global landscape. From the strength of our service members to the front lines of modern warfare, one truth remains: American leadership isn’t inherited—it must be earned and defended. Today’s global threats are real, and our adversaries are actively working to weaken our position. To remain the world’s leading force, our unity and innovation across every domain—land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace—must be unmatched.
The Forge Institute Phoenix Xcelerator program identifies and cultivates promising early-stage aerospace & defense startups by equipping them with education, resources, and connections to help meet national defense needs. The program is sponsored in part by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission & the Walton Family Foundation.
Demo Day serves as a critical platform connecting these innovators directly with mission operators, partners, and investors. It's an opportunity to work together driving innovation for the warfighter – increasing readiness, enhancing lethality, ensuring survivability, and maximizing mission effectiveness. Attendees will get an exclusive first look at the graduating Phoenix Xcelerator early-stage startups as they present their products and technologies.
This event is ideal for leaders across the public, private, defense, military, and academic sectors, as well as investors, strategic partners, and professionals involved in contracting and procurement.
Based upon turnout, capacity may be limited. In order to ensure that the innovators are given a full opportunity to directly engage with attendees who can spearhead growth and launch their future objectives, attendees may be prioritized as space fills up. Anyone not able to attend due to capacity or prioritization, can reach out directly to the innovators to receive a mission briefing.
Following the startup presentations, the event will transition into a networking reception and happy hour. This dedicated time offers a valuable opportunity for guests to engage directly with the CEOs, ask in-depth questions, explore potential collaborations, and connect with fellow leaders from across the state and our defense innovation ecosystem.
"The Forge Institute Phoenix Xcelerator Demo Day is more than just a presentation; it's a launchpad for groundbreaking ideas that address real-world defense needs," said Lee Watson, Chairman & CEO of Forge Institute. “These startups have the potential to support our warfighters and this program is just part of our comprehensive strategy at making Arkansas the Arsenal of Democracy!”
Walter Burgess, the Phoenix Xcelerator Entrepreneur-in-Residence said, "We are incredibly proud of this cohort's ingenuity and drive. We invite Arkansas's leaders and defense community stakeholders to join us, witness the future of defense technology being built right here, and connect with the entrepreneurs who are making it happen."
Forge Institute encourages all who share our Warrior Ethos about strengthening Arkansas’s role in national defense and fostering technological innovation to attend. The Phoenix Xcelerator Demo Day is not only a celebration of entrepreneurial achievement—it’s a call to action for leaders, innovators, and decision-makers to come together, support emerging talent, and shape the future of aerospace and defense, both in Arkansas and beyond.
Arkansas’s Warrior Ethos will be on display May 29th. Get your tickets now.
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