Forge Institute to Host Project Phoenix Demo Day on October 14; Showcasing Defense and Aerospace Startups
Defense leaders, investors, and community partners are invited to the unveiling of next-generation technologies designed to support warfighting objectives by startups from around the country.
Forge Institute announces it will host the upcoming Project Phoenix Demo Day on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, in North Little Rock, AR. Project Phoenix is designed to empower and scale startups across the defense and aerospace sectors, in direct alignment with the Department of War’s (DoW) 2026 Critical Technology Areas or CTAs (Applied Artificial Intelligence (AAI), Scaled Directed Energy, Contested Logistics, Biomanufacturing, Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance, Scaled Hypersonics) or other high-impact mission areas. Project Phoenix advances early-stage startups whose product has the capacity to equip an unfair advantage for the American warfighter.
Project Phoenix is a defense-focused startup accelerator program offering no-cost, no-equity support through a rigorous curriculum, personalized mentorship, and unprecedented access to a robust defense network of primes, suppliers, and mission partners.
Bridging the Gap in National Security
The defense industrial base has seen a significant decline in small business participation over the last decade. Phoenix aims to reverse this trend by supporting early-stage startups dedicated to addressing the unique challenges of the defense sector.
"Project Phoenix was built to source high-potential early-stage startups from anywhere in the country and help them mature their product, strategy, and company through a crucible of content and feedback - helping them emerge on the other side a new member of America’s defense industrial base," said Lee Watson, Chairman & CEO of Forge Institute.
The intensive program provides entrepreneurs with:
Mission Validation: Utilizing our mentor network and mission partner relationships, we provide pathways for founders to validate their business models, technology, and gain feedback.
Non-Dilutive Funding: Through specialized content and expert coaching, Phoenix and our partners guide startups in successfully navigating and submitting proposals for SBIR/STTR, OTA, grants, CRADAs and other agreements with the government.
Technical Compliance: Members receive one-on-one technical assistance in preparing for defense contracting compliance, including support understanding and implementing DCAA and CMMC.
Collaboration: Phoenix collaborates with organizations like the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), Arkansas Aerospace & Defense Alliance (AADA), Arkansas SBA, Startup Junkie, Arkansas APEX Accelerator, Vertex, the Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment (APEX) ( a program managed by Parallax Advanced Research through a partnership intermediary agreement with the Department of the Air Force) to maximize program impact.
Preparation for Equity Investment: Local and National investors work with Project Phoenix to refine the cohort’s investor pitches in parallel with their work on non-dilutive funding as all cohort members work to refine their dual-use strategies.
“Each of these companies represents a potential opportunity for investors interested in the defense sector and a solution for our warfighters,” says Alese Johnston, Director of Project Phoenix and a founding board member of the Arkansas Angel Alliance.
Join Us for Demo Day:
Defense leaders, investors, and community partners are invited to attend and view pitch presentations, networking with local and national leaders, and enjoy dinner the evening of October 14th. To reserve your seat or for more information, visit https://www.forge.institute/phoenix.
This program is held in conjunction with the Forge Summit 2026: Linking the Industrial Heartland to the Irregular Front. The Summit is scheduled for October 13-14. Additional information and a registration link are available at https://www.forge.institute/summit.
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Key Facts
Date, Time & Location: Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM CDT | Little Rock, AR
Schedule: 5:00 PM Happy Hour & Networking | 6:00 PM Welcome & Dinner | 6:30 PM Startup Presentations
Purpose: Pitch presentations from cohort startups developing dual-use defense and aerospace technologies aligned with the Department of War’s 2026 Critical Technology Areas.
