For Entrepreneurs

What You Gain:

• No Cost, No Equity: Focus on growth without immediate financial burden.

• World-Class Curriculum & Mentorship: Receive intensive 12-week programming combining startup fundamentals with deep defense industry insights from seasoned entrepreneurs, military leaders, and technical experts.

• Access to Capital & Resources: Get guidance on securing non-dilutive funding (SBIR/STTR, grants), connect with potential investors, and access prototype/testing resources.

• Mission Validation & Network: Validate your technology against real-world defense requirements and build invaluable connections with DoD mission owners, prime contractors, and industry leaders.

• Develop & Test Your MVP: Gain support to refine your Minimum Viable Product and go-to-market strategy.

• Showcase Your Innovation: Culminate your experience at our high-profile Demo Day, presenting to key stakeholders.

How You Contribute:

• Bring your Innovative Solutions and "Warrior Ethos": Solve critical defense challenges.

• Commit to an Intensive Program: Accelerate your company's growth and impact.

• Collaborate with a Cohort of Driven Entrepreneurs: Contribute to Arkansas's growing defense innovation ecosystem.

Join the Phoenix Xcelerator Mission

For Investors and Financial Supporters

What You Gain:

• Curated Deal Flow: Access a select group of early-stage companies rigorously vetted for their innovation, market potential, and alignment with defense needs.

• Exclusive Insights: Attend our Demo Day and other investor-focused events to see pitches, meet founders, and understand emerging technologies firsthand.

• Strategic Alignment: Discover startups developing solutions for critical national security challenges, offering both impact and potential returns.

• Ecosystem Connection: Become part of Arkansas’s rapidly growing defense innovation hub, connecting with key players from industry, government, and academia.

How You Can Help:

• Attend Demo Day: (May 29, 2025, at the Clinton Presidential Center) to identify promising investment opportunities.

• Connect with Our Team: Discuss your investment thesis and learn about our graduating cohorts.

• Consider Providing Early-Stage or Follow-on Funding: Accelerate the growth of startups.

For Businesses and SMEs

What You Gain:

• Influence & Impact: Directly contribute to the success of startups developing critical technologies for our nation.

• Access to Innovation: Get an inside look at emerging technologies and connect with fresh talent and ideas.

• Strengthen the Ecosystem: Play a vital role in building Arkansas’s "Arsenal of Democracy" and its defense industrial base.

• Networking & Visibility: Connect with other leaders, potential partners, and gain recognition as a supporter of defense innovation.

• Potential Partnerships: Identify early opportunities for future teaming agreements, supplier relationships, or even talent acquisition.

How You Can Engage:

• Become a Mentor: Offer guidance and share your experience with our entrepreneurs.

• Be a Guest Speaker: Provide insights on specialized topics relevant to business growth, technology development, or the defense industry.

• Host a Site Visit: Open your facility doors to provide startups with invaluable real-world context on defense operations, manufacturing, or compliance.

• Corporate Partnership/Sponsorship: Explore opportunities to support the program, sponsor events like Demo Day (tables available!), or provide resources to our startups.

• Provide Subject Matter Expertise: Assist with technical validation, market insights, or navigating defense procurement.