HUSTLE DEFENSE ACCELERATOR 2025-2
Applications Now LIVE for Cohort 2025-2!
Deadline Extension: Now Open Until 12/19!
Applications are due by Friday, December 19. Following an initial down-select, selected teams will be notified after the deadline to participate in a Virtual Pitch event. From this pitch, five winners will be chosen to participate in the HUSTLE cohort starting in March 2026. These final teams will participate in an 8-week intensive program to compete for up to $600K in SAFE note funding.
Please note that companies who participate in the HUSTLE Defense Accelerator, and are awarded funding, will be asked to sign a SAFE note and must provide evidence of corporate residency in New York State for at least one year.
HUSTLE Cohort 2025-2 Problem Statement
In the Air Force, there is a focus on Command, Control Communication and Battle Management, or C3BM. Within the context of C3BM, there is a strong interest in exploring innovative ways to incorporate AI and leverage its capabilities. Specifically, this HUSTLE cohort will center on developing integrated solutions for Command and Control (C2) systems enhanced by artificial intelligence, supporting the Air Force’s Battle Network needs through the C3BM program office. The Department of the Air Force’s Battle Network represents a comprehensive system that coordinates all Air Force capabilities – from satellites and aircraft to IT systems and communications across major commands. The C3BM program office is responsible for creating and sustaining this network, ensuring all technologies integrate seamlessly and interoperate effectively. Currently, technologies exist across the spectrum but don’t all “play nicely together,” creating gaps in coordination and information flow.
Rather than require each startup to have the same focus area, we intend to downselect a diverse cohort with complementary skillsets that can address different facets of this problem set. Some of complementary skillsets we are hoping to have in the cohort may include:
- Artificially Intelligent Agentic Systems for Command and Control Operations
- Systems to assist humans in managing Artificially Intelligent Agentic Systems
- Network resiliency in contested environments (jammed environments where connectivity is not assumed)
- Data distribution in contested environments
- Interoperability, Integration and homogenization of disparate Artificially Intelligent Agentic Systems
- AI systems to increase the speed and accuracy of human decision making at scale
The technical focus encompasses two critical AI applications: using AI to enhance command and control operations for human operators and developing robust command and control mechanisms for increasingly autonomous AI systems. We would like to explore the art of the possible by looking at both of these scenarios: AI for Command and Control (AI assisting human operators in executing command and control) as well as Command and Control of AI (controlling autonomous systems). This approach creates a realistic pathway for diverse technology companies to contribute their core competencies while building the interoperability and integration capabilities that C3BM requires for next-generation battle management systems.
AI for Command and Control: We are looking for startups that can develop AI systems that assist human operators in making faster, more informed decisions. This includes AI that can process vast amounts of battlefield information, recommend courses of action, and help coordinate complex operations across multiple domains and timeframes. In a civilian context, this is the equivalent of developing systems to assist human operators in streamlining business operations and business processes, enabling more efficient and cost-effective operations.
Command and Control of AI: As military systems become increasingly autonomous, there’s a critical need for robust oversight mechanisms. We are looking for startups that can work on solutions for maintaining human control over AI systems, ensuring they operate within defined parameters, and managing the handoff between autonomous and human-controlled operations. In a civilian context, this is the equivalent of creating systems to manage, coordinate and control the artificially intelligent and autonomous systems that are deployed across the internal business units in an organization.
In this cohort, we are intentionally seeking companies with differing skill sets and focus areas. Some startups might excel at business process optimization (which translates to command and control operations), others at AI development, and still others at systems integration or communications protocols. This mirrors the real-world challenge C3BM faces – the need for diverse technological capabilities working together, not just AI expertise in isolation. A successful applicant to this HUSTLE cohort need not have the capability to cover every area of focus mentioned here; rather, we prefer startups that can excel in one specific area, allowing us to assemble a complementary cohort.
Relevant Documents
READY…SET…HUSTLE!
The HUSTLE (Helping Upstate Science and Technology Leaders and Entrepreneurs) Defense Accelerator Program is designed to empower tech startups pioneering advancements in dual use technology.
Through our comprehensive curriculum, participants gain invaluable knowledge and skills in business management, equipping them with the tools needed to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.
Led by a team of seasoned professionals, our program offers tailored education and mentorship, providing insights into navigating government contracts, establishing strategic partnerships, and securing funding to fuel growth.
Join us as we pave the way for innovation, collaboration, and the delivery of trusted technologies to drive the American economy forward.
HUSTLE is Supported & Sponsored by:
HUSTLE Defense Accelerator
The HUSTLE Defense Accelerator is an elite and immersive accelerator for pre-seed and seed-stage tech startups pushing solutions with dual-use potential and the drive to elevate the United States’ national security and economic competitiveness.
HUSTLE Defense Accelerator graduates will…
- Know the defense enterprise as a customer.
- Know how, when, and where to make the perfect pitch.
- Know the people and players who will be your partners in delivering national security solutions.
- Know how to engage early-stage sources of capital to de-risk technologies and develop your team.
- Learn the ropes of startup success from world-class trainers, coaches and mentors.
HUSTLE Defense Accelerator cohort teams will be provided a unique opportunity to learn knowledge and skills to develop, market and grow their businesses and a special track focused on how to successfully work with the Department of War (DoW) and other government agencies.
Previous HUSTLE Cohorts:
HUSTLE Cohort 2025-1
HUSTLE Cohort 2025-1
A joint accelerator powered by Griffiss Institute and Southwest Mission Acceleration Center.
The first HUSTLE cohort of 2025 ran from June to August, bringing dual-use technology teams through a dynamic hybrid accelerator led by the Griffiss Institute in collaboration with the Southwest Mission Accelerator Center. The program combined virtual sessions with immersive in-person weeks in Rome, NY; Washington, DC; and Playas, NM, where teams engaged with AFRL/RI, met with federal leaders on Capitol Hill and at the Pentagon, and concluded with field demonstrations for Department of War stakeholders.
Icarus
Icarus is redefining airborne persistence with Apollo, an autonomous, balloon-launched, solar-powered glider that delivers days of ISR and resilient communications at 70,000 feet. Filling the gap between drones and satellites, Apollo is low-cost, runway-independent, and scalable—creating a persistent, unpredictable sensing layer that’s hard to target, easy to replace, and built for contested environments. Founded in 2023 in a farmhouse barn on the belief that satellites are too slow, too costly, and too rigid for the future of conflict, Icarus proved the vision in 2024 when Apollo first flew: not hype, but hardware in the sky. Today, Icarus is scaling the mission to deliver the platforms the future demands.
latakoo
Founded by veteran journalists Paul Adrian and Jade Kurian, latakoo was born in 2010 from a simple, yet powerful idea: make file transfer and media workflows faster, easier and secure.
Paul and Jade have extensive careers in journalism over decades, tackling everything from breaking news to deep investigative stories. Throughout their reporting, they consistently faced a significant obstacle: how to swiftly and reliably transfer large video files, especially from locations with poor internet access. This challenge inspired them to create latakoo, named after the melodious lark bird as a tribute to their daughter, Lark. Their goal was to give journalists and content creators more time to tell impactful stories without technical barriers. Their vision led to the creation of latakoo, a cloud-based media asset manager designed by journalists, for journalists.
LiveLink Aerospace
LiveLink Aerospace is a privately owned British company located just outside the historic port city of Portsmouth on the picturesque south coast of the United Kingdom. The company has established itself as a prominent leader in developing innovative and inventive methods for addressing intricate challenges in both hardware and software, offering solutions that bolster the security and economic growth of the aviation sector. Their team of experts possess a diverse skill set, ranging from electronic and electrical engineering, specialist system manufacturing, high-speed onboard AI, UAV airframe design and testing, scalable, low-cost edge computing capabilities, algorithm design, and cross-domain consultancy.
They specialize in developing cutting-edge systems tailored to the evolving demands of the aviation industry. These include their Air Intelligence System (AIS), an innovative and highly advanced air surveillance tool that provides exceptional solutions for securing airspace, and their ‘optionally crewed aircraft’, which offers long-loiter, high-payload ISR mission capabilities while supporting next-gen interception.
NanTenna
Innovators Taking new design approaches to antennas
Established in 2020, NanTenna began with a bold vision: to redefine military satellite communications (SATCOM) with groundbreaking antenna technology. Backed by an AFWERX Phase I SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grant, NanTenna quickly advanced from concept to commercialization, launching our first product in May 2022. Today, NanTenna stands as a global leader in high-performance, low-SWaP (size, weight, and power) antennas, renowned for delivering unparalleled efficiency and reliability across diverse operational environments. Trusted by defense and industry leaders worldwide, they remain committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and reshaping the future of SATCOM.
Reveal Technology
Reveal Technology, Inc. is the next-generation defense technology platform, delivering a suite of AI products that generate critical intelligence, autonomy, and decision dominance for tactical military and public safety users.
Reveal’s growing suite of products enables rapid generation of actionable intelligence from mobile, edge, and other sensing technologies. The mission is to provide decision advantage for decentralized operations by deploying AI and other software tools into the tactical echelon. The result is rapid GEOINT, autonomy, and human identity analytics without requiring network connectivity, making Reveal the only solution for denied area operations.
HUSTLE Cohort 2024
2024 HUSTLE Cohort
Companies are grouped by EMERGE (first 5) and ELEVATE (last 3). The order of participants within those groups does not have any inherent meaning.
Triarii AI
Represented by: Sean M. Smith, Founder & CEO
Who We Are: At Triarii AI, our vision is to enhance the resilience of our economy and infrastructure by responding to the U.S. National Cybersecurity Strategy’s call for a stronger cybersecurity workforce. We address this challenge by developing advanced, domain-specific AI to augment the capabilities of our limited human resources, focusing on tasks like penetration testing and vulnerability analysis that no other AI can handle.
Aronetics
Represented by: John Aron, Founder and CEO
Who We Are: In the era where actors have become more common and sophisticated, bugs present a security loophole that create catastrophic consequences and your data is at risk of exploitation. Even if we imagine a world where 99% of cyber intrusions are fully prevented, this does not address the growing issue of malicious actors already inside a system. Aronetics® built Thor™, a technology that closes gaps utilizing Zero Trust ideologies to provide precise tamper-proof assurance to take action against tomorrow’s unknown threats so you can have operational truth of your computing device today.
Artificial Brain
Represented by: Jitesh Lalwani, Founder & CEO
Who We Are: Artificial Brain USA is a quantum computing company specializing in real-time software for extremely complex optimization problems in Aerospace, Defense, and Energy, which are beyond the reach of current classical computing alone. With its flagship software ‘Planck’, Artificial Brain’s customers are empowered to solve previously unsolvable challenges, leverage greater access to their data, and unlock hidden operational and revenue potential.
Capy News
Represented by: Dean Korsak, Founder
Who We Are: The mission of Capy News is to empower people with high quality information to stabilize society and prevent civil war, at home and abroad.
Marhold Space Systems
Represented by: Frank Marin, Founder & CEO
Who We Are: We are dedicated to Preserving Humanity’s Future by providing space-based services aimed at establishing and nurturing a sustainable circular economy. Our vision is to aspire to become the foremost and dependable provider of essential in-space services, catering to the diverse needs of the space environment.
LeVanta Tech
Represented by: Kelly Echols, CEO
Who We Are: LeVanta Tech started in the offshore wind industry. We recognized a significant need for mobile real-time maritime data across industry sectors. We pivoted to a defense first, commercial second business strategy. LeVanta Tech is developing the HALIA, a low-cost, high-volume, attritable sea-launched aerial drone. The HALIA enables a multi-domain, globally-connected, maritime mesh network across autonomous systems.
Archangel Autonomy
Represented by: Bradford Morose, Vice President
Who We Are: Our AI copilot technology transforms autonomous machines into highly capable teammates, ideal for protecting people, assets, and the environment in remote or challenging areas. By enhancing the capabilities of autonomous machines, we’re ultimately making the world a safer and more secure place for everyone.
Drone City
Represented by: Mehdi Salehi, CEO
Who We Are: Drone City is developing AI-powered swarm systems for logistics, aiming to expand human capabilities through advanced swarm technology.
Interested in participating or learning more? Contact us by emailing hustle@griffissinstitute.org
HUSTLE FAQ
What is the HUSTLE Defense Accelerator?
The HUSTLE Defense Accelerator is an elite and immersive academy for pre-seed and seed-stage startups pushing dual use solutions with the potential to elevate the United States’ national security and economic competitiveness.
How do I apply for the HUSTLE Defense Accelerator?
HUSTLE cohorts run rutinely throughout the calendar year. Follow this page to stay up to date with the latest applications as they go live.
What kind of startups are eligible for the HUSTLE Defense Accelerator?
The HUSTLE Defense Accelerator is open to all pre-seed and seed-stage startups. We strongly prefer a startup company with at least two (2) teammates: one (1) with a technical background, and one (1) with a business background, and that all team members exhibit grit, tenacity, HUSTLE, and focus on National Security Challenges associated with the technology areas specified in the problem set which could include AI/ML, cyber, quantum and Uncrewed Autonomous Systems (UAS) solutions. Based on our experience, we find a combination of both technical and business expertise provides the startup the best chance to succeed, though this is not a hard requirement.
Do I have to be a US citizen or a US person to apply?
Depending on the funding source for each cohort, restrictions may be in place for pariticpants regarding their nationality and/or citizenship.
Do I have to live in New York to apply?
No, but depending on the cohort funding there may be restrictions regarding residency.
Who selects participants?
The HUSTLE Defense Accelerator engages its administration team, partners, and stakeholders to review applications and select participants.
How many participants will be selected for the HUSTLE Defense Accelerator?
Cohort sizes are dependent on funding source and partners/collaborators.
How much equity do I need to give?
As part of your participation in HUSTLE Defense Accelerator, the Company will grant to Griffiss Institute (GI) a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (the “SAFE”), in the form attached hereto, under which $24,500 in-kind programming, plus $7,500 per founder (maximum $15,000) (the agreed-upon value of the services provided to you by GI under this agreement), and total prize money (if won), will be convertible into equity of the Company as outlined in the SAFE. You further acknowledge that the Company must be organized as either a corporation or limited liability company to facilitate this form of equity grant. At GI’s option to exercise the Pro Rata Agreement, the SAFE may convert to an equity demand at a future time.
What’s my commitment to the program?
Commitment to the program depends entirely on the individual cohort structure. See most recent application for more information.
Will I have to find housing?
For Rome-based, in-person cohorts, companies will be required to participate on-site for the duration of the program. Housing will be paid for by HUSTLE so that out-of-pocket expenses for founders will be minimized.
Can my company be a sponsor?
Yes! Corporate sponsorship is welcomed to support our commercialization activities and program growth. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact us at hustle@griffissinstitute.org.
