The Crucible Innovation Accelerator is a suite of innovation programs designed to help companies fast-track their journey into the national security and dual-use market. It’s a high-intensity program built for startups that are solving critical problems in both commercial and government sectors—producing dual-use technology aligned with defense, intelligence, and public safety.
WHO QUALIFIES
Crucible is built for dual-use startups with a commercial-ready solution and a clear path to government use. Whether you’re a venture-backed company or a bootstrapped team, Crucible is for you if:
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You have a product or prototype already in the market.
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You’re seeking to validate and expand your use case for government.
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You want to break into defense markets but need the roadmap, relationships, and resources to get there.
Selected companies receive:
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Government Customer Discovery: Direct engagement with end users and stakeholders in the national security ecosystem.
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SBIR/STTR Strategy: Expert guidance on how to win non-dilutive funding through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and related pathways.
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Go-To-Market Support: Tailored help on messaging, contracting, compliance, and matching your tech to real government problems.
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Mentorship & Network Access: Get connected to defense insiders, program managers, transition agents, and trusted primes.
HOW IT WORKS
PROGRAM STAGES
Ignitor is designed to help technologists, researchers, and aspiring entrepreneurs validate their ideas and understand the fundamentals of dual-use commercialization. Whether you’re working with early-stage IP or just beginning to shape a new venture, Ignitor gives you the tools to assess real-world demand, engage in customer discovery, and build a strong foundation for dual-use success. You’ll leave with clarity on your business model, a refined value proposition, and a go/no-go decision on your path forward.
Accelerator is built to help dual-use startups gain traction in the national security market. It’s designed for venture-ready companies with commercial products looking to unlock government use cases and non-dilutive funding. Through expert-led SBIR/STTR strategy, direct access to government customers, and deep go-to-market support, startups accelerate their defense pipeline and establish key relationships across the public sector. It’s where dual-use companies stop exploring and start executing.
Xtractor is designed to fast-track cutting-edge technologies into the hands of the warfighter. Through structured experimentation and close collaboration with Naval stakeholders, Xtractor provides a dynamic experimentation environment to validate novel technology solutions in real-world maritime scenarios, providing data and feedback that advances technology readiness.
Afterburner is for dual-use ventures that are ready to scale. Focused on sustained traction in both commercial and government markets, Afterburner provides tailored business development support, strategic partnerships, and transition planning to help startups mature into long-term defense suppliers. For companies coming out of earlier programs—or any venture with momentum—Afterburner keeps the throttle wide open and growth on track.
