Introducing the Newest MTL Defense Accelerator Cohort
The MTL Defense Accelerator, delivered by Montgomery TechLab in partnership with Treble One, is proud to welcome its newest cohort of innovative, mission-driven companies. This group represents a diverse set of founders building technologies with strong potential to support national defense priorities while also scaling in commercial markets.
Over the course of the eight-week accelerator, cohort companies will participate in a structured, hybrid program designed to help founders better understand the defense innovation ecosystem. Through hands-on education, strategic deep dives, mentor engagement, and direct exposure to defense stakeholders, participants will refine their technologies, strengthen their go-to-market strategies, and position their solutions for real-world defense and dual-use applications.
Together, this cohort reflects the accelerator’s commitment to strengthening the defense industrial base, accelerating emerging technologies, and advancing Montgomery’s role as a hub for defense innovation.
Meet the Current Cohort
Autonomous Federal
Autonomous Federal develops secure, data-driven technology solutions that help government agencies modernize operations, automate workflows, and improve decision-making across complex federal environments.
FibrX
FibrX focuses on advanced fiber-based materials designed for high-performance and mission-critical applications, bringing innovation in durability, strength, and scalability to defense and industrial markets.
Petra Power
Petra Power builds resilient energy and power solutions that support reliable operations in defense, commercial, and remote environments, addressing critical challenges in power generation, storage, and deployment.
MoonBase AI
MoonBase AI develops artificial intelligence tools that transform complex data into actionable insights, supporting decision-making, operational efficiency, and situational awareness across defense and commercial use cases.
Xdown
Xdown delivers cybersecurity and risk-mitigation solutions that help organizations identify vulnerabilities, reduce exposure, and protect critical systems against evolving cyber threats.
Learn More
Additional details will be shared soon for the program’s Demo Day, scheduled for February 25.
To learn more about the MTL Defense Accelerator or the 2026 cohort companies, contact Charisse Stokes at charisse@montgomerytechlab.com.
January 20–23, 2026: Virtual Session I: Strategy & Small Business Foundations
This virtual session focuses on early-stage strategy refinement and understanding federal small business pathways. Companies participate in weekly one-on-one working sessions with Treble One consultants while gaining insight from small business representatives on government engagement, certifications, and early contracting considerations.
January 26–30, 2026: Virtual Session II: Defense Investment & Capital Readiness
During this session, founders deepen their understanding of the defense and dual-use investment landscape. Programming emphasizes capital readiness, funding alignment, and investor expectations, supported by continued advisory engagement from the Treble One team.
February 3–5, 2026: Midpoint Check-In Session (In Person)
At the midpoint of the program, cohort companies reconvene in person to assess progress, validate strategic direction, and strengthen execution plans. This session reinforces defense-specific go-to-market strategies and prepares companies for final stakeholder engagement and Demo Day.
February 9–13, 2026: Virtual Session III: Technical Alignment & Research Pathways
This session centers on technical validation and alignment with defense research and acquisition priorities. Founders engage with experts from AFRL and the acquisition community to better understand innovation pathways, transition opportunities, and procurement considerations. Treble One will also begin one-on-one meetings with each company to initiate development of the Insights Level II Playbook.
February 16–20, 2026: Virtual Session IV: Operational & Government Stakeholder Engagement
This virtual session provides insight into real-world mission needs and policy considerations through panels featuring operational leaders and government relations experts. Companies refine positioning, stakeholder alignment, and long-term engagement strategies within the defense ecosystem.
February 16–20, 2026: Virtual Session V: Execution Readiness & Program Alignment
Running concurrently with operational engagement, this session emphasizes execution readiness, milestone alignment, and refinement of company priorities. Founders continue structured advisory sessions focused on strengthening readiness for customer, investor, and stakeholder conversations.
February 23–26, 2026: Closing Sessions & Demo Day (In Person)
Treble One delivers the completed Level II Insights playbook. The accelerator concludes with a closing session and Demo Day, where cohort companies present their technologies, validated use cases, and growth strategies to a curated audience of investors, prime contractors, OEMs, and Department of Defense stakeholders—supporting a strong transition from planning to execution.
March 2–6, 2026: Final Virtual Session VI: Strategy Development & Final Refinement
The final virtual session focuses on post-cohort strategy development and engagement with investors, primes, and government stakeholders. Founders will also reconvene to address outstanding questions, refinements, and next steps related to the Level II Insights Playbook, ensuring alignment on transition pathways and post-program execution.
The MTL Defense Accelerator, delivered by Montgomery TechLab in partnership with Treble One, has guided this year’s cohort through an intensive and immersive experience designed to help founders better understand how to navigate the defense innovation ecosystem. From day one, companies were introduced to the fundamentals of engaging with the Department of Defense, including how to position their technologies within the context of national security needs. Early sessions focused on understanding SBIR strategies and the priorities of the Air Force, giving founders a strong foundation for pursuing federal opportunities.
As the program advanced, the cohort explored how to align their technology development with DoD needs through structured roadmapping. They gained valuable insight into how to translate their commercial solutions into dual-use applications that meet both civilian and defense requirements. Exposure to operational communities further helped them see how their products could integrate into real-world defense environments.
During the accelerator, participants had the opportunity to broaden their horizons and deepen their industry exposure by attending major national conferences such as the Department of the Air Force Information Technology Cyberpower Conference (DAFITC), Montgomery Information Technology Summit (MITS), and Sloss Tech. These events connected the cohort to leading voices in defense innovation, technology commercialization, and entrepreneurship, allowing them to gain valuable insights into current industry trends and the priorities shaping national security.
This inaugural cohort represents a diverse group of innovators delivering cutting-edge technologies that strengthen our nation’s defense capabilities while driving innovation in the commercial sector.
- Analytical AI: Delivers advanced threat detection and predictive data intelligence across images, sensors, and complex environments.
- Lineaje: Provides full lifecycle software supply chain security with automated remediation and secure development workflows.
- XO Armor Technologies: Creates smart, customizable protective wearables for defense and industrial sectors using AI and 3D printing.
- Generational Systems: Offers scalable, affordable metal 3D printing for operational and austere environments.
- GuidePad: Builds AI-powered orchestration frameworks for managing complex operations and mission-critical systems.Throughout the sessions, participants learned about the importance of building relationships across acquisition, technology, and partnership communities, while also gaining practical skills in preparing for pitches and stakeholder engagement. By combining technical focus with ecosystem exposure, the accelerator, powered by Montgomery TechLab and Treble One, has equipped founders with the knowledge, strategies, and connections needed to transition their innovations into scalable, defense-ready solutions.
“It’s really helped me get a better understanding of how the DOD acquires technology and what’s going to be important for any technology as it gets acquired by the DOD, so finding the right solutions for those audiences.”
-Dr. William Monroe PHD, Vice President of Data Science
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