The NGA Accelerator Powered by Capital Innovators has selected eight companies from more than 350 applicants to participate in the March 23 launch of the inaugural cohort of its geospatial corporate accelerator program based in St. Louis. The NGA Accelerator is managed through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement between the Missouri Technology Corporation, NGA and Capital Innovators.
The 13-week program sources technology from startups to help solve geospatial challenges that focus on government and industry opportunities in four core areas: data management, advanced analytics and modeling, data integrity and security, and artificial intelligence.
Each company will receive a $100,000 non-dilutive grant and will receive mentoring and coaching from subject matter experts from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and Capital Innovators. The COVID-19 pandemic requires the initial cohort to be conducted virtually, but future cohorts are planned to be held in person at the accelerator.
The accelerator concludes with a public demonstration day that allows companies to highlight the progress made during the program.
Cindy Daniell, NGA Research Director, said, “The NGA Accelerator is focused on developing these relationships and capabilities to accelerate the science-to-mission timeline and drive innovation and collaboration in the St. Louis area and beyond.
Judy Sindecuse, CEO and Managing Partner, Capital Innovators, said, “Capital Innovators is excited to help the selected companies prepare for opportunities to support NGA in their mission as well as effectively pursue private sector applications.”
“Geospatial technology is one of the critical next generation growth sectors for the St. Louis region identified in the 2030 Jobs Plan,” said Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc.
“The NGA Accelerator and its first cohort of eight startups also advance one of the critical paths called for in the GeoFutures Strategic Roadmap,” said Hall. “We planned for the future we want as a region, and we are taking concrete steps every single day to make it happen.”
The eight startups selected for the inaugural cohort are:
Anno.ai
Boston Geospatial
Granular.ai
InfraLytiks
Kinnami
Polysentry
Stratodyne
Xona Space Systems
The second cohort of the accelerator, funded through the partnership, is projected to launch in late August and Capital Innovators will begin soliciting applications in late April or early May. Entrepreneurs interested in participating in the upcoming cohort should visit the Capital Innovators website for more information.
