New Alabama Space Accelerator aims to move startups from lab to launchpad

A new Huntsville-based accelerator is looking to give Alabama aerospace and defense startups something that can be especially difficult for young companies to secure: a path to the customers who can put their technology to work.

The Apollo Coalition and defense consulting firm Treble One have launched the Alabama Space Accelerator, a statewide program designed to help early-stage companies connect with commercial and federal space customers.

Applications are open now for the accelerator’s first 10-week cohort, which begins Oct. 8. Participation is free for selected companies, and the program takes no equity.

“The core of our mission is building an ecosystem where innovation and community intersect,” said Joanna White, managing director of the Apollo Coalition. “Alabama has the talent and the technical backbone to compete for serious space and defense opportunities. This accelerator gives founders a direct line to the mentorship, facilities, and contracting relationships they need to get there.”

Up to 10 companies will be selected across two cohorts, with a focus on commercial satellite software, propulsion, autonomous systems, advanced manufacturing and dual-use aerospace hardware. Life sciences and agricultural technology companies with potential space applications are also eligible.

Participants will receive specialized training, technical mentorship, access to aerospace test facilities and introductions to commercial and defense procurement channels. Select graduates will also be eligible for 12 months of one-on-one mentorship from industry veterans.

The accelerator will operate from RCP Companies’ office in Huntsville’s MidCity District, with a virtual option available for founders outside North Alabama. Organizers said they are also developing partnerships across the state to reach Alabama’s broader aerospace and manufacturing sectors.

“This accelerator puts Alabama founders in front of the people who actually buy defense and space technology, not just those who fund it,” said Mike Johannessen, executive director for Treble One’s Alabama accelerators. “Our job is to help these companies translate strong technology into a program of record. Huntsville is one of the few places in the country where that whole pipeline, from lab to launchpad to warfighter, already exists.”

Before the inaugural cohort begins, the accelerator will host a Launch and Learn workshop Sept. 9 at Topgolf in MidCity. The free event begins with lunch at noon followed by an afternoon focused on opportunities in the space and defense technology sectors.

The Apollo Coalition, originally launched by RCP in 2021 as the MidCity Accelerator Foundation, said its programs have helped facilitate $45.1 million in funding raised across 110 founders.

Treble One, a veteran-founded defense and space consulting firm, will lead execution and mentorship for the accelerator. According to the organization, it has helped more than 250 companies secure $925 million in non-dilutive funding during its more than 25 years in the industry.

The Alabama Space Accelerator is supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama through the Innovate Alabama tax credit program.

Applications for the first cohort are due Sept. 14.

Apply or register for the Sept. 9 workshop at the Alabama Space Accelerator

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