The Oregon UAS Accelerator is betting that the next big breakthrough in American autonomy and counter-drone technology is hiding in plain sight among a group of early-stage startups — and it’s putting all 17 of them in one room for investors to meet this November.
The accelerator has announced its Fall 2026 Oregon UAS Innovation Showcase, a single-day event where the full cohort of seventeen companies will deliver live pitches to investors and strategic partners. Scheduled for Friday, November 13, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PT, the event will take place on the 3rd floor of Big Pink (U.S. Bancorp Tower) at 111 SW 5th Ave in downtown Portland. Both pitch sessions will be livestreamed for remote attendees.
The presenting startups span counter-UAS, autonomy, defense and dual-use robotics. Nine are headquartered in Oregon, while the remaining companies hail from Washington, Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia, and South Korea. Notably, every company in the cohort will pitch — there are no elimination rounds, giving each founder a shot at impressing the room.
“Investors and buyers who want early access to America’s next autonomy or counter-UAS breakthrough may be waiting to be discovered. Our curated deal flow connects those teams with the capital and customers to scale American production,” said Joseph Wyno, President & Executive Director at the Oregon UAS Accelerator. “On November 13 they can meet seventeen of them in one afternoon. These founders have spent the fall working on investment readiness, federal funding strategy and manufacturing readiness, and they’re ready for serious conversations.”
The day is split into two themed pitch sessions. The morning session, focused on Defense, Counter-UAS and Tactical Systems, will feature handheld counter-drone defense, multi-domain intelligence fusion, passive acoustic drone detection, airspace security software, low-cost fixed-wing airframe manufacturing, NDAA-compliant Group 1 drones for public safety, robotics-as-a-service, and battlefield support systems. Presenters in this session include Tactical Laser Defense Systems, Empyrean Defense, PerimeterAI Group, TKG Security, Bantam Aero, EnCor Industries, Aira USA, TAV Drones, and Supporty.
The afternoon session shifts to Autonomy, Critical Infrastructure and Dual-Use Robotics, covering GPS-denied navigation, emergency medical drone delivery, underwater inspection vehicles, aerial radio relays for wildland fire and search and rescue, precision positioning, and visual intelligence software. That lineup features AdvisorLauren, Atlas AI, NEEDLTAIL, ReliaSystems, Vexil Systems, NuCode, Hindsight VIP and Datium Corp.
Beyond the pitches, the program includes two expert panels: “Capital in Flight: What Investors Seek in Autonomy and Defense Tech” and “Scaling the Industrial Base: Manufacturing, Workforce, Supply Chain and Demand.” Attendees can also participate in a networking lunch and one-on-one meetings, with program staff coordinating introductions between founders and attendees — though the lunch and individual meetings are in person only.
Each startup will also have an exhibit table where attendees can get a hands-on look at the technologies and meet the teams behind them directly.
The showcase is tailored for venture capital, angel, family office, and corporate venture investors; defense primes and corporate strategy teams; government, defense and public safety procurement offices; commercial UAS operators and infrastructure buyers; ecosystem partners; and media covering aerospace and defense technology.
Event details:
Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. PT
Location: Big Pink (U.S. Bancorp Tower), 3rd Floor, 111 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97204
Format: In person + livestream
Registration: Attendance is by invitation.
Request an invitation at https://oregonuas.org/showcase
Media interested in attending in person or arranging founder interviews should contact info@oregonuas.org.
About the Oregon UAS Accelerator
The Oregon UAS Accelerator supports early-stage companies in uncrewed aircraft systems, autonomy, robotics, software integration, and aerospace in securing investment, strategic partnerships, and customers. Its cohort program combines business and investment readiness training, SBIR/STTR strategy, mentorship, manufacturing-readiness support, and access to Oregon’s UAS test ranges and defense and advanced manufacturing networks. The Accelerator is one of the State of Oregon’s Centers of Innovation Excellence (CIE) and is funded in part by grants from Business Oregon and the Oregon Lottery. Learn more at oregonuas.org.
Chris Ponzillo
Oregon UAS Accelerator
+1 714-614-2646
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Why it matters: With a $100,000 grand prize attached to the Proven in Pendleton cUAS Challenge and a full roster of startups focused on national security and critical infrastructure, this showcase is a signal that the Pacific Northwest is positioning itself as a serious hub for defense-tech investment. For investors and procurement teams, the event offers rare access to a curated pipeline of early-stage companies working on technologies that could shape the future of American drone and autonomy manufacturing.
