Oregon UAS Accelerator
Drones Over Pendleton, Oregon
The topography surrounding Pendleton makes it an ideal location for developing and testing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) — or drones, in other words. Oregon UAS Accelerator is leading the way.
What is a Business Accelerator?
In the simplest terms, a business accelerator is a program that helps early-stage and startup businesses grow more quickly by providing resources, mentorship, and other support. Oregon UAS Accelerator in Pendleton certainly checks these boxes —but it also does so much more for their annual cohort.
Specializing in small- to mid-sized startups working to commercialize their UAS or ground innovations, Oregon UAS Accelerator provides testing, workspace, education, investor outreach and more—all from Pendleton’s state-of-the-art range. Working with Business Oregon (and supported by Oregon Lottery dollars), Oregon UAS Accelerator is developing Pendleton as a Center of Innovation Excellence, which will provide economic benefits to Eastern Oregon and beyond.
Drones Rising
The commercial drone industry is experiencing incredible growth, with the global market expected to reach $54.6 billion by 2030. Industries across the board are incorporating drones into their operations, with Mapping and Surveying leading the way. The Energy and Utilities sector also plays a significant role, projecting growth from $4.66 billion to $7.43 billion by 2030, thanks in part to the use of drones for inspections and maintenance.
Drone-based delivery and shipping, as well as applications for agricultural, law enforcement, and fire management have industries and governments exploring the advantages made possible with unmanned vehicles. Thanks to Oregon UAS Accelerator and our state’s natural and human resources, Oregon is uniquely positioned to benefit from UAS growth. The sky is truly the limit.
Our vision is to become the leading hub for UAS and robotic innovation, fostering technologies and improving efficiencies, safety and quality of life for all of us.— Joseph Wyno, Executive Director, Oregon UAS Accelerator Program
“Proven in Pendleton”
When you think about the economy in Pendleton, three things probably spring to mind: Rodeos, woolens, and whiskey. But there’s more going on in Pendleton than those traditional western industries. Pendleton is also the home to the Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Range, providing services ranging from fast fiber and internet access (the fastest in Oregon) to UAS-friendly air traffic control. But it’s nature itself that steals the show. The Pendleton location allows operations over 14,000 square miles of Northeast Oregon including over 50 diverse testing environments.
Oregon UAS Accelerator chose Pendleton specifically for the overwhelming advantages it offers their cohort. They expect “Proven in Pendleton” to soon become a badge of honor in the UAS industry.
What the participants are getting here is connections to people, information, and then validation of their idea outside of their own personal network.— NathanLillegard, Business & Investor Readiness Instructor, Oregon UAS Accelerator Program
Ready for Launch
Preparing Startups for What’s Next
It’s about more than developing and testing a viable product. Oregon UAS Accelerator also teaches the finer points of presenting to potential investors and running a tech company.
Beyond the Basics
As any new entrepreneur or tech startup knows, there’s more to success than having a proven and efficient product. And although Oregon UAS Accelerator certainly helps demonstrate their cohort’s products, the benefits it offers to participants go far beyond the basics.
Investor-Ready
For the chosen companies comprising UAS’s annual cohort, the accelerator offers a range of services and opportunities to maximize their chances of success. In addition to 12 weeks of immersion at the program’s Pendleton facility, they enjoy unparalleled access to the UAS Range, flight testing support, courses in business fundamentals and grant writing. Each participant also receives a $40,000 grant to fuel their initial growth.
The program culminates in a three-day pitch camp followed by an Investor Showcase event. This exceptional opportunity provides a chance to spotlight their startup’s potential and secure additional funding from real-world investors.
With an estimated $165,000 value to each cohort company, the long-term program benefits might be less easy to quantify — the best chance to succeed in a growing industry bringing innovation and living-wage jobs to both their home communities and here in Oregon.
Cyphra Autonomy
Each Oregon UAS Accelerator cohort consists of seven startups working to develop products related to UAS or robotic vehicles. They represent a range of specialty fields and locations. Although local companies are well represented — this year four are headquartered in Oregon or Washington — participants come from across the county and beyond.
Cyphra Autonomy of Fenton, Missouri, is just one example. Founded by Sean Ward (shown here with a field trip group), Cyphra Autonomy develops software tools intended for controlling unmanned systems. The company’s platform offers voice command and virtual reality interfaces for operating various vehicle systems, enabling people to interact with autonomous vehicles more intuitively and efficiently.
Says Sean about the accelerator experience, “It’s the team you need as a startup. It’s a huge opportunity to capture our vision and bring our product to life.”
More About Cyphra Autonomy
When Oregonians play lottery games, dollars add up for the programs and places that matter in Oregon, including economic development and job creation. Business Oregon is the agency that distributes the Oregon Lottery funds appointed to strengthening our economy.
Recently, Business Oregon awarded the City of Pendleton $102,500 in support of the Oregon UAS Accelerator program. This grant was in in addition to earlier funding totaling $301,122 to build out an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) rapid prototyping facility and second Mobile Mission Control Center in the back of its existing Mission Control and Innovation Center (MCIC) at the Pendleton UAS Range.
True to our founding mission, the Oregon Lottery remains dedicated to funding projects that create jobs and foster innovation. With the help of your lottery play, a stronger Oregon economy results in a better quality of life for us all!
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