National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) announced on Monday that a new tech accelerator is being launched to help commercial startups develop new geospatial technologies in St. Louis. Eight companies will be selected to participate during the NGA Accelerator’s inaugural 13-week program that is set to launch in late-March 2021.
The agency has selected advanced analytics and modeling, data integrity and security, data management and artificial intelligence as the four technological focus areas for the first year’s program.
“We think our combination of expert mentorship, a burgeoning startup community in St. Louis, and a range of support services will form the perfect foundation for any early-stage company looking to build a reputation among the government sector and beyond,” said Brian Dixon, Management Director of Capital Innovators, who will help run the Accelerator program in partnership with the Missouri Technology Corporation.
The program boasts more than $1 million in incentives for participants, including mentorship, $100,000 in grant funding, investor connections as well as direct feedback from NGA.
NGA’s placement of the program in St. Louis is the latest move to continue the agency’s new investments in the city, which includes transferring 97 acres to build a new headquarters for the agency called “NGA West.”
“The nation made a bet on this city and this region. We’re making the next installment on that. You’ve already returned on that investment through the talented employees, teammates that we have today,” said four-time Wash100 Award recipient Robert Cardillo. “We couldn’t be prouder that we’re going to reinvest now in the community.”
