VEI Accelerator Launches Inaugural Cohort of Veteran-Owned Startups in Orlando

A startup program in Orlando aimed at tech companies led or supported by veterans has announced its first group of participants. The inaugural cohort includes businesses focusing on robotics automation, asset management, brain health tracking, AI-driven patient care, and more. The SPEAR Accelerator, part of the Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative, will officially launch in early 2025. Of the nine businesses selected, two are located in Orlando, one each in Satellite Beach and Punta Gorda, and five others from different parts of the country. The initial iteration of SPEAR, which is free and does not require equity, will concentrate on businesses in the healthcare sector. The following are the companies that will be part of the first cohort: Be In Health from Alpharetta, GA; Conquiro from McLean, VA; IFGA Labs in Punta Gorda; knowRX Health from Cambridge, MA; M3D Technologies and NexaHealth Technologies from Orlando; My Ligo from Austin, TX; Signum Technologies in Wayne, PA; and Wellspring Counseling Services in Satellite Beach. The accelerator’s main objective is to assist veteran-led businesses in expanding. Over 30 companies applied for the program. Ricardo Garcia, co-founder and program director of VEI, stated, “The response to this program exceeded our expectations, as there are numerous veterans contributing to innovation in remarkable ways. Choosing this group of companies was a difficult task given the quality of businesses that applied.” SPEAR is a joint effort between VEI and Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Bioengineering, Innovation, and Design. It will offer a curriculum, mentorship, and resources. Adler Archer, head of the ARCHER Lab at Johns Hopkins University, expressed, “We are privileged to support these exceptional veteran-led startups as they push the boundaries of health technology. Through this partnership, we are not only giving back to veterans but also advancing healthcare by promoting groundbreaking ideas in AI, neurotechnology, and digital health.” The first cohort includes veterans from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Marine Corps. The program will commence with a two-day bootcamp in Orlando on February 6 and 7, followed by a 12-week series of virtual workshops leading up to a two-day demo event on May 7 and 8. Orlando Tech News will closely monitor the progress of the group as they advance through the cohort.