SpaceWERX (SBIR/STTR, STRATFI/TACFI, Accelerate)
Defense & Space · Run by U.S. Space Force / AFWERX
The facts
All fields verified Jul 21, 2026- Terms model
- Non-dilutiveGives money that does not take equity: grants, prizes, or credits. Your ownership is untouched.
- Investment
- Not publishedInnovation arm of the U.S. Space Force; funds companies through non-dilutive SBIR/STTR contracts (Spark, Vector, Accelerate pathways incl. cohorts and STRATFI/TACFI scale-up funding). Award amounts were not stated on the fetched page, so investment_amount is null; equity null because contracts take no equity. Space PY26.2 TACFI accepts submissions on a rolling basis.
- Equity taken
- Not publishedInnovation arm of the U.S. Space Force; funds companies through non-dilutive SBIR/STTR contracts (Spark, Vector, Accelerate pathways incl. cohorts and STRATFI/TACFI scale-up funding). Award amounts were not stated on the fetched page, so investment_amount is null; equity null because contracts take no equity. Space PY26.2 TACFI accepts submissions on a rolling basis.
- Program length
- Not published
- Format
- Remote
- Location
- Not published
- Cohorts per year
- Not published
- Cohort size
- Not published
- Stage focus
- small businesses (dual-use space tech)
- Sub-vertical
- space technology for the U.S. Space Force
- Demographic focus
- Not published
- Backers
- U.S. Space Force, Air Force Research Laboratory
- Notable alumni
- Not published
Terms notes: Innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force; funds companies through non-dilutive SBIR/STTR contracts (Spark, Vector, Accelerate pathways incl. cohorts and STRATFI/TACFI scale-up funding). Award amounts were not stated on the fetched page, so investment_amount is null; equity null because contracts take no equity. Space PY26.2 TACFI accepts submissions on a rolling basis.
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Terms in plain English
We have not written this program’s plain-English breakdown yet. Until we do, read the terms notes above and the program’s own documents.
Who this is actually for
We have not written our take on who this program fits yet. Use the facts above and the stage and demographic focus to judge fit for now.
Application windows
Applications close Jul 22, 2026.
Verified Jul 21, 2026Source
Compare this program
Put SpaceWERX (SBIR/STTR, STRATFI/TACFI, Accelerate) side by side with up to two others to weigh cash, equity, and timing.
Compare SpaceWERX (SBIR/STTR, STRATFI/TACFI, Accelerate)Guides that explain these terms
Plain-English mechanics, with worked hypothetical numbers.
- Equity vs non-dilutive accelerators: a decision frameworkHow to weigh an accelerator that buys equity against one that gives non-dilutive money, with a cap-table walkthrough at three exit sizes.
- SBIR and STTR for defense founders: how the phases actually workPhase I, II, and III mechanics, open versus conventional topics, how AFWERX and SpaceWERX style pipelines run, and an honest look at timelines.
Sources
Everything above was checked against these, verified Jul 21, 2026.