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§ Accelerator
accelerates early-stage deep tech founders, provides capital, mentorship, network for critical technologies.
Black Flag Accelerator: accelerates early-stage deep tech founders, provides capital, mentorship, network for critical technologies.
Black Flag Accelerator currently lists $250K-$1M investment from Harpoon Ventures. Nearly $1M in partner credits, go-to-market acceleration for government sales, non-dilutive funding guidance, branding + design. Application shared with Shield Capital and In-Q-Tel. Mentors include CEOs of Astranis, Hermeus, and former U.S. National Security Advisor. as its value.
Companies building critical technologies: aerospace, biology, energy, robotics, and national security.
Black Flag Accelerator is listed for Virtual (teams in SoCal, Seattle, Colorado).
The current application deadline for Black Flag Accelerator is Apr 30, 2026.
Black Flag Accelerator is a virtual early-stage startup program administered by Harpoon Ventures that provides capital and strategic support to founders building critical dual-use technologies. The initiative selects five to ten companies per batch across four annual cohorts, offering direct investments ranging from $250,000 to $1 million in exchange for equity in the subsequent funding round. U.S.-based applicants must submit a pitch deck and funding history for end-of-month reviews, gaining access to go-to-market acceleration, non-dilutive funding pathways, and specialized artificial intelligence platforms upon acceptance. The program connects participants with an extensive network of established industry entities, including Shield Capital, In-Q-Tel, Palantir, Anthropic, and Anduril. This resource is designed for pre-seed and seed-stage founders in deep tech sectors like aerospace, biology, energy, and defense who require initial capital, government contract guidance, and operational scaling assistance.
Black Flag Accelerator is a defense and dual-use technology program backed by Harpoon Ventures, offering $250K to $1M in investment alongside nearly $1M in partner credits. The 2026 application deadline is April 30, 2026. The program runs virtually, with teams typically based in Southern California, Seattle, and Colorado.
What makes Black Flag unique is that your application is shared with Shield Capital and In-Q-Tel, giving you exposure to three of the most active defense-tech investors in a single process.
Black Flag provides capital, go-to-market acceleration for government sales, guidance on non-dilutive funding (SBIR/STTR grants, OTA contracts), and branding and design support. The mentor network includes defense industry executives, military leaders, and founders of successful defense-tech companies like Astranis and Hermeus. The co-application structure with Shield Capital and In-Q-Tel means you are simultaneously being evaluated by multiple strategic investors in the defense ecosystem.
The program targets startups building critical technologies in aerospace, biology, energy, robotics, and national security. You should be building something with clear dual-use or defense applications - hardware, software, or deep tech that addresses a real capability gap. Pre-seed to seed stage companies with technical prototypes are the best fit. The program is especially strong for founders who have the technology but need help navigating the complex government procurement landscape.
The biggest value-add of Black Flag is its government sales acceleration. Selling to the Department of Defense, intelligence community, or other federal agencies is notoriously difficult for startups. Black Flag provides structured guidance on SBIR/STTR applications, Other Transaction Authority (OTA) contracts, and direct introductions to program managers and acquisition offices. If you have a product that the government needs, Black Flag helps you get it into their hands.