Service-driven founders. Security-focused innovation.
On February 18, 2026, eMerge National Security hosted the inaugural NatSec Veteran Pitch Competition, a virtual, invite-only showcase that brought six exceptional veteran-led startups to the stage. Each founder delivered a crisp 4-minute pitch followed by 5 minutes of Q&A, presenting mission-ready, dual-use critical technologies aligned with national security priorities.
Judged on mission alignment, dual-use viability, traction, team strength, and scalability, the event highlighted the unmatched value veterans bring: operational insight, discipline, and leadership applied to innovation that protects infrastructure, enhances resilience, and advances defense dominance.
Top 3 Winners
- 1st Place: TERN (led by Brett Harrison) – Satellite-free navigation resilience
- 2nd Place: Glīd Technologies (led by Kevin A. Damoa) – Autonomous road-to-rail logistics
- 3rd Place: SplashOne Robotics Inc. (led by Jeff Wright) – Autonomous fighter drones
Strong performances from the full lineup:
- Pellucid Network (Nick Miller) – Mission-ready procurement automation
- OpenInfer (Claire Buffington) – Edge AI inference infrastructure
- WeCheck AI (Rafael (Ralph) Pena) – AI-powered ID authentication
Different domains. Same mission-first mindset. Veterans stepping out of uniform to build the technologies that enable peace through strength.
Support that turns momentum into growth.
Prizes exceeded $50K in value, including NatSec Demo Day participation, fast-track to the Veteran Accelerator & Showcase, non-dilutive grants, Delta flight credits, and broader ecosystem access.
This generous commitment provides critical legal infrastructure to help these startups scale rapidly and navigate complex defense and dual-use markets.
Deep Appreciation To:
Our Sponsors: Holland & Knight LLP, Google Cloud, B.I.G. Capital LLC, Delta Air Lines, Veterans Florida, Amazon, Northeastern University Miami for powering this platform.
Our Judges: Christian Ford (DLA Piper), Kelly Perdew (Moonshots Capital), Tip Myers (Marque Ventures), Rusty Isaacs (Stony Lonesome Group) for their rigorous expertise and commitment to elevating veteran-led innovation.
This event embodies the eMerge Veteran Program’s core purpose: transforming operational experience into dual-use leadership that accelerates capability adoption and strengthens national security.
The momentum carries forward into NatSec Demo Day (April 21) and eMerge Americas (April 22–24). Stay tuned.
Proud to support continued service through innovation. 🇺🇸
#eMergeAmericas #NationalSecurity #Veteran #Leadership #DualUse #Innovation
As eMerge Americas continues to evolve, we’re more committed than ever to fostering collaboration, sparking innovation, and highlighting the transformative power of Florida’s thriving tech ecosystem.
