Nine veteran- and military spouse-led companies bring health tech, robotics, consumer products and AI to Pittsburgh.
TYSONS, Va., Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterans in their transition from service to success, is excited to announce its November 2026 Veteran Entrepreneur Program (VEP) cohort. The business accelerator begins with four days of in-person programming in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, followed by six weeks of virtual mentorship.
The program equips veteran and military spouse business founders with the resources, support network and expertise to grow their ventures. Participants receive guidance from seasoned business leaders on financial and legal foundations, sales and go-to-market (GTM) strategy, storytelling and investor pitching. This cohort’s presenters include leaders from Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cooley LLP, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas and Point Park University’s Rowland School of Business.
During this cohort, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced a commitment to the PenFed Foundation of up to $600,000 per year in AWS credits to support startups in the Foundation’s VEP. Through the commitment, VEP founders gain access to AWS Activate, a program that helps startups offset the cost of building in the cloud, along with technical guidance and go-to-market resources. The credits can be applied to infrastructure, data services, and AI/ML models, including third-party foundation models on Amazon Bedrock, where veteran founders can experiment and scale without upfront costs getting in the way.
“Pittsburgh has built its economy on reinvention, and it’s inspiring to watch these founders do the same thing, taking the discipline they built in uniform and turning it into businesses that solve real problems,” said Terry Williams, retired U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. and Director of the Veteran Entrepreneur Program at the PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes. “Through this program, they’re working directly with investors and business leaders who can help them sharpen their strategy and take the next step in launching their businesses.”
The November 2026 cohort includes:
2ndPay
U.S. Marine Corps veteran Johnathan Cardenas founded 2ndPay, a financial technology platform that helps businesses pay workers more frequently, starting with hourly payments for contractors and potential daily payments for restaurant workers. The platform brings together financial data, approved work and payment obligations so businesses can see what they owe, what they can fund and their projected remaining cash.
Ascender Systems
Retired U.S. Navy helicopter pilot Jorge Muñiz leads Ascender Systems, a robotics company whose reusable robotic climber places and retrieves sensing and communications nodes on poles, trees, columns and other existing structures – no permanent towers or traditional access equipment required. The company is now in active field execution of its U.S. Army Phase I SBIR for bridge health monitoring, with structural sensors installed and collecting data on a San Diego County bridge.
Backyard Banger
U.S. Army Airborne Ranger and Coast Guard veteran Tyler “Ty” Aloe created Backyard Banger, a fully equipped outdoor kitchen on wheels that sets up with just a garden hose and an extension cord. Named “Most Loved Product” at the National Hardware Show, the company has generated $1.5 million in sales to date and recently added a manufacturer in Tecate, Mexico, to move production closer to U.S. customers.
ClinScore
Army spouse Kelly Coone founded ClinScore to bring greater transparency and accountability to pharmaceutical and biotechnology outsourcing. The platform combines verified customer reviews, provider capabilities and AI-powered matching to help companies choose Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs), with insight into communication, timelines, cost transparency and service quality.
Essayons Change
Founder of Essayons Change, U.S. Army veteran Phil Smith, PhD, PMP, built the Change Management Information System (CMIS) to help leaders spot adoption risk before organizational change efforts fail. Grounded in Smith’s doctoral research and Army mission command doctrine, CMIS brings plans, tasks and risks together with workforce readiness and sentiment in one platform. In 2026, the company launched CMIS as well as its Partner Certification Program and welcomed its first Certified Partner.
Pyrenth
Service-disabled U.S. Army veteran Robert Ryczek founded Pyrenth to handle much of the paperwork that slows behavioral health providers’ care. Its HIPAA- and 42 CFR Part 2-compliant electronic health record and revenue cycle platform uses AI to draft notes, assemble insurer authorization packets and work claim denials. The platform currently serves as the daily system of record for a Colorado Medicaid provider group serving more than 2,100 patients, and recently completed Colorado Medicaid EDI testing.
QuarqAI
U.S. Army veteran Chris Messina founded QuarqAI to help B2B companies get measurable results from their partnerships. The AI-powered platform identifies where partners can make a difference on specific accounts, recommends who should act and builds a business case for each opportunity. Approaching commercial release, QuarqAI has secured three enterprise letters of intent and completed a six-week AI steering committee review with its largest prospective customer.
TACVALVE
Led by retired U.S. Army Special Forces veteran James Hills and U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major David Fallon, TACVALVE makes durable, U.S.-manufactured hydration gear for military personnel, law enforcement, first responders and outdoor enthusiasts. Its flagship Modern Canteen (MODCAN) has antimicrobial and antifungal protection built into the material and fits the standard threads of most existing hydration systems. The company’s July 2025 soft launch sold out its entire inventory in four hours.
WashDog
U.S. Navy veteran Steve Kelly invented WashDog, a battery-powered device that mounts to a washing machine door and alerts the household if a phone, earbuds, key fob, wallet or other tagged valuable is still in the drum before the cycle starts. It works on any washer with no app, account or Wi-Fi. WashDog’s prototype passed independent engineering testing, 20 units are going into homes this fall, and the company is preparing a crowdfunding launch.
Since 2018, the Veteran Entrepreneur Program has supported approximately 350 veteran and military spouse founders nationwide. The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes does not take equity in any of the businesses. Veterans and military spouses who own or lead companies and are interested in upcoming cohorts are encouraged to apply here.
About The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes
Founded in 2001, The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes is a national nonprofit organization that supports veterans in their transition from service to success in civilian life. Affiliated with PenFed Credit Union, the Foundation has provided more than $55 million in financial support to veterans, active-duty service members and military families. PenFed Credit Union covers the salaries and administrative costs of The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes, so more of your donation goes right to our programs. To learn more, please visit www.penfedfoundation.org.
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SOURCE PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes
