PenFed Foundation names nine companies for veteran entrepreneur cohort

Accelerator adds cloud and business support

The program is designed to help founders build the financial and legal foundations of their companies, improve sales and go-to-market strategy, strengthen storytelling, and prepare investor pitches. Presenters in the cohort include leaders from Amazon Web Services, Cooley LLP, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas and Point Park University's Rowland School of Business.

Amazon Web Services announced a commitment to the PenFed Foundation of up to $600,000 per year in AWS credits for startups in the program. Through AWS Activate, founders will receive access to cloud support, technical guidance and go-to-market resources. The credits can be used for infrastructure, data services and AI/ML models, including third-party foundation models on Amazon Bedrock.

According to the PenFed Foundation, the support is intended to help founders experiment and scale without upfront cloud costs becoming a barrier. The program does not take equity in participating businesses.

Nine companies span fintech, robotics and healthcare

The cohort includes 2ndPay, founded by U.S. Marine Corps veteran Johnathan Cardenas. Its financial technology platform helps businesses pay workers more frequently and brings financial data, approved work and payment obligations into one view.

Ascender Systems, led by retired U.S. Navy helicopter pilot Jorge Muñiz, develops reusable robotic climbers that place and retrieve sensing and communications nodes on existing structures. The company is executing a U.S. Army Phase I SBIR for bridge health monitoring, with sensors collecting data on a San Diego County bridge.

Backyard Banger, founded by U.S. Army Airborne Ranger and Coast Guard veteran Tyler “Ty” Aloe, makes an outdoor kitchen on wheels. ClinScore, founded by Army spouse Kelly Coone, uses verified reviews, provider capabilities and AI-powered matching to help companies select pharmaceutical and biotechnology outsourcing providers.

Essayons Change, founded by U.S. Army veteran Phil Smith, PhD, PMP, offers a change management platform that combines plans, tasks, risks, workforce readiness and sentiment. Pyrenth, founded by service-disabled U.S. Army veteran Robert Ryczek, provides a behavioral health electronic health record and revenue cycle platform that uses AI to draft notes, assemble insurer authorization packets and work claim denials.

The group also includes QuarqAI, an AI platform founded by U.S. Army veteran Chris Messina; TACVALVE, a hydration gear company led by retired U.S. Army Special Forces veteran James Hills and U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major David Fallon; and WashDog, a battery-powered device invented by U.S. Navy veteran Steve Kelly that alerts households when tagged valuables remain in a washing machine.

A growing support network for military founders

The companies enter the program at different stages. QuarqAI is approaching commercial release and has secured three enterprise letters of intent. WashDog has tested its prototype independently, plans to place 20 units in homes this fall and is preparing a crowdfunding launch. Pyrenth serves as the daily system of record for a Colorado Medicaid provider group serving more than 2,100 patients.

Backyard Banger has generated $1.5 million in sales to date, while TACVALVE said its July 2025 soft launch sold out its inventory in four hours. These businesses join a program that, since 2018, has supported approximately 350 veteran and military spouse founders nationwide.

“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,” Terry Williams, the Foundation's director of the Veteran Entrepreneur Program, said. For participants, the AWS commitment adds technical resources to the program's existing mentoring and business guidance.