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CCI Accelerator
Also known as: Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Accelerator, CCI+A
Virginia Tech · Blacksburg, VA
Quick fit check
- Offers direct funding
- No equity required
- Currently active
- Verified by research
Key numbers
Funding range
$0 – $75,000
Equity
None
Application
Annual
Statewide
Last activity
2026-06-24
High confidence
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
The CCI Accelerator is a cybersecurity-focused accelerator program operated by the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) at Virginia Tech. It offers two funding tracks: CATAPULT (for teams from Virginia public research universities) and ASCEND (for startup teams collaborating with faculty subject matter experts).
The program provides up to $75,000 per project (maximum 8 projects total) and runs for approximately 5 months. Key components include an NSF I-Corps regional program for customer discovery, business development workshops, legal sessions, roundtables with the DMV cybersecurity ecosystem, and pitch preparation. The program culminates with pitches to cybersecurity investors at the Accelerate Investor Conference in Arlington.
Eligible teams include faculty PIs, entrepreneurial leads, and graduate students from Virginia's public research universities. The program includes three mandatory in-person events and weekly virtual workshops.
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting CCI Accelerator at Virginia Tech.
1 source
