ACMI Names Winners of $3 Million Inaugural Horizon Manufacturing Cup Held at Indiana University

Raven Space Systems takes $1 million grand prize as five manufacturing and hardware startups secure non-dilutive funding and a path to scale at ACMI's National Security Industrial Hub

BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Center for Manufacturing and Innovation (ACMI) has named Raven Space Systems the grand prize winner of the inaugural Horizon Manufacturing Cup, awarding the company $1 million. ACMI awarded a total of $3 million of non-dilutive funds to five manufacturing startups at the one-day fast-pitch competition, held on Indiana University's Bloomington campus.

The 2026 Horizon Manufacturing Cup winners:

• Raven Space Systems - A company building automated production systems for critical composite structures and thermal protection.
• Hybron - A company with proprietary manufacturing technology that enables rapid, scalable production of lightweight, high-strength composite components for defense, aerospace, and energy.
• Supernova - A company leveraging advanced 3D printing technology to process highly viscous and energetic materials, pushing the boundaries of component performance.
• Standard Bots - An American robotics company focused on developing new solutions to automate dangerous tasks in the Defense Industrial Base. 
• Glīd - A company building dual-mode road-to-rail systems that move freight and improve logistics across the production lifecycle: from receiving, across the production floor, through shipment and delivery.

Twelve startups working across additive manufacturing, robotics, optics, logistics, materials science, aerospace and space systems competed head-to-head in a rapid fire series of pitches to a panel of judges from the defense and industrial sectors, including Samuel Moyer of NDIA, Ken Rothaermel of ACMI Federal, Tamara Dufresne of NAVSEA, Zach Beecher of Booz Allen Hamilton, and Colin McGonagill of McGonagill & Bay Exploration. Judges scored each company on technical merit, innovation, product readiness, and impact.

"Every company competing in the Horizon Manufacturing Cup is building something the American industrial base needs right now," said Ken Rothaermel, CEO of ACMI Federal. "Solving complex problems at unprecedented speed requires thinking outside the box—and that's exactly what we did with this competition, and what these winners demonstrated on stage. While funding gets a company started, production space, equipment, and supply chains are what allow it to scale. That's why we're investing in their long-term growth and bringing these companies to our National Security Industrial Hub (NSIH) and Munitions Campus. Congratulations to all of our winners!"

In addition to funding, the five award-winning companies from the Horizon Manufacturing Cup will join SPINNER North America, Limitless Aeronautics, iRocket and Prometheus Energetics, as tenants of ACMI's National Security Industrial Hub and Munitions Campus, a 1,500-plus acre manufacturing ecosystem adjacent to Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane and Crane Army Ammunition Activity in southern Indiana. These recipients gain access to world-class prototyping equipment, industrial infrastructure, technical resources, supply chains, scaling space, and talent networks provided by ACMI Federal as they move from prototype into production.

"We're honored to win the Horizon Manufacturing Cup and are grateful to ACMI and the judges for selecting Raven," said Blake Herren, CEO of Raven Space Systems. "This award accelerates our ability to deliver critical rocket motor components in weeks instead of months, and we're excited to join the Munitions Campus."

ACMI launched the Horizon Manufacturing Cup in August 2026 to rapidly identify and scale critical hardware, advanced materials, and manufacturing technologies—supporting companies transitioning prototypes into production and strengthening the defense manufacturing supply chain and the munitions industrial base. The inaugural competition drew more than 70 applications from companies across the nation, resulting in a rigorous selection process that narrowed the field to 12 pitch-day contestants and ultimately the five awardees. This significant response reinforces the strong drive among emerging businesses to enter or expand their presence in the Defense Industrial Base and contribute to national security.

About the American Center for Manufacturing and Innovation (ACMI)
The American Center for Manufacturing & Innovation (ACMI) is an industrial group focused on revitalizing the United States' manufacturing base by building essential infrastructure and providing the strategic investment and support modern manufacturers need to scale. Operating through affiliates ACMI Federal, ACMI Capital, and ACMI Properties, ACMI aligns public and private capital, specialized resources, and technical expertise to bridge critical gaps in domestic production. By partnering with emerging and established companies across vital industrial sectors, ACMI is expanding U.S. manufacturing capacity, strengthening supply chains, accelerating innovation, and increasing economic resilience across the American industrial base.

Media Contact:
Jack Buttacavoli
[email protected]

SOURCE American Center for Manufacturing and Innovation