Sentinel Forge / Evidence desk
Two research briefs, built from public records, on how Orcrist and Phaestus could reach relevant requirements, capital, research partners and paying customers. Explore the evidence behind the next commercial move.
These briefs are Sentinel Forge’s own research from public records. The companies named here are not clients, partners or endorsers of Sentinel Forge.
Two company briefs. Named programs, prospective partners and practical next steps.
Public evidence · read-only. This page uses reviewed public sources and does not expose customer data.
Limits. Public-record research as of 21 September 2026. Not legal, investment or procurement advice. Verify dates and eligibility at the source before acting on anything here.
Orcrist: Requirement. Named buyer. 7 funding routes shown.
Company context / Public sources
Orcrist develops counter-UAS technology. Orcrist, Inc. is a subsidiary of SerenX, its parent company. Its public focus connects to an identifiable Army buyer community, a dedicated commercial acquisition channel and university-supported research in Central Florida. [1][2][6][11]
These briefs are Sentinel Forge’s own research from public records. The companies named here are not clients, partners or endorsers of Sentinel Forge.
01 / Requirement to revenue
Select a stage to see the commercial logic, supporting sources and next steps.
The Army’s counter-UAS budget identifies procurement through IDIQ and other-transaction contracts, with DLA, Common Hardware Systems and Army Contracting Command among the channels for handheld or dismounted systems. [4]
Market procurement precedent
The Army’s July 2026 CACI announcement records an IDIQ contract and an initial SkyValor task order for Domestic Shield. This market precedent identifies a real purchasing mechanism and an incumbent to assess for supplier opportunities. [8]
02 / Capital and procurement
Relevant capital, research partners and buying channels—with a practical next step for each.
7 routes · assessment as of
| Route / status | Capital / customer | Why it fits | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army xTech|Search 10Prize / research pathwayApply by 19 Oct 2026 | Eligible U.S. small business | An open-topic entry to Army feedback, prize funding and a potential follow-on Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal. [9] | Submit the concept white paper by 19 October 2026, 5 p.m. ET. Check U.S. small-business ownership and competition rules. Selected finalists progress to the March–April 2027 research-proposal window. |
| Florida High Tech Corridor / UCFResearch fundingRolling research intake | University research team; company co-invests | Orlando presence and applied technology development make this a practical university-funded R&D route. [11][1] | Contact the UCF program director, identify a faculty PI and agree a co-funded scope; confirm regional presence and student participation. |
| Squadra VenturesEquityInvestor fit | Company selected for investment | Early-stage national security focus and a defense portfolio make Squadra a targeted investor prospect. [13] | Lead with the buyer pathway, development milestone and use of capital; review portfolio overlap before sharing detailed materials. |
| Y Combinator / Defense RFSEquityInvestor fit | Company accepted by YC | YC’s defense RFS creates a relevant equity-pitch context for a scalable defense technology business. [14] | Connect the company’s commercial thesis to a repeatable customer problem and customer-validation plan; review current application terms. |
| UCF sponsored researchResearch partnershipPartner engagement | Research team under an agreed project | Local faculty collaboration can support independent research, sponsored projects and a future STTR work package. [12][10] | Ask UCF’s industry research team for a suitable PI; agree scope, IP terms, cost and research-to-customer handoff. |
| JIATF 401 CSO + MarketplaceProcurementPublished acquisition route | Selected supplier or prototype performer | Direct relevance to Orcrist’s counter-UAS focus, with a government channel connecting evaluation to procurement. [1][6][7][26] | Contact ACC–Detroit Arsenal through the CSO fact sheet; identify the current area of interest, customer funding and vendor-access process before preparing a proposal. |
| Army / incumbent supplier channelProcurementBuyer and partner targeting | Supplier under a prime or government order | Army purchasing channels and the CACI task-order precedent identify a concrete commercial ecosystem. [4][8] | Ask the relevant contracting office or prime’s supplier team about a customer-backed requirement and purchase route. |
03 / Evidence register
13 public sources. Open the original document, program page or investment thesis.
Company identity, Orlando location and counter-UAS focus.
Orcrist, Inc. · Reviewed 2026-09-21How the parent company of Orcrist, Inc. describes itself on its own LinkedIn page. Supplied by the site owner; LinkedIn walls automated clients, so this entry was not loaded during authoring.
SerenX · Owner-supplied 2026-09-21Budget Activity 5D, PE 0605347A: acquisition channels, evaluation and lifecycle development. April 2026 budget justification.
Department of the Army · Reviewed 2026-09-2126 February 2026: counter-UAS commercial acquisition route, with a link to the official SAM.gov notice and its areas of interest.
Army Pathway for Innovation and Technology · Reviewed 2026-09-21Government marketplace for discovering, evaluating and procuring counter-UAS technology; vendor-access information.
JIATF 401 · Reviewed 2026-09-2130 July 2026: CACI IDIQ and initial SkyValor task order. Evidence of a buying channel in this market.
U.S. Army · Reviewed 2026-09-21Concept papers due 19 October 2026, 5 p.m. Eastern. Selected finalists can pursue a later Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal.
U.S. Army · Reviewed 2026-09-21Research funding, research-institution participation and Phase III commercialization using non-SBIR funds.
U.S. Small Business Administration · Reviewed 2026-09-21Rolling university-led applied research. Industry co-investment and a presence in the 23-county region are required; funding goes to UCF or USF.
Florida High Tech Corridor · Reviewed 2026-09-21Sponsored research, industry collaboration and prime/subcontract structures for externally funded projects.
University of Central Florida · Reviewed 2026-09-21Early-stage national security and dual-use investment; public portfolio includes PDW and Volund Manufacturing. Pitch intake is available.
Squadra Ventures · Reviewed 2026-09-21Fall 2026 defense request includes resilient logistics and advanced manufacturing. Use to frame an equity pitch.
Y Combinator · Reviewed 2026-09-21Official CSO W912CH-26-S-X001 fact sheet: mission, contracting organization and public inquiry contact.
Army Contracting Command–Detroit Arsenal · Reviewed 2026-09-2104 / Research method
Built with SF Deep Search across the public corpus, founder-focused web checks and a review of original sources. We connect company capabilities to requirements, funding, validation partners and purchasing routes—then identify the next commercial action.
This curated brief was reviewed on 21 September 2026. Source links show the basis for each recommendation; market precedents show how other suppliers reached a customer.