UC San Diego and venture capital firm Bow Capital are backing six La Jolla-based startups with $100,000 each to build technologies that serve both national defense and the private sector.

The joint incubator, announced by UC San Diego on Tuesday, Sept. 1, launched in June and runs for three months at the university's Design and Innovation Building. The six companies were founded by UC San Diego students, faculty and alumni. Their work spans drone detection, radiation sensing, advanced ceramics, cooling systems and site security.

"Many of the world's most important technologies begin in research labs but never make it into the hands of those who need it most," said Andre Ranadivé, a Bow Capital partner and Army veteran. "Through our partnership with the OIC team, we're building a dual-use technology incubator that helps bridge that gap."

Bow Capital, founded in partnership with the University of California Board of Regents, focuses on seed- and Series A-stage investments. The UC San Diego Office of Innovation and Commercialization (OIC) runs the university side.

Paul Roben, UC San Diego's associate vice chancellor of innovation and commercialization, said the program aims to turn the San Diego region into "a national powerhouse for dual-use innovation." Shane Moise, director of the university's Horizon Accelerator, called the inaugural cohort "the proof point" for connecting lab research with government and commercial buyers.

Netra, founded by Pranay Yalamanchali, William Stobaugh, Tanay Karumanchi and Landon Stobaugh, is building a counter-drone detection platform that weaves radio frequency, acoustic and optical sensors into a mesh network. Evaporion, led by UC San Diego engineering professor Renkun Chen, claims its cooling technology removes heat 10 times faster than current liquid cooling.

Valanor pairs ground robots with drones for airport and stadium security. AMRADTECH is developing a networked radiation-detection system small enough to deploy widely.

Tessera Ceramics, founded by assistant chemistry professor Kent Griffith, engineers rare-earth-free ceramics for jet engines and thermal barriers. ReBlood RX is creating a shelf-stable oxygen carrier for use when donor blood is unavailable.

Teams were chosen based on technical depth, execution speed and alignment with national security priorities, according to the university.

The incubator draws on several existing UC San Diego programs: Horizon, the OIC's accelerator; FORGE, a dual-use national security initiative; Innovating for National Security (i4NS); and Accelerating Innovations to Market (AIM). Beyond the $100,000, each team gets mentorship, introductions to government customers and access to investors.

Stifel Bank sponsored the program and set up accounts for all six founders. DLA Piper, through Horizon board member Lisa Haile, provided legal support to help the startups establish corporate structures.

The three-month program wraps up in September. No timeline for a second cohort has been announced.