Not yet announced · Not yet announced
Dcode is a Washington, DC federal accelerator that helps technology companies win and scale government contracts. Founded in 2015 by CEO Meagan Metzger and cofounder Megan Vorland, it grew out of an email Metzger sent to 500 venture capital firms asking why so few of their portfolio companies sold to government. The eight-week, all-virtual Federal Accelerator runs about two hours a week and teaches teams how to find federal customers, build a contracting strategy, price and pitch their product, and use partners and resellers. Companies pay a flat $5,000 fee and give up no equity, and keep lifetime access to the learning materials, community platform, and twice-monthly government-leader events afterward. Dcode has accelerated more than 270 companies into the federal market since its first cohort in 2016, and reports that 45 of its alumni have since reached a $1 billion-plus valuation. A separate venture arm, Dcode Capital, invests in graduating companies but operates independently of admission to the accelerator. Dcode ranks 40th on the 2026 TIME and Statista list of America’s Best Incubators and Accelerators.
Frequency
2x/year
Duration
8 weeks
Investment
None — no cash provided
Equity
None — equity-free program
Program fees
$5,000
Where
USA
Sectors
AI/ML, Defence, Enterprise, Security
Stages
Growth/Late Stage, Seed, Series A
Eligibility
• Open across technology verticals, including AI, cybersecurity, quantum, edge computing, unmanned systems and clean energy
• Companies with a strong commercial foundation exploring public sector opportunities for the first time, and later-stage companies looking to strengthen an existing federal vertical
• No dedicated public sector sales team required
Selection process
• Applications reviewed for product readiness and fit with the federal market focus
• Accepted companies pay the program fee at registration to confirm their seat
• Cohort begins on its published start date with weekly virtual sessions
Benefits
• Practical work product founders reuse afterward, plus a board-ready federal go-to-market plan by the end
• A mentor network built during the program
• Lifetime access to the learning materials and the Federal Accelerator community platform after graduating
• Ad hoc support from the Dcode team for upcoming client meetings and strategy conversations
• Continuing invitations to twice-monthly Nexus events with government leaders
• Graduates may be considered for investment from Dcode Capital, Dcode’s separate venture arm, though this is independent of the accelerator itself
Notable alumni
Network
Federal agency leaders and buyers reached through twice-monthly Nexus events; corporate cloud partners including Microsoft Azure; a field expert bench of former senior military and defense officials (including former DoD Chief Digital and AI Officer Dr. Radha Plumb and former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force Lt. Gen. Clint Hinote); sister venture arm Dcode Capital.
Portfolio
270+ companies accelerated since 2016; 45 have reached unicorn ($1B+) status
Funds raised
Unreported — no aggregate alumni-raised total available; 45 accelerator alumni have reached a $1B+ valuation
🕐 Sep 2026
Report an issue