Kharros Selected for Catalyst Campus Mini-Accelerator to Establish New Standard for Space AI Evaluation
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Kharros, the independent authority on test and evaluation (T&E) for dual-use AI systems, today announced its selection for the SDA TAP Lab - Catalyst Campus Mini-Accelerator. This strategic partnership will accelerate the deployment of Kharros’s productized evaluation framework within the Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission area, providing the U.S. Space Force and commercial vendors with a neutral, objective standard for validating AI performance.
The SDA TAP Lab - Catalyst Campus Mini-Accelerator is a premier dual-use technology program designed to bridge the gap between commercial innovation and national security requirements. By selecting Kharros, the program highlights a critical shift in defense acquisition: as the Department of Defense increasingly adopts commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) AI solutions, the need for rigorous, independent validation has become a frontline priority.
"Space is the most unforgiving environment for deployment, and it is currently the 'Wild West' for AI claims," said Kayden Ozdemir, Cofounder of Kharros. "We are honored to join the Catalyst Campus ecosystem. This accelerator provides the ideal operational environment to refine our SDA benchmarks alongside the very guardians and operators who rely on accurate data to make split-second decisions in orbit."
Kharros fills a critical gap in the modern defense stack. While billions are invested in developing AI models for defense, there has historically been no standardized way to test if those models work as advertised before deployment. Kharros solves this by acting as a neutral third party, using proprietary datasets and scoring rubrics to certify system performance against real-world contract requirements.
Through the Mini-Accelerator, Kharros will integrate its T&E platform directly with SDA TAP Lab problem sets. The company’s participation will focus on:
- Benchmarking AI Performance: deploying V.2 of its SDA Benchmark Datasets to evaluate commercial algorithms.
- Accelerating Procurement: helping government program offices shorten the timeline from vendor selection to deployment by providing objective "scorecards" for competing technologies.
- Operational Alignment: validating synthetic test environments against live data requirements from the National Space Defense Center (NSDC).
"The Catalyst Campus Mini-Accelerator exists to rapidly mature technologies that give our warfighters a decisive advantage," said a program representative. "Kharros brings a unique capability that enhances the entire ecosystem by ensuring that the tools we adopt are not just promising, but instead proven."
Kharros enters the program with significant momentum, having already facilitated T&E access for over 90 companies in the SDA sector. This partnership serves as a force multiplier for their mission to ensure that every AI system fielded by the Department of War is validated, trusted, and ready for the mission.
About Kharros
Kharros is the independent third party for dual-use AI test and evaluation. We build productized scoring rubrics, datasets, and synthetic environments that allow the government to buy with confidence and vendors to compete on merit. Born from a Department of War mandate to solve the evaluation bottleneck, Kharros provides the certification layer for the next generation of defense autonomy. For more information, visit www.kharros.com.
About Catalyst Campus for Technology & Innovation
Catalyst Campus for Technology & Innovation (CCTI) is a collaborative ecosystem where industry, small business, workforce training, entrepreneurs, startups, and venture capital intersect with the aerospace and defense industry to create community, spark innovation, and stimulate business growth. The SDA TAP Lab Mini-Accelerator is a high-impact program designed to support early-stage companies in rapidly developing and refining technology solutions for Space Domain Awareness. For more information, www.catalystcampus.org/programs/miniaccelerator/
For any press or media inquiries, please message contact@kharros.com
