We’re excited to introduce the inaugural founders selected for the Aerospace Accelerator Program (AAP): Colin Hill, Co-Founder & CTO of Think Solutions Engineering, and Mac Hunik, CEO & Founder of Threshold UAV. These innovators are building technologies with the potential to transform both national security and agricultural productivity.
Backed by Calgary Economic Development’s Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund and Prairies Economic Development Canada—and supported by industry partners including WestJet, the Calgary Airport Authority, and Chapter AI Ventures—the AAP is designed to help early-stage aerospace startups scale. The program offers up to $200,000 in grant funding, including salary support for a founder, plus individualized mentorship, technical development resources, and access to the Aerospace Innovation Hub. The goal? To help bold startups get off the ground–and soar.
Colin Hill is leading the charge at Think Solutions Engineering, where he’s developing a novel counter uncrewed aerial system (CUAS) platform. With the rising use of low-cost consumer drones in military and security contexts, Colin’s team is building autonomous, low-cost effectors designed to neutralize threats to critical infrastructure and secure airspace. Holding a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calgary, Colin brings deep expertise in autonomous robotics, flight vehicle design, and hybrid rocket development. His vision? To make Canada and its allies safer with scalable CUAS technology rooted in cutting-edge engineering.
Mac Hunik is transforming the agricultural landscape with Threshold UAV, a company that turns low-cost drones into smart, swarming aerial imaging tools. Built for broad-acre farmland, Threshold’s drone swarms enable rapid, repeated data collection–giving agricultural professionals the insights they need to make informed decisions faster and more efficiently. Mac’s journey began with a background in competitive robotics and aerial LiDAR operations in Canada’s North, where he saw firsthand the power of aerial data. Today, he’s combining that experience with a Mechanical Engineering Technology degree from SAIT to build drone solutions tailored to the evolving needs of precision agriculture.
Both Colin and Mac embody the mission of the Aerospace Accelerator Program: tackling big challenges with bold ideas. We’re proud to support their journeys and look forward to what they’ll build next.
Learn more about the Aerospace Accelerator Program.