By Tim Ryan

At REaKTOR, we don’t just report on innovation in Hampton Roads,  we live it. That’s why we’re especially excited to spotlight StewTech Inc. as one of the five standout companies selected for Neptune Shield’s inaugural Summer 2026 SEAL Tank Accelerator Cohort.
This milestone hits different because it showcases what happens when two powerful regional players deliberately link arms. REaKTOR and Neptune Shield are stronger together. By collaborating, we’re weaving a tighter, more resilient innovation ecosystem, one that accelerates founders faster, connects them to the right missions and customers, and keeps talent and capital rooted right here on the Virginia coast.
Together we create something neither could fully deliver alone: seamless pathways from prototype to production, from idea to impact, and from local ambition to global relevance.

StewTech’s Ghost Badger: From Local Vision to Defense-Ready Mobility

StewTech, led by founder Johnnie Stewart, designs and manufactures Compact Tactical Electric Vehicles (CTEV) and light electric vehicle subsystems. Their flagship Ghost Badger is a game-changing platform: a 95-pound foldable, all-terrain electric vehicle built for silent operations in demanding environments.

  • Top speed: 65 mph
  • Range: 50 miles
  • Payload: 400 pounds
  • Near-silent (48 dB) with a powerful 10,000-watt motor and advanced battery tech

This isn’t a consumer gadget; it’s serious tactical mobility for law enforcement, special operations, perimeter security, CASEVAC, and rapid response where traditional vehicles can’t go.

Stewart explained their decision to join SEAL Tank: “We applied because we understand who our target demographic is, and we know that a traditional customer acquisition approach is not what we need to prove the use case and quality of our product. We wanted to hone in on specific requirements… and become better aligned with the defense ecosystem.”
Since their first prototype, StewTech has pushed forward to V2.1, refining details for full production readiness. They’ve already landed interest from an international defense customer discovered at a trade show — validation that demand for quick, light, low-signature mobility solutions is surging.
“We decided to go the hard route for the future benefit of the Hampton Roads area,” Stewart shared. “We want to do our part in the growth and prosperity of our community.” That community-first spirit is exactly why REaKTOR exists.

Why Collaboration Multiplies Opportunity

Neptune Shield, founded by Navy SEAL veteran Nick Rocha, ran a highly competitive process, just five companies chosen from more than 80 applicants. The nine-week SEAL Tank program delivers elite mentoring, DoW-aligned stakeholder access, and acceleration tailored for advanced-stage defense tech.
When REaKTOR and Neptune Shield combine forces, the ecosystem wins on multiple levels: more curated programming, shared networks, veteran-to-founder pipelines, and a louder collective voice that attracts talent, investment, and prime contractors to Hampton Roads. Founders like Johnnie get better “reps” on stage, sharper product-market fit, and faster paths to real-world contracts.
This is the model we believe in, not competition between local organizations, but collaboration that multiplies momentum for every innovator in the region.
StewTech’s journey embodies the story we love telling at REaKTOR: determined local founders sharpening their tools, earning hard-won validation, and choosing to build here for the long haul.
If you’re an entrepreneur, engineer, veteran, or operator working on defense-adjacent tech, mobility, maritime solutions, or advanced manufacturing, now is the time to plug in. The ecosystem is firing on all cylinders, and the opportunities are accelerating.