The AI Cowboys

Company

A veteran-owned lab with a Texas work ethic.

The AI Cowboys is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business in San Antonio, an hour from Austin and next door to JBSA, building AI, data and security systems for government and enterprise.

Texas's Rising AI Powerhouse

Founded in 2024 by former Air Force leader Michael J. Pendleton, The AI Cowboys has rapidly become one of Texas' hottest tech startups, currently ranked #6 among AI companies in the state. Headquartered in San Antonio, the nation's 6th largest city and a thriving hub within Texas's vibrant tech corridor, we're uniquely positioned at the intersection of national security, professional sports, healthcare, and academic research.

Our strategic location places us just one hour from Austin, 2.5 hours from Houston, and 4 hours from Dallas–Fort Worth, granting unparalleled access to premier talent, strategic partners, and diverse markets. This prime location allows us to remain agile, responsive, and deeply invested in groundbreaking research and development.

We've garnered significant industry recognition, including acknowledgments from tech giants like LlamaIndex and NVIDIA, highlighting our innovative approach to Small Language Models and agentic AI. Our quantum-driven, deterministic, and explainable AI solutions set us apart by addressing critical challenges like bias, hallucinations, and inefficiencies common in traditional AI models.

The San Antonio, Texas downtown skyline at dusk

Proven Excellence Across Critical Industries

At The AI Cowboys, our capabilities are demonstrated through high-impact partnerships and active projects with some of the most demanding clients across sectors. Our current government contracts include providing quantum-secured AI solutions for the FBI and NSA, directly supporting mission-critical national security operations.

Our technology is not limited to government applications; we've successfully collaborated with major private-sector clients such as the WWE and the NFL Players Association, deploying advanced analytics and performance optimization solutions. Recently, we've strategically entered the healthcare and biomedical industries, developing state-of-the-art, secure AI infrastructures and hyperscale computing solutions designed specifically for medical research and patient data protection.

A pivotal partnership with the University of Texas at San Antonio, an esteemed R1 research institution, coupled with our collaboration with the National Security Collaboration Center under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, positions us as leaders at the intersection of cutting-edge academic research, national security, and technological innovation.

Our track record proves that we're more than just an AI startup: we're delivering transformative, reliable, and secure AI solutions for industries and organizations where precision, security, and reliability are paramount. The AI Cowboys are poised not just to scale locally, but to become a global leader in AI innovation.

A data center in San Antonio, Texas operated by The AI Cowboys

Meet the team

Get to know the leaders driving AI innovation, education initiatives, cybersecurity applications, quantum breakthroughs, and real-world results at The AI Cowboys.

Frequently asked questions

How is The AI Cowboys ranked among Texas AI startups?

The AI Cowboys are currently ranked #6 among AI startups in Texas, combining rapid growth, diverse industry impact, and strategic partnerships to climb the leaderboard.

Who founded The AI Cowboys and what is their background?

Founded in 2024 by former Air Force leader Michael J. Pendleton, The AI Cowboys leverage military-grade discipline and expertise to build secure, mission-critical AI solutions.

What industries do The AI Cowboys serve?

We serve government agencies (FBI, NSA), professional sports organizations (WWE, NFLPA), healthcare, academic research (UTSA and the UTSA National Security Collaboration Center), EduTech sectors, and the Department of Education with tailored AI and quantum solutions.

What academic partnerships support The AI Cowboys' research?

We hold a key Memorandum of Understanding with UTSA (an R1 institution) and collaborate with the National Security Collaboration Center under ODNI to advance secure biomedical and AI research.

Why choose The AI Cowboys over other AI companies?

Our unique blend of national security credentials, elite sports analytics, quantum computing expertise, and academic collaborations positions us as Texas' most versatile and reliable AI partner.

How does The AI Cowboys integrate quantum computing into AI?

Our quantum-enhanced AI leverages Topology-on-Demand architectures and co-packaged optics for dynamic, high-speed compute fabrics that accelerate model training and simulations.

How can AI and Quantum Computing benefit my business?

AI automates tasks, improves decision-making, and enhances customer interactions. Quantum computing tackles complex computations at speeds traditional computers can't match, helping industries solve large-scale optimization and encryption challenges.

Can The AI Cowboys help with securing government contracts and grants?

Yes. We specialize in helping businesses integrate emerging technologies to meet eligibility criteria for government contracts, SBIR/STTR grants, and defense technology initiatives.

Credentials

SDVOSB
Service-Disabled Veteran-OwnedCAGE 9V9EO
UTSA NSCC
Resident at the National Security Collaboration Centerunder ODNI
2026
San Antonio Innovator of the Yearawarded
#6
AI startups in Texasby ranking

NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute and IBM SkillsBuild partner. Aligned to NIST, CMMC and FedRAMP, with SBOM and EO 14028 practice built in. Based at the UT San Antonio College of AI, Cybersecurity and Computing (San Pedro I) in downtown San Antonio, alongside the National Security Collaboration Center.