Year
2024
Client
NASA (LARC) / Langley
Category
Aerospace
Product Duration
6 Months
NASA Langley Research Center is an organization operating with a $949 million budget, supporting a workforce of 3,415 individuals, including civil servants and contract personnel. The organization is committed to fostering innovation, providing 335 internships and generating 105 patents and inventions.
My task was to find ways to unite Hampton Roads’ entrepreneurial ecosystem around unmanned systems by creating a hub where startups, researchers, and industry leaders can share insights, solve challenges, and accelerate commercialization.
NASA had so many patents and other IP that entrepreneurs could us to build new products and services. The issue with the Langley lab's physical locale is how geographically wide and flat it is. This makes it tough for entrepreneurs and other resources to convene, as opposed to densely populated city centers.
Created regional hub strategy focused on unmanned systems and high-growth industries (AI, robotics, nano tech).
Designed a sustainable business model, competitive advantage framework, and success metrics.
Facilitated collaboration between NASA Langley, state/federal agencies, and private sector leaders.
Hub strategy blueprint, stakeholder engagement plan, success metric framework
My firm "Skylance" assisted Old Dominion University (ODU) and NASA Langley Research Center design an Action Area in Hampton Roads, Virginia. The Action Area noow provides a place for startups, businesses, and customers interested in AI, nanotech, robotics, and unmanned systems (UAS) to collaborate. Together, they co-created a focus area that established a robust business model, boosting visibility for the innovation hub. Skylance also implemented clear KPIs, ensuring the hub's success and enabling data-driven adjustments along the way.
