2017 Schedule
GROW
Enabling the coming Space Data Revolution
Space based remote sensing systems are predicted to revolutionize data
analytics, a $50 to $100 billion market. Innovative startups have broken down the
barriers to entry and attracted the attention of venture capitalists, with investments in
space tech of over $3.7B in the last two years, more than two and a half times the total
for the previous 14 years combined. Our panel will consider what innovations have
driven this revolution, what barriers to entry still exist, how will these be overcome, and
the potential for Denver to become a global space tech hub.
Panel:
Moderator: Wells Person is COO of York Space Systems, a Denver based aerospace
company building the first standardized industrial grade spacecraft platform.
Additionally, Wells is a former NASA systems engineer and experienced angel investor
with Central Texas Angel Network and NextGen Venture Partners.
Panelist: David Mitlyng is Senior Vice President of BridgeSat, a Denver based
aerospace company developing an optical communications network that offers secure
delivery of big data from low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites at faster speeds and a lower
cost than traditional radio frequency solutions. During his more than 20-year career in
the satellite industry, David has served in Business Development and Systems
Engineering positions for multiple leading aerospace companies.
Panelist: Dylan Taylor is a leading angel investor, thought leader, futurist, and founding
partner of Space Angels, a global network of commercial aerospace investors and
entrepreneurs. As an early-stage investor in more than 40 emerging ventures, including
Planet, OmniEarth, Accion, York, Kepler, and Vector Space, Dylan has played a key
role in the growth of the private space industry.
Panelist: Innovation Pavilion CEO Vic Ahmed
A serial entrepreneur, Vic is a visionary behind Innovation Pavilion. Vic has built several startup companies from scratch and he has the gift for translating visions and foresight into sizeable business opportunities. He has consistently demonstrated the commitment and energy needed to raise angel , venture and private equity funding, with world-class teams. In both large corporations and startups, Vic formed a reputation as a visionary by articulating concepts and plans to investors, employees, partners, and customers alike. A leader that is hands-on, results-oriented, technically skilled and experienced, he is at home in a high-growth, high-tech business environment. He has raised tens of millions of dollars and managed hundreds of employees, with the ability to quickly adjust to market changes by balancing between strategic planning and focused execution. Vic earned BSC degrees in Computer Science and Systems Engineering from Washington University in St Louis, MO, and has participated in numerous management programs including Stanford University’s Executive Leadership program..
Panelist: Dr. Nina Radojevich-Kelley is an Assistant Professor of Management at MSU
Denver having taught at the collegiate level for over sixteen years. Her primary teaching
discipline and expertise is in entrepreneurship. She has taught a multitude of
entrepreneurship classes nationally and internationally, authored a book on high
performance teams, published numerous academic articles and conducts workshops at
various conferences yearly. For the past nineteen years, Nina has been an active small
business owner and entrepreneur, as well as an active angel investor in the local
community. As an angel investor, she has invested in more than 75 companies over the
past several years. When she is not working, she enjoys traveling and spending time
with her family. To date, Nina has explored more than 115 countries throughout the
world.
VENUE DETAILS: 1st Floor Aerospace and Engineering Sciences Building, MSU Denver (note, the nearest cross streets to the entrance are 7th & Auraria) 1449 7th Street, Denver, CO 80204