The Georgia Institute of Technology’s first “Space Game” this Saturday was planned to celebrate its contributions to space exploration and research. Now, the themed football game against Boston College is also commemorating a new partnership.
Georgia Tech is joining 11 other universities in the U.S. Space Force's University Partnership Program — another win for the university’s aerospace expertise and talent.
The U.S. Space Force is the newest branch of the military and established its University Partnership Program to recruit and retain a diverse science and technology workforce and innovate aerospace technologies. Georgia Tech’s aerospace engineering research, expertise in national defense and security, diverse student population and ROTC program secured the partnership.
Lt. General Nina M. Armagno, the Space Force director of staff, signed the agreement with Georgia Tech Provost Steven W. McLaughlin and Executive Vice President for Research Chaouki T. Abdallah.
The aerospace program in Georgia Tech College of Engineering has consistently been recognized as one of the top programs in the country. Georgia Tech has 14 graduates who have flown to space, according to the Space Game announcement.
That program and Georgia Tech’s other research efforts have already garnered a strong relationship with the federal government and U.S. military.
Earlier this year, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded Georgia Tech and 11 other universities a $15 million grant to find a new institute testing technology to advance deep space exploration. Georgia Tech researchers are also working collaborating on other space research projects with NASA, including the administration’s planned return to the moon.
The Georgia Tech Research Institute, the nonprofit research arm of the university, has strong ties to the U.S. Department of Defense because of its ongoing national security work. Last month, the department provided grants to the university to further its hypersonic research, which could provide “unprecedented speed and maneuverability” to the military, according to an Oct. 5 news release.
The GTRI does much of its aerospace and cybersecurity research at the Cobb County Research Facility which opened in 2019. That same year, the institute received a $245.5 million, five-year contract with the U.S. Air Force to support national defense research and technology. That campus is next to aerospace and security giant Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Marietta campus and the Dobbins Air Reserve Base.
The diversity of Georgia Tech’s student population — and Atlanta’s technology talent in general — is often cited as an advantage for the city as startups expand and new tech corporations set up massive offices. Experts say diverse workforces boost innovation and revenue.
The Space Force and Georgia Tech will establish new scholarships, internships, research areas and mentorship opportunities as part of the program.
Inno Under 25 - 2021
"Everyone comes up with ideas, but not everyone takes action. You have to take action and start learning and failing. When things are going slower than expected or feel like it's too much, don't give up. Instead, listen to your customers and jump in with both feet," said Parth Patel, lead engineer of Motus Nova.
Parth Patel
“My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is that 'ideas' don’t matter as much as you think. Focus on the problem you’re trying to solve over solutions. Investors look at your competence before they look at your idea; so invest in yourself and never stop learning!” said Divya Pinnaka, founder of Unitour.
Divya Pinnaka
“If you are even somewhat excited by the idea of entrepreneurship, the best thing you can do is to start now! No matter what it is you start, be it a dog-walking side hustle or a free website to address a problem you see, the experience will be incredibly valuable. Nothing teaches you more about the highs and lows of bringing a new idea to life than actually doing it,” said Mark Wang, co-founder of Fayd.
O.C. Chen
"Passion is cool, but obsession gets the idea to the finish line. Make sure you are all in with your vision. That is when you will start seeing results," said Jonathan Cornelius, CEO of Meet & Innovate.
gioelegantphotos
“Do what you love with people you love," said Rostam Zafari, co-founder and CEO of World Within Ventures.
Sam Lee
“While inexperience can hurt you if you try to reinvent the wheel with basics like best management practices, it can also be your greatest strength. A fresh perspective can help you understand new emergent behaviors, stay agile, and imagine a weirder future," said Danny Atkins, CEO and co-founder of MomentRanks.
MomentRanks
“Always prioritize your mental and physical health no matter how chaotic life gets. Surround yourself with people who hold you accountable and push you to dream bigger,” said Bailey Grady, Offbeat Media Group co-founder and chief operating officer.
Meriah Grove
“Entrepreneurship may seem daunting, but I like to believe in what one of my mentors, Don Oates, once told me, "it may seem like everyone has it together, but all startups, big or small, are held together with tape and gum." We shouldn't compare our ventures to one another, especially in the earlier stages, because the formative months or years have different metrics and measures of success," said Aya Ayoubi, Delta Jacket founder.
Georgia Tech
“I think entrepreneurship is a lot like being thrown into the ocean without knowing how to swim, my advice would be to keep trying new things. Eventually, you'll find your stroke, and before you know, it you're staying afloat and moving forward," said William Schubert, chief operating officer at inBrain.ai.
inBrain
“Put yourself out there, and into as many uncomfortable situations as possible! Persevering through vulnerability is the ticket to growth in all aspects of your life,” said Jack Bell, head of development at Polygon.io.
Stephen Glass
“Don't try to climb the whole mountain by pacing around it or jumping to the top. Climb by putting one foot in front of the other. One day you’ll find yourself at the top of the mountain by consistently taking one step at a time.," said Kaitlin Lutz, founder of NewCrew.
University of Georgia
"Oftentimes, the best opportunities are the ones you never anticipated. Always be open to new ideas and opportunities (different markets, alternative business models, you name it) that may not have been outlined in your original plan of action. Just keep taking action and be intentional with every move," said Lexie Newhouse, Invest Atlanta innovation and entrepreneurship program manager.
Sharry Conroy
“My biggest piece of advice to other young entrepreneurs is to surround yourself with mentors that are just a few years ahead of you on a similar path, these people will have a better understanding of your operating reality. They'll also be more willing to get in the weeds with you as you look to grow your business, and they'll hold you accountable," said Shep Ogden, CEO and co-founder of Offbeat Media Group.
Offbeat Media Group
“It's really easy to sit and tackle a bunch of non-priority issues at every point of your startup journey. It's important to roll your sleeves up and learn how to sell or build. Spend the time learning prospecting, software development or other hard skills that will move the needle on your business," said Gatherly CEO Chris Cherian.
Gatherly
"My advice to young entrepreneurs is to always stay proactive. Being a proactive person allows you to stay organized and ultimately make progress on achieving your goals. This means to be intentional with the decisions you make, which has allowed me to turn my ideas into tangible results," said Ernest Holmes, Google-in-Residence professor, nonprofit founder and software engineer.
Emani Rashad
"My advice for other young entrepreneurs is to be your biggest believer throughout the whole process. The entrepreneurial journey is filled with moments of doubt and unforeseen obstacles. The only way to make it through is to remember your passion and determination to launch your product/company. You will learn so much along the way by making it through the various hurdles. Never give up until it's clear your idea/product/company is lacking market validation. It is a tough, but valuable journey, and I am always here as a resource for any young entrepreneurs!" Medsur founder Sammie Hasen said.
Arabelle Berman
“I would advise young entrepreneurs to overcome the fear of failure and to accomplish the most challenging feat – taking the first step,” said Hodges Markwalter, co-founder and chief operating officer of Viva Finance.
Katie Malloy Photography
“Research. There’s enough information out there so we can know what NOT to do. Do your best to keep your kindness, morals, and integrity. We were put in this world to add value so be the oxygen to a market, and the solution to several problems,” said Brandy Merriweather, BstarPR founder.
Brandy Merriweather of BStarPR
"Get out there and go do it! Young entrepreneurs need to dream big and follow their dreams with action. Almost all successful entrepreneurs have faced their own failure in the past. Setbacks and failure are part of the process. Young entrepreneurs should be persistent and passionate to overcome these obstacles. You only need to be successful once to win big,” said Ameya Jadhav, executive director of Teach-Technology Organization Inc.
Ameya Jadhav
"Taking a shot at a startup now in your college years gives you a chance of it going far or at worst gives you irreplaceable experience you can leverage down the line to start your next thing, whether the next thing is sooner or later. Across all this, please do not compare yourself to those that launch billion-dollar companies in their 20s — everyone has their own story, and your identity is not in startups. There is much that is more important than entrepreneurial success or lack thereof," said Sims Pettway, associate consultant at Bain & Co. and CEO at Canary.
Sims Pettway
"Be you and build a team around who you are not. Together, create products you truly want to see come into fruition, stick with them and do not follow trends or fads because you see opportunity for short-term monetary gain. Instead, think of what will have the biggest impact and bring the largest value to people in the coming decades," said Jacob Andrews, CEO of Drones iVue.
Drones iVue
“Just start. Whatever idea that you have start it, built it, and if you can't build it then find someone who can. I remember in high school always having ideas for different inventions, but never started them because I was afraid that they wouldn't work or weren't good enough. I have found over the years that once you start and take that first step to make the idea become a reality, everything else begins to fall into place--the team, the resources, the support. You have to get over the first initial hurdle of fear and things begin to come together, slowly but surely," said Nicole Toole, CEO of Conserve Innovations.
Conserve Innovations
“Remember you have the best job ever! It’s your job to forge change, push creative bounds, dare to dream, shatter status quo’s and provide inspiration that can’t be quantified," said Matthew Gaffney, one of the co-founders of CannaGo. “There’s never a ‘perfect’ time to start a business. Just do it. Always bet on yourself," Victor Nwadike said. “Even the smallest steps put you closer to your goal. Stay humble and never be afraid to pivot," Kevin Tolliver said.
CannaGo
“I encourage young entrepreneurs to consistently focus your attention on all things related to the execution and success of your business. As witnessed in my own experience, and quoted by James Redfield, 'Where your attention goes, your reality flows,'" said Asia Murray, founder of Forty Second Sounds LLC.
Forty Second Sounds LLC
“When I look back on what helped the most in my startup journey, it was the network of people around me. I would encourage every young entrepreneur to remember everyone they meet is a member of their network, and you never know how they may end up playing a role in your journey along the way," said Connor Ford, senior full stack engineer at Infinite Giving.
Connor Ford
