Supporting Astronaut Scholar Innovative Ideas Ventures Initiatives
AMERICAN DREAM MAKERS PROGRAM
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s American Dream Makers Program provides support to Astronaut Scholars for advancement of their innovative ideas, ventures, and initiatives.
About the American Dream Makers Program
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s American Dream Makers Program seeks to empower and connect Astronaut Scholars who are pursuing entrepreneurial ventures, conducting cutting-edge research, developing inventive new products and processes, and commercializing innovations. ASF’s role in empowering scholars is to help establish relationships and provide access to people and resources that will result in advice, guidance, and other forms of support to advance their vision and assist in the realization of their goals. This program facilitates opportunities for Astronaut Scholars to present their inventions, business plans, proposed ventures, research proposals, and other ideas and initiatives to potential investors and supporters. ASF adds value by enabling person-to-person relationships that result in highly customized support to meet specific needs related to entrepreneurship and innovation.
Innovation Corps areas of expertise
General business guidance
(e.g., getting started, strategy, marketing, partnerships, investment, advisory board, leadership)
Grants and funding navigation
(e.g., Federal SBIR/STTR, pitch competitions, third party investment)
Connection with outside resources
(e.g., local innovation centers, incubators, small business assistance offices)
Personal development
(e.g., leadership training through ASF, writing feedback)
Note: The Innovation Corps does not provide legal advice,
funding or application writing.
American Dream Makers Entrepreneur Showcase:
Join the American Dream Makers Program!
Astronaut Scholars interested in the American Dream Makers Program should fill out the ADM Interest Form.
Join the Innovation Corps!
If you are interested in becoming an Innovation Corps member, please fill out the Innovation Corps Application.
For More Information
For more information about the American Dream Makers Program, contact us at +1 407-362-7900 or programs@astronautscholarship.org.
Experienced and Trusted Advisors
Becky Aistrup
About
Owner
Aistrup Consulting
Areas of Expertise:
Entrepreneurship, Starting a Small Business, Nondilutive R&D Grants, IP/Licensing, Government Contracts & Grants, Market/Competitive Analysis & Research, Marketing Plan Strategy & Development
Vivian Doelling, Ph.D.
About
Vice President, Investments Emerging Company Development
North Carolina Biotechnology Center
Areas of Expertise:
Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, Pitch Competitions
Derek Lang, Ph.D.
About
Space Launch and Satellite Consulting
Engineering Space
Areas of Expertise:
Starting a Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Commercialization of Innovations, Venture Capital, Grants, Small Business Innovation Research, Patents, Idea Pitch Competitions
Scott Pleasants
About
Strategic Innovation Advisor Chief Executive Officer
Adv., Innovate Lynchburg CEO, DMGTODAY
Areas of Expertise:
Tech. Commercialization, Entrepreneurship, People Connector, Angel/VC Funding, Emerging Technologies, 3D Printing Technology and Additive Manufacturing, Immersive Technologies
Bruce C. Thornton
About
President
CMS Technology, Inc.
Areas of Expertise:
Technology, Business and Corporate Governance, Entrepreneurship, Business Development, Start-ups, Regulation Compliance, Payroll and Taxation, Merger & Acquisition, Marketing, Equity Leverage and Management, Large Firm Management, Tax Strategies, Accounting, Cash Management
Danielle Kido Amaegbo
About
Austin College
Areas of Expertise:
Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, Pitch Competitions, Grants, Biotech and Pharma Innovation, Mentorship in STEM, Research Commercialization
Andrew Jones, Ph.D.
About
Chief Executive Office and Co-Founder
Activated Research Company (ARC)
Areas of Expertise:
Startups, Small Business Innovation Research, Chemistry, Catalysis, 3D Printing, Chemical Analysis
Betsy Lulfs
About
Senior Program Manager
Thomson Reuters
Areas of Expertise:
Grants, Small Business Innovation Research
Charlie Precourt
About
Vice President, Propulsion Systems
Northrop Grumman Space Systems
Areas of Expertise:
Starting a Small Business, Leadership, Government Contracting, Business Operations
Karen White
About
Research and Development Commercialization Facilitator
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Areas of Expertise:
Commercialization, Patents, Idea Pitch Competitions, University Technology Transfer, Research Development and Innovation Management, Intellectual Property Management, Licensing (Patents and Copyright), Early Stage Startups and Entrepreneurship
Jessica Blomberg, Ph.D.
About
Owner
Quality CMC Consulting, LLC
Areas of Expertise:
Entrepreneurship, Starting a Small Business, Virtual Drug Development, Compliance and Regulatory Strategy, Technical Transfer, Due Diligence Assessments
Michael J. Keller, J.D.
About
Of Counsel
Halloran, Farkas, Kittila, LLP
Areas of Expertise:
Entrepreneurship, Starting a Small Business, Patents, Venture Capital
Michael Markesbery
About
Chief Executive Officer
OROS Apparel
Areas of Expertise:
Starting a Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Commercialization, Patents, Idea Pitch Competitions
David Rahmani
About
Commerical Partnerships Manager/GameChanger
Shell
Areas of Expertise:
Business Development, Commerical Partnerships, Energy and Climate, Pitches, Venture Capital
André Boulet
About
Managing Director President
M.D., AX Space Engineering ServicesPres., V3 Consulting Engineering
Areas of Expertise:
Entrepreneurship, Small Business and Technology Certifications, Venture Capital Pitch Competitions, Grants, Patents, Intellectual Property Protection, SBIR, Technology, Partnerships
Trent Kingery, Ph.D.
About
NASA Research Pilot/AST Owner/Pilot
Aircraft Operations Division, NASA Johnson Space Ctr. Vertical Views Photography`
Areas of Expertise:
Entrepreneurship, Starting a Small Bus., SBIR, Other: Gov. Acquisition, Gov. Contracts, Military and Civilian Aviation, Flight Test and Eval./Cert., Business and Systems Dynamics Modeling
Wayne R. Pearl
About
Founder
Bio-Ops Consulting, Inc.
Areas of Expertise:
Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Regulatory Compliance, Business Operations, Business Finance, Starting Up New Biotechnology Companies, Xbox Video Games
Lisa A. Schott
About
President and Principal Acoustical Consultant
Quietly Making Noise, LLC
Areas of Expertise:
Entrepreneurship, Starting a Small Business, Small Business Certifications, Patents