Hey everyone! Welcome back to Student Entrepreneur 101! 

Tune in to this episode to hear from Rahul Singh, Managing Partner at Dual Use Ventures and Chief Growth Officer at defense tech startup: Hybron Technologies. 

Rahul started his career in the Marine Corps and then went on to earn degrees from UCLA and USC. He’s worked at Amazon identifying innovation at the corporate level and he’s worked at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) connecting defense ecosystems with technology startups, VC's, and university research in Southern California. 

If you're ready to launch your career in defense innovation, our conversation is packed with the actionable insights you need to get started.

Tune in to our conversation and listen to Rahul share key insights on: 

- Dual-use technology and the defense tech investment landscape

- Key challenges and opportunities that dual-use startups face- how to avoid common pitfalls and Rahul’s take on winning startup strategy in today’s defense tech ecosystem

- Why engaging mission partners early and often is critical to a startup’s success

- The importance of finding your champions when engaging with different government organizations  

- The role of universities in defense innovation

  And more!

This episode is your ultimate guide to navigating the defense tech industry, building key relationships, and transforming bold ideas into real-world solutions. Let's dive right in! 

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another episode of Student Entrepreneur 101! 

Tune in to this episode to hear from Kevin Plascencia, the founding Chief of Staff for the Space Systems Integration Office at Space Systems Command. Kevin previously taught aerospace studies at UCLA as an assistant professor and has experience evaluating startups for Space Force investment. Today, Kevin is a Business Development Strategist for the space security startup: True Anomaly.

Tune in to our conversation and listen to Kevin share key insights on: 

- Current national security challenges we face in space

- The key to success for startups in space tech

- Applications of space systems in our everyday lives

- The importance of increasing workforce diversity in the industry

  And more! 

Feel free to connect with Kevin on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-plascencia-2028637a/

Hey everyone! Tune in to this episode to hear from Dr. Leon Alkalai, the founder and CEO of Mandala Space Ventures– a venture fund and studio supporting startups in the emerging space economy.

Leon earned his PhD from UCLA and established his career at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where he conducted research and later became responsible for the capture leadership of the GRAIL mission to the Moon and the INSIGHT lander on Mars. 

In this episode, you’ll get to learn more about: 

Leon’s incredible journey from his groundbreaking work at JPL to launching Mandala Space Ventures; how bold risks drive innovation and unlock new advancements in space technology and exploration; learn exciting opportunities shaping the future of the space industry; and gain valuable insights and advice to help you launch your entrepreneurial journey! 

You can connect with Leon and learn more about Mandala Space Ventures by visiting their website!
Website: https://mandalaspaceventures.com/

Hey everyone! Tune in to this episode to hear from co-founders Alex Kroll and Brandon Florian, two UCLA alumni and aerospace professionals. Currently working on stealth-mode aerospace startup Aero.Grid, which is reshaping aerial cargo mobility- Alex and Brandon share valuable insights for current students. Consider this episode a career guide—packed with strategies, inspiration, and practical advice to help you navigate your professional journey with confidence.

Alex Kroll, is a former Air Force Test Pilot with over 2,500 flight hours and extensive experience with advanced propulsion systems. He is now the Chief Strategy Officer of Grid.Aero.

Brandon Florian, an aerospace and defense professional with 20+ years of experience, including leadership roles at Northrop Grumman and Starburst Aerospace. Brandon has spearheaded accelerator programs for international space agencies and is now the Chief Commercial Officer at Grid.Aero. 

What you can expect to learn from our conversation:

The importance of mentorship: Here we discuss how to identify and cultivate mentorships that grow with you throughout your career

We also talk about the importance of building experience and networking: Alex and Brandon share tips on how to leverage your network, say yes to new opportunities, and demonstrate your interest through meaningful projects and work.

Our conversation also focuses on the reality of the entrepreneurial journey: How facing rejection, embracing trial and error, and getting market feedback early are essential for any startup journey.

This episode is packed with actionable advice and value, so let’s dive in and set you on the path to success!

You can connect with Alex and Brandon on LinkedIn!

Alex Kroll: LinkedIn 

Brandon Florian: LinkedIn 

Hey everyone! Tune in to this episode to hear from Matthew Semegran, a seasoned entrepreneur with a dynamic career journey. From art dealing to jet sales, scaling a cleaning company to property management and e-commerce – Matt’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. 

He’s here to share the lessons learned from his unique path, so tune in to our conversation to learn: how success looks different for every entrepreneur—and why there’s not one ‘right way’ to do it; the importance of adaptability and wearing many hats as an entrepreneur; how cash management is time management—and why mastering tradeoffs is essential in the early days of building your business; the importance of embracing uncertainty; why acting despite fear is what truly makes a difference; and more!

You can find Matthew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/msemegran/ 

Hey everyone! Tune in to this episode to hear from Justin Lee, the founder and CEO of Quantum Senses, a Maryland-based company that’s providing innovative assistive technology solutions such as their Earcoustic headphones, which improves the hearing experience for those with hearing impairments. 

Before Quantum Senses, Justin had a successful career as an aerospace engineer working at the Air Force and Space Force. Recently, Justin produced his own film: Turning Point, and through this work continues to share his message of the power in believing in yourself and overcoming adversity with greater audiences. 

In this episode, you’ll learn about how to go from an idea to a product with real impact,  why protecting intellectual property is important when building your business, why adaptability and resilience are key to success, how credibility and trust are critical when building your brand, and more! 

Website: www.theearcoustic.com  

Learn more about his latest film Turning Point at www.turningpointcollective.com  

Instagram: @Earcoustic and @TurningPointFilm

TikTok: @Quantum Senses

YouTube: Quantum Senses

Hey everyone! Tune in to this episode to hear from Drew Busbee: a founding member at SpaceWERX and the current COO at the Disruptive Technology Index (DTI), a California nonprofit that partners with SpaceWERX to bring technological advancement and innovation to the US Space Force.

In this episode you’ll learn about Drew’s experience building innovation programs, his work with startups to modernize space and defense technologies, you’ll also discover what’s next for the Space Economy, and more! 

Interested in attending I2A Expo Day on October 17th during LA Tech Week?

Register with the promo code GOBRUINS and get 15% off your tickets! 

Get tickets here: https://lu.ma/rs45re9x?tk=RVXKtl 

Hey rising entrepreneurs! Tune in to this episode to hear from Jessie Somekh: Co-Founder of Rotate Your Closet, a peer-to-peer platform where users can rent trendy clothes from others and generate money from their own closet. 

In this episode, you’ll learn about Jessie’s experience building Rotate, the importance of community engagement when building your startup, how to lose the fear of imperfection and embrace the iteration process when launching your product, and more! 

You can also learn more about Rotate Your Closet by visiting their website and following them on social media!

Website: https://rotateyourcloset.co/ 

Instagram: @rotateyourcloset 

Hey rising entrepreneurs! Tune in to this episode to hear from Brenna Turner: Co-Founder of Sake High- the company making sake fun, approachable, and bringing it to new audiences. 

In this episode, you’ll learn about Brenna’s experience building Sake High, the importance of finding a unique niche for your product, why networking can help you establish opportunities for your brand, and more!

You can also learn more about Sake High by visiting their website and following them on social media!

Website: https://www.sakehigh.com/ 

Instagram: @drinksakehigh

Hey rising entrepreneurs! Tune in to this episode to hear from Lena Zhang: Co-founder and COO of Cohere- a company building the Glassdoor for the retail industry that is committed to connecting retailers with emerging consumer brands. 

In this episode, you’ll learn about Lena’s experience building Cohere, why iteration and market feedback are critical for success with your startup, how supporting local businesses can have a positive impact on communities, and more!

You can also learn more about Cohere by visiting their website and following them on social media!

Instagram: thecohere_

Website: www.thecohere.com