Research-driven strategy for building what matters
“I combine doctoral-level research rigor, founder-level 0→1 execution, and venture studio pattern recognition to identify opportunities at the frontier of new markets and technologies”
I work at the earliest stages of new ideas, figuring out where the real problems lie and which opportunities are worth pursuing. I currently lead research and ideation at a venture studio building AI solutions for small businesses, with work spanning early-stage research, customer discovery, venture validation, product strategy, and 0→1 product development.
Earlier in my career, I built a foundation across research, strategy, and startup execution. As a co-founder of a space startup, I led strategy and operations, closed a multi-million-dollar seed round, developed an award-winning pitch, and brought a novel technology from concept to launch. Prior to this, I conducted primary and secondary research to inform market entry and growth decisions, advised early-stage startups on customer understanding and go-to-market strategy, and held senior strategy and analytics roles within complex, global organizations.
I hold a PhD in entrepreneurial learning and conduct ongoing research on entrepreneurs and the ecosystems that support them. After nearly a decade working across the African continent, I remain actively engaged in the region through research, publication, and supervision of entrepreneurship-focused PhD and MBA students. My academic work examines how entrepreneurs learn, grow, and build capabilities within complex, resource-constrained environments.
Areas of Expertise
APPLIED RESEARCH & DISCOVERY
Early-stage concept validation and testing
Customer discovery and Jobs To Be Done analysis
Qualitative and mixed-method research design
PRODUCT & VENTURE DEVELOPMENT
Research-led venture ideation and formation
0→1 product definition and strategy
Taking new products and ventures from concept to launch
STRATEGY & OPPORTUNITY FORMATION
Early-stage market research and white-space analysis
Opportunity identification and prioritization
Go-to-market and commercialization strategy
Market & Opportunity Intelligence
Translating market and competitive intelligence into product direction
Industry, competitive, and trend analysis across emerging sectors
Synthesizing customer behavior and demand signals into opportunity
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems & LEARNING
Entrepreneurial learning and capability development
Institutional, cultural, and structural dynamics shaping entrepreneurship
Research and field work spanning startup ecosystems across the US and Africa
evidence-based decision making
Turning complex research into clear strategic direction
Building applied frameworks that move teams from uncertainty to action
Designing analytics and measurement systems that track what matters