Building the Future of Deep Tech

Brandon is a Technology and Venture Consultant and part of the Technology & Commercialization Strategy Team within FedTech. He identifies and performs due diligence on early stage technologies for inclusion into FedTech programs across governmental, academic, and private sectors. Brandon has previous engineering experience with AECOM, including onsite work at Mosul Dam, Iraq. He has additional experience as a Research Associate at Michigan State University, where he was a participant in the regional NSF I-Corps, and as a visiting researcher at Tecnalia, a research and technology center in Bilbao, Spain. He holds a BS from Georgia Tech, MS from Stanford University, and DSc from ETH Zurich, all in civil engineering with a focus on adopting digital tools and new infrastructure materials.

As Partner in Corporate Innovation, Brian works with Fortune 1000 leaders who are done waiting for permission to transform their businesses from within. His path from athlete to multi-exit entrepreneur to venture executive has produced over $3 billion in market value. Not from a single breakthrough, but from a career built on laser focus on solving a customer problem, corner-peeking, and the disciplined conviction that wisdom plus technology outperforms technology alone.

Xiao Zhong, Ph.D., joins FedTech as Vice President of Venture Building, bringing extensive experience building and investing in AI, deep tech, healthcare, and industrial ventures. He previously served as Principal at Mach49 and founded Disrupnovation, an AI-augmented operator practice focused on deep tech commercialization. Xiao designed two corporate venture capital funds totaling $120M, sourced and evaluated more than 200 startups, and incubated over 10 ventures spanning generative AI, nanomedicine, advenced materials, medtech, and foodtech. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry, an MS in Biotechnology, and has authored 18 academic publications and holds two granted patents. Based in New Jersey, Xiao brings a global network spanning the U.S., Europe, MENA, and Asia.

Iris S. Briancon, MBA, is Head of Technology Transfer & Commercialization at FedTech, where she leads initiatives focused on advancing federal innovations into real world impact through strategic partnerships and commercialization pathways. With experience spanning life sciences, entrepreneurship, public private partnerships, and technology commercialization, she has worked across government, startup, academic, and industry ecosystems to help translate emerging technologies from lab to market. Prior to FedTech, Iris held leadership roles at MITRE and multiple science and technology ventures focused on innovation, commercialization, and ecosystem development.

Harrison is a Technology and Venture Consultant on FedTech's Tech Partnerships team. He leads technical diligence for federal and corporate sponsors including NASA, DOE, USBR, SCRA, and Northrop Grumman, producing technology landscape analyses, competitive comparison matrices, and scientific diligence reports, and building the scoring frameworks and evaluation rubrics that drive candidate assessment and down-selection across engagements. He also coaches, advises, and audits Montgomery County Technology Innovation Fund portfolio companies across deep tech, aerospace, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing on regulatory pathway, venture formation, go-to-market, and IP strategy. Harrison is a PhD-trained molecular and cellular biologist with subject matter expertise across extracellular vesicle biology, biochemistry, neurotechnology, and virology, and is a primary inventor on four USPTO provisional patents. He brings a bench scientist's eye to commercialization, translating early-stage research into structured diligence and venture pathways.

Naomi Pamphile supports financial oversight and program controls across FedTech's contract portfolio. With more than 10 years of experience in finance, contracts, and operations spanning health, education, and telecommunications programs across the U.S., Africa, and Southeast Asia, she brings deep expertise in EAC development, cost variance analysis, revenue recognition, and audit readiness. Naomi is skilled at translating complex financial data into clear, actionable insight for program teams and senior leadership, and has a track record of reducing audit findings, improving cost controls, and building financial processes that scale. She holds an MBA from American University and a BA from Howard University.

Ben founded FedTech in 2015 and has led the firm through its growth from a small regional venture to an international company that catalyzes interaction between the venture world and the R&D community. He is passionate about democratizing access to deep tech and empowering entrepreneurs. Ben has taught on technology commercialization at his alma mater, the University of Maryland and previously held positions at NBC Sports and Bloomberg News. He holds a BA in History from Princeton University.

Prior to FedTech, Robyn founded and led the startAD entrepreneurship program at NYU Abu Dhabi from its inception in 2015. She designed a unique corporate sprint accelerator program with partners including GE, Oracle, Etihad and ADNOC that has served over 100 global startups, which have raised more than $50M. Before moving to the UAE, she was a former trial attorney in New York. Ms. Brazzil holds a BSBA and BA in Psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill and J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.

Lindsey oversees the strategic development and implementation of policies and procedures related to People Operations, Human Resources, and Recruiting. Her primary function includes leading initiatives to attract, develop, and retain exceptional talent while fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture. Prior to FedTech, Lindsey was heavily involved in NSF I-Corps and SBIR/STTR Boot Camp activities, supporting 2,000+ teams with customer discovery activities culminating in over a decade of program management experience. She received her M.Ed and BA in Psychology from James Madison University.

Hadas leads the energy innovation portfolio at FedTech. She oversees federal, regional, local, and international initiatives across energy, climate, aerospace, and life sciences that bridge feasibility analysis with on-the-ground venture activation. With over a decade of experience building innovation ecosystems at the intersection of federal research, private enterprise, and state-level impact, Hadas is adept at connecting strategy with execution. Her strategic oversight ensures programs align with economic development goals, emphasizing stakeholder integration, federal-state alignment, and practical implementation. She also serves as a subject matter expert in energy technology and innovation. Hadas holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering.

Gunnar Gillespie, Head of Growth at FedTech, leads custom innovation solutions across government and corporate sectors. He oversees a diverse portfolio including deep tech commercialization, accelerators, and strategic advisory services. Gunnar excels in crafting bespoke innovation ecosystems for federal agencies, defense contractors, and Fortune 500 companies. His expertise in bridging cutting-edge technology with practical applications drives transformative outcomes. Gunnar's strategic approach positions him as a key facilitator of cross-sector technological advancement.

Meredith Bermudez leads finance, accounting, and strategic operations at FedTech, supporting financial oversight and company-wide process improvements. She has a strong background in running accounting and finance departments with a focus on government contracting, bringing deep expertise in compliance, budgeting, and program support. Meredith holds dual BS degrees in Finance and Management from Virginia Tech, with a focus on Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Technology Management.

As Head of the Technology and Commercialization Strategy Team, Thomas coordinates FedTech's venture studio technology sourcing process, managing a network of professional contacts spanning across the US-Gov. DoD, DOE, DHS, NASA, and FedTech's University partners, as well as overseeing FedTech's Tech Transfer Operations Consulting and Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) advisory service offerings. Prior to joining FedTech, Thomas received his PhD in Physics - Materials Science from the Australian National University and then worked as a research scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science’s Geophysical Laboratory.

Blake leads the Defense and Commercial Innovation Team, leveraging his expertise to drive forward-thinking solutions for defense-related challenges. A retired Army Colonel with a distinguished career spanning 27 years, Blake brings extensive experience in national security, innovation, and strategic leadership. Previously, Blake served as a Principal at Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), connecting academic, entrepreneurial, and R&D communities to address complex DoD problems. Blake completed a Fellowship at The Bush School of Government and Public Service, holds a M.A. in Management and Leadership from Webster University, and a B.A. in Political Science from Texas A&M University.

Paula is an innovative and resourceful professional with a broad skillset and network developed over 30 years of leadership in academia and innovation ecosystems, both in the U.S. and abroad. As Director of Business Development at the MIT Media Lab, she connected corporates with researchers advancing technology. Paula received her A from Brown University and her Master in City Planning from MIT.

Sevan Araz is a Program Manager at FedTech. In the past, he has conducted research with the Middle East Institute, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Defense Innovation Board and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. His work focuses on defense innovation and hybrid warfare. Sevan holds a B.A. in International Affairs from the George Washington University.

Mark Bigham is a strategic advisor and entrepreneur dedicated to helping innovators shape the future. With a focus on AI-enabled autonomy, robotics, and advanced technology, Mark excels in maximizing operational performance. His extensive experience includes leadership roles at Raytheon IIS, L-3 Com, and E-Systems. Mark's specialties encompass business development, strategic planning, and operational analysis, making him a key mentor and guide at FedTech.

Stephanie Bobak is the Head of Business Intelligence Solutions at FedTech, where she leads the strategy and development of data products that enable teams and agency partners to turn programmatic data into clear, actionable insight. Her work focuses on building scalable tools for internal staff and delivering analytics solutions that help federal agencies and innovation programs demonstrate ROI, build stakeholder confidence, and secure long-term support from Congress and agency leadership. She brings a blend of finance and academic experience, shaped in part by her time at Morgan Stanley. She holds a double major in Finance and Management from the University of Houston and a Master’s in Liberal Arts from Harvard University.

Dylan has over 15 years of business development and project management experience within the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Dylan is especially passionate about leveraging deep tech to support global clean energy solutions. Prior to joining FedTech, Dylan led Root Capital’s public sector partnerships team and worked in various business development and project management roles with the World Council of Credit Unions, Allegis Global Solutions, ACDI/VOCA, USAID’s Office of Food for Peace, and Chemonics International. Dylan holds a B.A. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Vermont and an M.A. in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University. He also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guinea and Burkina Faso.

John maintains and enhances FedTech’s internal data systems, leading efforts in database management, data collection, integration, and automation to streamline operations and improve organizational efficiency. Prior to joining FedTech, he managed a global monitoring and evaluation database for an international nonprofit focused on democracy and governance, supporting programs across over 100 countries. John holds a B.S. in Diplomacy and International Relations from Seton Hall University.

Mavis Oti Amponsah is the IT Operations Manager at FedTech, where she leads technology operations and oversees the systems, infrastructure, and processes that support the organization's mission of accelerating innovation and technology commercialization. She partners with teams across the organization to deliver secure, efficient, and scalable technology solutions that drive operational excellence. Prior to joining FedTech, Mavis served as Regional IT Manager at AllerVie Health, managing technology operations across multiple locations, and as a Lead Systems Services Representative at IBM, where she provided enterprise technology support and systems leadership. Her expertise spans IT operations, cybersecurity, infrastructure management, and process optimization Mavis holds a Master of Science in Legal Studies with a concentration in Cybersecurity and Information Privacy Compliance from Drexel University, a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Computer Networking from the University of Maryland Global Campus, and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

As FedTech's Sr. HR Business Partner, Michelle aligns talent strategies with organizational goals to foster growth and innovation while driving scalable success. She enhances people operations processes, builds strong relationships, and implements solutions that elevate both operational efficiency and organizational culture. Through her guidance, Michelle empowers individuals to excel and deliver exceptional results across FedTech.

Jay leads FedTech's innovation portfolio, bringing extensive global experience across North America, Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia, Latin America, and Europe in venture ecosystem strategy. Prior to FedTech, Jay served as Senior Associate at Resonance, a global impact advisory firm, where he designed and deployed blended finance mechanisms and managed open innovation portfolios for global Fortune 500 corporations, International Development Agencies, and Philanthropy. He has expertise in structuring complex financial partnerships across government, academia, and industry to accelerate technology commercialization. Jay is passionate about mobilizing capital and technical assistance for climate solutions and bridging traditional venture capital with alternative financing structures to support innovations that address our most pressing environmental challenges. He holds an MBA from George Mason University.

John Cramp is a seasoned business executive with over 30 years of experience in leading technology-based companies through critical growth phases. Specializing in strategic planning, sales, marketing, and operations, John excels in aligning corporate strategy with operational goals. His expertise spans electronic payments, IT, and software development. John's passion lies in nurturing key relationships and driving sustained growth, making him a trusted advisor and mentor at FedTech.

Daniel advances dual-use technologies by running programs and leading teams at FedTech. Blending program execution and policy across 20+ countries, he brings experience delivering 10+ international and domestic government technology innovation programs; conducting in-depth monitoring and evaluation to set baselines for program development; and driving business development, supporting $10M+ in government contracts. He holds a Master’s in International Policy and a Bachelor’s in International Development. A California native, you can find him snowboarding in the morning and catching a sunset at the beach.

As FedTech's Digital Marketing Manager, Jess infuses her command of digital marketing, growth strategies, and analytics to elevate FedTech's digital reach and drive program success. With experience in diverse marketing management roles and an academic research background in neuropsychology and data science from institutions including UC Berkeley, she harnesses her comprehensive skill set to propel initiatives across the FedTech portfolio.

Justin Dunnicliff is currently the National Security Program Lead for Pendulum Intelligence, a Seattle-based startup focused on identifying and tracking the spread of narratives across online video and audio platforms. Justin leads Pendulum’s efforts with the federal government specifically with the defense and intelligence communities. Prior to joining Pendulum, Justin was the Deputy Director of the National Security Innovation Network, a component of the Defense Innovation Unit, focused on creating linkages between the Department of Defense and startup communities around the US.

Ellen manages the growing community of entrepreneurs, mentors, advisors, and partners for FedTech. Ellen has experience in small business resource and funding, network building, and relationship management from years in local government and global non-profit organizations. Ellen sits on the SXSW Pitch Advisory Board. She holds a Masters's Degree in International Development from the University of Pittsburgh and a B.A. From Rhodes College.

Ryan coaches and advises entrepreneurs and startups as they begin work in the national security ecosystem. Previously, he was the Chief Intrapreneur at Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) and Director of Business Development at Tangram Flex. He received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Ohio University and MS in Aerospace Engineering from University of Dayton.

Asmod boasts a multifaceted profile including experience in technology, consulting, and entrepreneurship. With an academic backdrop in Public Policy Analysis from Princeton and Economics from Peking University, he possesses a global perspective. His experience spans consulting at a global firm, spearheading innovation at King’s College Nepal, to operational leadership in tech startups. Asmod’s knack for addressing complex challenges in frontier settings to steering growth in emerging markets enriches his role at FedTech, accelerating innovation ecosystems and shaping impactful tech ventures.

Paige is a Program Manager driven by a deep passion for tackling complex problems with cutting-edge technology. Her background in innovation and entrepreneurship includes experience at a higher education institution’s innovation and entrepreneurship center, where she co-managed a student incubator and led design thinking trainings with administrators, faculty, and staff to address the university’s most pressing challenges. Paige earned both her MBA and BA from Marshall University.

Thom leverages experiential coaching and learning to empower scientists, inventors and researchers to be more entrepreneurial and commercialize services. As a strategist, innovator, and design researcher with 20 years experience with companies in different stages of growth, Thom has successfully lead dozens of new product development, launch and improvement efforts. Thom received his MBA from Northeastern University and completed Stanford’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship program.

Justin McEwen is a proud U.S. Air Force veteran with a deep passion for national defense, innovation, and public service. Following his time in uniform, he served as a Wounded Warrior Fellow for the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, where he helped advance key military and veteran priorities at the federal level. Backed by a Master of Business Administration and years of experience bridging defense, policy, and innovation, Justin is now honored to help accelerate cutting-edge technologies that empower warfighters and strengthen our national security.

Lily McGonagle is a Senior Program Manager on FedTech’s Defense and Commercial Innovation Team, where she leads commercialization strategy for advanced technologies emerging from federal defense R&D. She oversees DARPA’s Commercial Accelerator, directing program strategy and execution to help research teams translate breakthrough prototypes into viable, market-ready solutions. Lily specializes in bridging cutting-edge deep tech with routes to fielded deployment. She works closely with DoD stakeholders, researchers, and founders to conduct customer discovery, structure commercialization roadmaps, and align technical development with dual-use market opportunities. With a technical foundation in Chemical and Biomolecular engineering, Lily brings analytical rigor and operational leadership to complex innovation environments. She holds both a BS and MSE in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

Alex builds streamlined processes and cross-functional workflows that help our teams keep complex projects on track. She brings extensive experience managing government contracts and supporting teams in fast-paced, high-stakes environments. With a strong background in problem-solving and project oversight, she’s a key partner in driving efficiency, ensuring compliance, and delivering high-impact projects for our clients.

Emmanuel is a Program Manager at FedTech, where he leads multi-year national energy and workforce development programs in partnership with federal agencies. He specializes in program operations, venture development, and building systems that strengthen execution and elevate participant experience. Outside of FedTech, Emmanuel has supported early-stage venture investing through due diligence and market research, helped deliver international small business conferences in collaboration with global institutions, and advised startups on commercialization and capital strategy. His work sits at the intersection of innovation, ecosystem building, and startup growth.

Jeannie Mun is a seasoned financial executive with a passion for leveraging technology and innovation. Currently the founder of JMM Capital, Jeannie has a rich background in finance and strategy, having served as the CFO at numerous venture-backed software companies including OwnBackup, MediaMath, and Operative. Jeannie's focus on strategic growth, operational excellence, and nurturing talent makes her an inspiring advisor for FedTech.

Ravi is a seasoned aerospace and defense executive who led strategic growth for top-tier firms across India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Most recently, he served as Managing Director at BAE Systems, driving regional strategy in alignment with India’s Self-Reliant initiative. Before that, he spent over 14 years at Raytheon Technologies, culminating as President for Raytheon in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, where he expanded market reach, forged high-impact partnerships, and launched advanced programs. Renowned for his cross-border leadership, Ravi consistently delivers transformative growth and operational excellence.

As a Marketing Specialist at FedTech, Leticia leverages her experience in marketing operations, content strategy, and campaign execution to support entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology commercialization programs. With a background supporting tech startups, nonprofits, and higher education, she brings a blend of strategic storytelling and data-informed decision-making to her work. Through her involvement in entrepreneurship and innovation programs across the DMV ecosystem during her bachelor’s in Business (Marketing and Business Analytics) at George Mason University, she’s dedicated to supporting founders and connecting entrepreneurs with the resources, networks, and opportunities they need to create lasting impact.

Geoff spent 28 years serving as a Foreign Service Officer at the US Department of State working on critical foreign policy and national security challenges, serving as a US diplomat in Europe and the Middle East. He moved to the private sector in 2018 to advise technology companies how to do business with the federal government. Geoff has mentored startups with FedTech since 2018 and supports the Accelerators team on several xTech accelerators programs.

Angie supports early-stage ventures identify their short and long-term business goals while aligning services to strengthen their technology transition plan. She is passionate about effective innovation and the acceleration of novel technologies. Before joining FedTech, Angie worked as a life sciences research consultant, specializing in molecular diagnostics and precision medicine. Her research background includes molecular virology research and rare disease advocacy. Angie holds a B.S. in Biology from the College of William & Mary and an M.S. in Biotechnology from Georgetown University.

I help B2B technology companies turn marketing into a disciplined, revenue-aligned growth engine. Whether you’re building critical marketing structures from the ground up or fixing what isn’t working, my focus is on driving qualified pipeline, accelerating adoption, and contributing directly to financial performance.

Brian is a Venture Strategy Consultant at FedTech, leveraging over 22 years of experience in the SBIR/STTR ecosystem to support early-stage through mature small businesses. He delivers actionable business intelligence, strategy and market research. Brian has successfully managed federally funded technical and business assistance projects, supported the commercialization of innovative technologies, and led proposal development (Phase I/II/III) for federal research grants across 11 of the 13 agencies with active SBIR/STTR programs.

As the Talent Acquisition Lead at FedTech, Ramya helps shape the organization's talent strategy by identifying and attracting top-tier professionals. She is committed to building a strong talent pipeline and ensuring a positive candidate experience. Prior to joining FedTech, she held various HR roles across industries such as energy, healthcare and consumer goods. Ramya holds a Bachelor's in Information Technology from Anna University and a Master's in Human Resources Management from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

As Sr. Manager, Strategic Program Operations for FedTech’s National Security Portfolio, Nalini oversees program operations and drives business efficiency across the portfolio. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with deep expertise in project management, business operations, and contractual and financial management, she specializes in maximizing efficiencies, refining processes, and leading cross-functional initiatives to solve complex challenges. Nalini focuses on building and standardizing operating procedures and enhancing day-to-day management across programs, ensuring smooth execution and continuous improvement. Her efforts play a key role in supporting FedTech’s rapid growth, maintaining operational excellence, and advancing its mission to drive innovation and deliver impactful results.

Throughout his career Bill has worked at a nexus of creating, leading and scaling clean-slate-build organizations; often in unforgiving environments; with a focus on leveraging the talents of diverse teams and coalitions. As a career Special Forces officer, he led special operators at every level up to a two-thousand-person multinational task force. This included service in Asia, Europe, the Americas and Middle East, with combat service in both Afghanistan and Iraq. In his second career, Bill has greatly enjoyed working with, mentoring and coaching innovative startups and business leaders across a variety of sectors. Bill received an MA and BA from Georgetown University and has published one novel and one play.

Anya works on the Corporate Venture and Startup Studios programs, leveraging her technical expertise and experience supporting startups with prototyping and business strategy. In addition to completing a Fulbright research fellowship in Germany, Anya earned a Physics BS and a German BA from Creighton University, as well as her PhD in Bioengineering from MIT.

Brady has worked with startups across industries in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Most recently Brady worked with DIU/NSIN connecting DoD stakeholders with academic and startup partners to solve pressing problems. Before that Brady opened a series of incubators for the University of Washington including a hardware prototyping and incubation space in Seattle, ran a medical technology angel network, and worked with life science and biotech startups.

Bianca is a Certified Licensing Professional with deep expertise in intellectual property licensing and start-up business development focused on new technologies. She previously served as CEO of a small technology company, where she successfully led its turnaround and eventual sale. With eight years of experience as a licensing executive at Sandia National Laboratories, Bianca now offers consulting services to small technology companies, specializing in intellectual property licensing from national labs, government labs, and universities.

Robert brings his passion for government and innovation to the Startup Studio team as a Portfolio Lead for the Homeland Security Startup Studio. He graduated with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies: Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government and a minor in Entrepreneurship from American University. While earning his degree, he developed business models and conducted customer discovery interviews using the Lean Start-Up Model, participating in American University’s I-CORPS cohort.