Research-driven strategy for building what matters
“My work combines doctoral-level research rigor, founder-level 0→1 execution, and venture studio pattern recognition at the frontier of new markets and technologies”
I work at the earliest stages of new ideas, figuring out what's worth building and why. Right now, that means leading research and ideation at a venture studio building AI solutions for small businesses, doing the early work to identify real problems, validate opportunities, and shape product strategy.
Earlier in my career, I co-founded a space startup, leading strategy and operations from concept to commercialization and closing a multi-million-dollar seed round. Before that, I built a foundation across research, strategy, and analytics, conducting market research, advising early-stage founders, and leading strategy work inside large global organizations.
I also hold a PhD in entrepreneurial learning and conduct ongoing research on entrepreneurs and the ecosystems that support them. After nearly a decade of work across Africa, I remain actively engaged with the continent through research, publication, and the supervision of entrepreneurship-focused PhD and MBA students.
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
Building company infrastructure from zero to scale
STRATEGY & OPPORTUNITY FORMATION
Early-stage market research and white-space analysis
Portfolio-level opportunity identification and prioritization
Go-to-market and commercialization strategy
Market & Opportunity Intelligence
Translating market insight into product direction
Industry, competitive, and trend analysis across sectors
Pain point, demand, and behavioral synthesis
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems & LEARNING
Entrepreneurial learning and capability development
Institutional, cultural, and structural dynamics shaping entrepreneurship
Startup ecosystems across the US and Africa
evidence-based decision making
Turning complex research into clear strategic narratives
Translating research into decision frameworks
Measurement frameworks and applied analytics