Eight Startups with geospatial-intelligence technology (GEOINT) last week displayed opportunities to expand diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives for entrepreneurs in GEOINT at a National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) showcase event.

The showcase was a partnership between the NSIN Starts program and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) to demonstrate how partnering with a diverse set of ventures to bring new technology to the GEOINT market is helping NGA respond to modern national security problems.

NGA’s Chief Transformation Officer, Nicole Washington, delivered the keynote address on DE&I in defense innovation and shared how this event is part of a larger effort for NGA to build stronger partnerships between defense innovators, academia, and local communities to accomplish NGA’s five geospatial technology priorities: advanced analytics and modeling, data management, modern software engineering, artificial intelligence, and the future of work. For example, NGA will partner with entrepreneurs in data visualization, 3-D gaming, data augmented and virtual reality systems technologies, to assess, analyze, and apply the growth of global GEOINT data.

Watch the recording here:

NGA’s Chief Transformation Officer, Nicole Washington, delivered the keynote address at the Feb. 7 showcase.

NGA’s Chief Transformation Officer, Nicole Washington, delivered the keynote address at the Feb. 7 showcase, noting the importance of diverse perspectives for NGA.


GEOINT Startups

Skyline Nav AI Inc.
 Veteran-owned and NSIN-alumni Skyline NAV AI Inc. helps military and non-military personnel navigate in challenging conditions where global positioning systems (GPS) are unavailable. Skyline’s technology determines location by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and visualizations of the skyline.

Claim Academy
St. Louis-based Claim Academy opens doors to careers in software engineering and cybersecurity at an affordable cost and flexible schedule for those who are not able to attend full-time, four-year universities. Through immersive 12-week developer courses in tracks such as Java, C#/.Net, and Javascript, the Academy offers career training and job placement assistance to students. The startup is also certified in the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program, which offers business development resources to socially and economically disadvantaged small business owners.

Forcyte
NSIN alumni and disable-veteran owned Forcyte has software that decreases the risk of danger to the military associated with logistics by creating a new form of electrical power resupply that reduces the physical movement of power-generating components, fuel, and energy storage. Forcyte’s innovative software accurately calculates sending wireless transmissions over long distances safely and efficiently through filters of climatology, atmosphere, and terrain, while also analyzing the operational health and safety risk range due to exposure from electromagnetic radiation.

SpatialGIS
Minority-owned startup SpatialGIS offers commercial and government clients critical geographic information system (GIS) data to improve communication and decision-making processes. SpatialGIS provides a range of geospatial, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), information technology, cyber security, and data management services to understand patterns, relationships, and geographic context of data. The venture is also certified by the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

C-Edge Inc.
C-Edge Inc. provides information-technology solutions to secure data and protect future growth for their clients as technology evolves. Founded in 2004, C-Edge is a certified, Minority Owned Small Disadvantaged Business headquartered in St. Louis.

geoConvergence
geoConvergence delivers civilian and military clients geospatial-intelligence technology to accelerate and innovate better organizational decision-making. Founded in 2008, the startup is a certified partner for the U.S. government as both a minority business enterprise and a disadvantaged business enterprise.

Spectrabotics
Veteran-owned Spectrabotics is a geospatial, environmental data analytics startup that integrates GIS data and deep-learning analytics for its clients to help them discover deeper insights, make strategic predictions, and generate data-driven recommendations. Using multi-spectrum cameras on drones and algorithms, Spectrabotics collects data from fields, mines, and emergencies then crunches the numbers to make well-informed decisions. The venture was founded in 2015 with a grant through Colorado’s Office of Economic Development to use drones in precision agriculture.

Enabled Intelligence
Enabled Intelligence performs reliable, precise, and secure data labeling and AI technology testing to provide its clients valuable information for improving efficiency and competitiveness. In 2020, Enabled Intelligence and SourceAmerica partnered to expand competitive integrative employment opportunities for professionals with disabilities.

About NSIN

The National Security Innovation Network is a program of the U.S. Department of Defense that collaborates with major universities and the venture community to develop solutions that drive national security innovation. We operate three portfolios of programs and services: National Service, Collaboration, and Acceleration. Together, these portfolios form a pipeline of activities and solutions that accelerate the pace of defense innovation.

About NGA

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) delivers world-class geospatial intelligence that provides a decisive advantage to policymakers, military service members, intelligence professionals and first responders. NGA is the lead federal agency for geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) and manages a global consortium of more than 400 commercial and government relationships. The director of NGA serves as the functional manager for GEOINT, the head of the National System for Geospatial Intelligence (NSG) and the coordinator of the global Allied System for Geospatial Intelligence (ASG). In this capacity, the director is charged with synchronizing operations to realize a professional, interoperable, agile and integrated GEOINT enterprise. NGA receives guidance and oversight from DOD, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and Congress.