Dane Rudy

I help hardware-centric technology organizations test their founding hypotheses, prove product-market fit, and bridge the gap between initial R&D and scalable commercial success. With a background as an engineer and a founder, I understand the unique challenges of building complex systems, navigating deep-tech markets.

As the CEO and Co-Founder of a Techstars backed startup, I led the development of rapid-response launch vehicles, navigating the complexities of fundraising, customer acquisition, government policy advocacy, and organizational leadership. This experience as a founder complements my track record of driving annual sales growth from $4M to $20M at a specialized engineering services firm. As a member of the core leadership team reporting to the CEO, I spearheaded strategic planning and built the systems engineering and program management capacities required to capture and execute high-complexity hardware programs across aerospace, defense, medical, and renewable energy clientele.

I currently serve as an advisor for the Cislunar Initiative at Purdue University and a mentor for the DARPA Commercial Accelerators initiative. Most recently, I advised the CEO of a startup through a successful acquisition in Q1 2025. I am looking to provide this same high-impact leadership to companies in the aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing sectors that are moving from prototype to production and require a sustainable, scalable business strategy.