Join us as Steve Smith (Director of Innovation & Product Development, FlightSafety Int'l) shares his tips for innovating, and how being an intrapreneur helps him be a better entrepreneur. Steve is an aerospace executive, engineer, patent holder, founder, advisor, speaker, and Ironman triathlete! Bring your innovation, product development, and go-to-market questions for our live Q&A session!

Where: Virtual - RSVP for an invite!

When: Thursday, September 24, 5:45 - 7:15 PM CST

What is Startup Grind: Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs.

Our monthly fireside chat provides ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections, and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead.

Special Guest Biography:

Steve Smith is an aerospace executive with extensive experience in innovation, data analytics, product development, and go-to-market strategies.

Steve is currently serving as Director of Innovation & Product Development at FlightSafety International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway and a leading provider of pilot training services and virtual flight simulators. In this role, Steve develops concept-to-market product roadmaps and leads multiple cross-disciplinary Agile teams innovating a wide range of new, industry-leading flight simulator and pilot training technologies and products. Prior to his current role, Steve worked as an “intrapreneur” at FlightSafety by leading a break-away, independent R&D lab to successfully innovate, patent, and field a completely new, state-of-the-art flight simulator product line. Steve started his career at FlightSafety as an aerospace engineer pioneering many of the helicopter simulation and data analytics techniques still widely used in the industry today. During his 25 years at FlightSafety, Steve has become an industry-recognized expert in the areas of helicopter simulation, innovation, data analytics, and reverse engineering technologies. Steve is a patent holder, a recipient of numerous corporate and industry awards, and a frequent public speaker.

When not in the office, Steve is an avid marathon runner and Ironman triathlete, which combined with his extensive background in data analytics, inspired him to co-found Achieve AI, an early stage startup disrupting the future of athletic performance by enabling the rise of the Quantified Athlete. Through his work at Achieve, Steve enjoys helping other athletes train better, prepare better, and perform better to achieve their goals.

Believing a rising tide of innovation raises all boats, Steve is an advocate for accelerating innovation and technology in the Tulsa area and works with community, academic and other corporate leaders promoting such development. Through 36deg N and MassChallenge, Steve enjoys advising and mentoring multiple startups and entrepreneurs, especially in the areas of innovation, product development, and go-to-market strategies. Steve also serves as a judge for the annual pitch competition at MassChallenge Texas and has led group innovation and product development seminars for Austin, TX area entrepreneurs.

Steve is also on the Board of Directors at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum.

Steve holds a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Kansas and an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.