About the Role 

We are seeking a Senior Innovation Advisor specializing in Dual-Use Ventures to join our team in Hawai'i. This role is designed for someone who has lived the founder journey, building, fundraising, and scaling startups and now wants to help the next generation of dual-use innovators navigate the complex path of working with the Department of Defense (DoD). 
 
As part of our dedicated team, you’ll serve as the primary industry-facing advisor to startups and scale-ups entering the defense innovation pipeline. You’ll combine practical startup knowledge with insights into DoD acquisition pathways to ensure innovators are prepared for transition, not just more R&D cycles. 

Key Responsibilities 

  • Serve as a coach and mentor for dual-use startups, guiding them through business model challenges, capital raising, and government contracting hurdles. 

  • Translate the realities of venture-backed and founder-led growth into actionable advice for companies engaging DoD for the first time. 

  • Provide structured coaching, readiness assessments, and transition strategy support aligned with DIU and DoD pathways. 

  • Contribute to the design and delivery of programming (workshops, toolkits, playbooks). 

  • Build trust with local and national stakeholders by sharing lived startup experience and lessons learned. 

  • Support DIU and mission partner engagements by preparing startups for technology transition opportunities. 

  • Serve as an industry voice, ensuring programming reflects the realities of commercialization and venture building. 

Qualifications 

Required: 

  • 10+ years of experience in startups, scale-ups, or venture-backed companies, with at least one leadership role (founder, co-founder, C-suite, or equivalent). 

  • Demonstrated success in raising capital, building teams, and/or transitioning a technology to market. 

  • Strong communication and coaching skills with demonstrated ability to mentor diverse founders and teams. 

  • Must be based in Hawai‘i or willing to relocate. 

Preferred: 

  • Experience engaging with DoD innovation pathways (e.g., DIU, SBIR/STTR, OTAs, service labs, or programs of record). 

  • Network connections across venture capital, accelerators, or defense innovation communities. 

  • Familiarity with dual-use commercialization challenges (Valley of Death, acquisition timelines, compliance). 

Why Join Us 

Working with us is more than a job — it’s a mission. We are building Hawai‘i’s front door for defense innovation, helping startups and DoD connect in ways that deliver real capability to the warfighter. This role is ideal for a seasoned entrepreneur who wants to give back, leverage their experience, and be part of a national movement to strengthen defense innovation. 

Benefits 

  • Health/Dental/Vision insurance coverage    

  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability    

  • Retirement savings plan with employer match    

  • Paid time off and holidays