Background
KC Chhipwadia, Former NASA Engineer, Naval Reserve Officer, Entrepreneur
KC is an aspiring vetrepreneur, in early stages of setting up his “yet-to-be-named” start-up. KC graduated from the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in 1995 with a BS in mechanical engineering and from the University of Houston in 1998 with an MS in mechanical engineering. KC was originally direct commissioned as an Engineering Duty Officer (EDO) in 1999, but changed to Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) designator after achieving his SWO qualification in 2006. KC has served onboard ships, intelligence units, deployments to Iraq & Afghanistan, and currently serves in support of US Naval Forces Korea.
While at NASA, KC held engineering and leadership roles, working on the space suit, multitude of life support systems on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, the astronaut launch & survival suit-system, and the unfortunate honor of working on the Space Shuttle Columbia accident investigation.
Transition
Following his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, KC decided to do a major life pivot and follow a different path, so he left NASA in August 2013 to join a local Houston tech start-up. This experience gave him the time and accelerant to discover what he really wanted to do and what he must do….so in March 2014, he began his journey to start his own company. For the past year, he has aggressively poured himself into entrepreneur education, network growth, and start-up “idea” formulation.
Entrepreneurship
KC and his co-founder are developing technology that will help student-athletes understand the “business of being an athlete” in ways not available today. This is a powerful concept, with an opportunity to positively help student-athletes (and their parents) increase their odds of success in the game of sports and life after sports.
Quotes
Follow your passion. Live a life of significance…Always ask for help when you need it…Be hungry and obsessed
Resources
Running Lean, Victory, Traction, Founders Dilemma, Startup CEO, The Four Agreements, Strengths Finder 2.0, Kolbe Index, Abundance
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