Innovate Jax

Quang Pham Says This Separates Startup Founders from Follow-on Employees

Sometimes you meet people who radiate a presence, a calm sense-of-self, and you know there is hard-earned wisdom waiting to be shared. Quang Pham, Chairman and CEO of Westwood Therapeutics, Inc [https://www.westwoodtx.com/]., is such a person. Going from a child refugee of the Vietnam War, to serving his adopted country as a Marine Corps officer and pilot, to successfully launching three separate biopharma/biotech companies since 2000 - and being named an EY Florida Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018, to boot - Quang’s life story reads like an improbable movie script (did we include he’s an award-winning author?). It certainly translates to an individual who can seize risk and create extraordinary success regardless of his environment. Whether you’re an early-stage startup seeking that hard-earned advice on how to prepare for a funding round, or a student wondering how a science degree could translate to a variety of career options, you won’t want to miss Episode 17 of Innovate Jax [https://www.forcura.com/innovatejax]. Regardless of your intent, we guarantee you’ll leave inspired!

Kristin Keen is Breaking the Chains of Sex Trafficking

Maybe it took the Covid health crisis to make us all realize just how much we do deeply need each other. For some women here in Jax, who could be your neighbors shopping in the same aisle or praying near you in the same place of worship, their need is far more profound. Kristin Keen, founder and CEO of Rethreaded [https://www.rethreaded.com/], Inc., practically vibrates with the energy of her passion to see women freed from the chains of sex trafficking. This social entrepreneur has had her share of sleepless nights, kept awake wanting to rescue more women than she could reach and worrying how she’d pay back the $50,000 loan she needed to keep her doors open just a few years ago. Yet this self-described visionary possesses more grit than most, and has evolved Rethreaded into a powerful, successful organization whose mission is “to renew hope, reignite dreams and release potential for survivors of human trafficking locally and globally through business.” Her philanthropic business skills were honed in Calcutta, but Jacksonville has been Kristin’s unending source of support, connection - and soon, Rethreaded’s new 36,000 square feet HQ. Listen to Kristin in Episode 16 of Innovate Jax [/innovatejax] and we promise you’ll be captivated by her transformative vision too.

Raghu Misra Has Exponential Goals for Jacksonville

Raghu Misra isn’t one to think in near-term goals or small-scale impacts. A fan of Singularity University and the “abundance” mindset its founders espouse, Raghu, the founder and CEO of Wired2Perform and the Sapna Foundation, is certain he can meaningfully impact one billion interpersonal relationships AND collectively foster $1 billion in economic growth through The Link, his passion project in Nocatee, in the next ten years. A serial entrepreneur from the time he was a teen, Raghu hopes to fundamentally alter an experience-driven hiring economy to a more agile and inclusive process based on people’s dynamic interests and talents through sophisticated applications of behavioral science and analytics. And with a family legacy of sustainability and social philanthropy, Raghu is translating the enormous growth and potential of his Nocatee community into a thriving network where families and budding entrepreneurs can “learn, play, think and do” across all age groups. In our fifteenth episode of Innovate Jax, it’s easy to embrace Raghu’s post-Covid outlook that the future truly is better than you think. The Innovate Jax podcast will introduce you to the Jacksonville change-makers who are propelling our city into a new realm of sophistication. Our goal is to connect you to the people who are leaving their mark on our city today, in hopes that they inspire you to leave your mark tomorrow. Subscribe today and you’ll have fresh new episodes delivered to you each month. And feel free to recommend a guest by dropping us a note at innovatejax@forcura.com.

Andrew Rush is Manufacturing in Space and Changing the World

The CEO of Made in Space declares that space is a team sport - and needs all professions to be successful. It takes a certain kind of genius to pack a payload for a trip to space, where it’s not just the cargo dimensions but how the materials will respond to blasting through our atmosphere then behaving in zero gravity, that all have to be considered. So what if you could forego some of those complexities - and build what you need in orbit? Enter Made In Space, the world’s first space-enabled manufacturing company, recently re-headquartered here in Jax. As told by its CEO Andrew Rush, not only does their 3D-printing technology exponentially alter what can be created in the skies above (think giant satellites that build themselves or space-optimized optical fibers), it opens the possibilities of what can happen in extreme environments here on Earth. And it’s not just engineers who are invited to this mission. Andrew is recruiting experts across all business domains, because as he shares in this interview, space isn’t just for scientific exploration, it’s our next economic frontier too. Read more at www.forcura.com/innovatejax [https://www.forcura.com/innovatejax].

Jessica Santiago is Making Jacksonville an Art Destination

Starting with a business-first approach, Jessica Santiago, the CEO and Curator of ArtRepublic Global, is on a mission to transform how business, cities and individuals see the world. With clients ranging from private corporations to local governments, Jessica helps to crystalize brand identities that artists from her global network then translate into public art installations that often break boundaries, and are always memorable. Jessica, a native of Jacksonville, states that Jacksonville is a city “where makers are made,” and has the ambitious dream that she can help our city and her clients become who they were meant to become. For more, visit www.forcura.com/innovatejax