AMA: Chante Harris - Urban innovation and government expert

I am Chante, a growth strategist championing innovative technologies and solutions that solve major problems for cities related to the built environment, mobility, agriculture, energy, property, etc. I lead business strategy engagements as Vice President at Capalino, an urban consultancy based in NYC, where I work to scale early-stage, growth-stage and established companies.

Through my work, I have driven long-term expansion for companies by leading them through the complex processes of winning procurement opportunities, securing pilot projects, undertaking design challenges, and launching community impact initiatives.

Prior to my current role, I worked to advance campaigns across the country under the Obama administration and initiatives across New York City and State. I am passionate about civic engagement and a fierce advocate for women and people of color’s representation in urban innovation. I am an alumna of the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs and a graduate of American University.

Quick fun facts: I’m a twin, tea aficionado, meditation devotee, writer and podcasts enthusiast. Dance and music are my first love, and my dad is currently teaching me how to DJ so stay tuned for some exciting mixes post-quarantine!

I will be answering your questions related to ecosystem mapping for sustainable growth, tapping into public funding opportunities, unlocking public-private R&D collaborations, understanding/tapping into your customer base in an urban market, and PPP strategy development during and post-COVID.

Let’s get started!

Republic Venture Partner Chante Harris is the first Ask Me Anything (AMA) of this weekly series!

Ask questions in the discussion section below! Must sign into Republic account to leave a question - register here. She will be answering questions Wednesday through Friday.

This educational article is provided by Republic to help its users understand this area of the market, it should not be construed as investment advice as it is impersonal, disinterested and was produced by Republic for Republic’s users, without remuneration received or expected.

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6 years ago

Hi Chante,
First, I want to thank you for doing this AMA, and I hope you're doing well during this time.
I'm curious to learn more about public-private R&D collaboration opportunities. For early-stage startups, is it very difficult to access these opportunities? How can such startups go about seeking these opportunities? (websites, networking, etc.)

Public-private R&Ds make sense for startups in certain industries while not so much for others. What are those industries where it can be very beneficial for startups to take advantage of public-private R&Ds?

1 like Reply

@jay-chang You are welcome and I hope you are well as well. On a high-level, public-private R&D collaborations can present a great opportunity for startups at any stage, not only because of funding but also because of the unique opportunities that come with partnering with government entities including access to laboratories and exclusive information/data. Regardless of the stage of your company these programs are competitive. However, there are ways to create a strategy where you identify the most relevant opportunities for your startup and improve your chances like partnering with an academic institution. I have also seen these opportunities be more effective in launching startups than sustaining them.

The value of these additional advantages depends on what you are building so it is important to consider them in relation to your long-term growth strategy. To what extent research in collaboration with a national organization or agency can help propel your technology or product? Typically, public-private partnerships result in more disruptive and impactful inventions with direct market value.

Another key upside to consider is the influence of launching your product in conjunction with a credible organization or agency. To access some of these opportunities check out the following resources. Many of these entities have newsletters you can sign up for and host events.

nsf.gov/eng/iip/pfi/index.jsp
sbir.gov/about/about-sbir
nist.gov/mep/about-nist-mep
technology.nasa.gov
nationaloffshorewind.org
edc.nyc/program/lifesci-nyc

Additionally, I think we will continue to see increased interest in and success for these programs across emerging industries like 3D printing, AI, medical and recreational cannabis, autonomous vehicles, infrastructure, energy, robotics, and agriculture. In light of COVID, I also anticipate seeing more interest in solutions related to life sciences and public health.

LifeSci NYC | NYCEDC

A $500 million investment in life sciences research and development (R&D)... Read more »