The Sky is the Limit
Vertx Partners CATHY BONNSTETTER VERTX PARTNERS
It ’ s all about connection and problem solving at retired Air Force Colonel Sean Frisbee ’ s company , Vertx Partners , as the company president and his lean staff encourage Appalachian high-tech researchers and entrepreneurs to broaden their view and look to the sky for economic opportunities that provide innovative security measures for the nation .
Frisbee founded Vertx Partners in 2021 to help strengthen and grow West Virginia ’ s economy while solving problems for the U . S . Air Force . His goal is to create a national security innovation marketplace that links the U . S . Department of Defense ( DOD ) with high-tech creators and researchers . Partners of Vertx include education institutions and technology businesses new to defense department contracting .
“ There are great companies in West Virginia developing incredible technology ,” Frisbee says . “ We want to increase the number of West Virginia companies who support the defense industrial base and in doing so , grow jobs in West Virginia . We ’ re focused on the Air Force at the moment , but there is great potential working with the Army , Navy , Marines and other defense organizations .”
Vertx is not a network just for companies with a defense background — Frisbee has already involved a wide variety of industries . Vertx nurtures these companies at no cost to create a web of research and innovation .
“ The math here isn ’ t additive ; it ’ s logarithmic ,” he says . “ We utilize a four-way approach by linking public , private , academic and nonprofit institutions together , so hard work has got to be completed first before we see huge gains .”
Vertx keeps its finger on the state ’ s economic development pulse and works closely with economic development leaders to stay abreast of new ventures , and this vigilance is already bearing high-tech fruit . One of Vertx ’ s biggest success stories is with West Virginia University ( WVU ) and Kinnami Software Corporation . Kinnami specializes in edge computing and the secure transmission and storage of data . WVU is a leader in autonomous operations , navigation and areas where GPS is denied . The two joined forces and won a project with the U . S . Air Force .
“ When search and rescue squadrons go in for a rescue , they sometimes send in drones beforehand to assess the situation .
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