Nakia helps researchers commercialize their technology in the following areas Biotechnology, Energy, Defense, Military Technology, Education, Government Technology, and Aerospace. He also helps them secure investments from a network of federally funded laboratories, universities, and corporations. Throughout his career, he has worked with industry, academia, and government. As a result, Nakia has a unique and deep understanding of the early-stage innovation ecosystem and technology transfer, proven scientific and technical expertise, and decades of operational experience in technology-driven, high-growth companies. He has successfully helped startups and develop businesses worldwide in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, and Ghana.

Nakia’s passion as a business advisor, deep-tech, deep-science mentor, and startup coach inspires and helps entrepreneurs and startups spun out of university research. A seasoned entrepreneur, Nakia allows entrepreneurs execute on their ideas while guiding them in the total startup journey — from product development and selling to the government, to their go-to-market strategy and customer discovery to scaling a company and getting capital. He has worked with more than 700 startups worldwide, with more than 15,000 hours of classroom time working with entrepreneurs.

Nakia is an active member and mentor of the technology community and a frequent contributor to numerous business organizations, including the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). He is a longtime technology startup mentor, having served in that role at Advanced Technology Development Center at Georgia Institute of Technology, the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (NSF I-Corps), the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), Georgia Tech Create X mentor, MIT Hack Medicine, DOD lab mentor, NSF I-Corps Adjunct Instructor at Georgia Institute of Technology, Hack for Defense Instructor (H4D), Defense Innovation Accelerator Mentor (DIA), and StartMe at Emory University. He also has a deep understanding of SBIR-STTR. He has been intimately involved with many new emerging growth technologies, including government, universities, and corporate innovation. He is a board member for several startups and is involved in two Health-tech Medical Device startups, which is actively funded by SBIR Phase I NIH and SBIR Phase I NSF. Mr. Melecio has a master’s degree in Education, Teaching, and Learning, and Educational Technology, a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science, and He also has a Doctor of Psychology, Educational Psychology, Educational Leadership.

About Nakia Melecio

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As founder of NKM Consulting Group, LLC and iDesignproject, LLC Nakia Melecio is dedicated to the organizational development, leadership, human capital and executive coaching. As an expert with years of experience in high-end consulting, Nakia loves to work with organizations that want more, are willing to take risks and even step on the ledge a bit to push change and innovation that align strategy with performance to produce positive business results. As CEO of NKM Consulting Group, he brings his entrepreneurial spirit balanced with years of practical experience; To provide opportunities that are fun, exciting and highly productive. He coaches teaches and consults with government, startups, and industry leaders to create high-performance environments that directly impact the mission of change, culture. And the bottom line. He shares in the thought leadership community through speaking at conferences, publishing works and engaging the community. He has a notable reputation for innovation, creativity, and reliability as well as his dynamic ability to fully engage his audiences through competence and humor. Nakia was drawn to coaching and training because he is highly empathetic, a powerful communicator and a skilled problem solver. His passion and commitment energize the coaching process and help facilitate positive personal and organization changes for his clients. His coaching and facilitation approach draws on his understanding of business, leadership, organizational culture, adult learning and human development theory, and change management practices. Mr. Melecio has a master’s degree in Education, Teaching, and Learning, and Educational Technology, bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Behavior and He also has a Doctor of Psychology, Educational Psychology, Educational Leadership. He also completed an in-depth coach training program to become a certified Executive Coach and life coach, and Christian Coach as well as a program to become a certified Christian education teacher. And on my journey to this point, Mr. Melecio had to overcome a near-fatal car accident that left him partially paralyzed. Broken in body but not in spirit, Mr. Melecio determination and faith led him to overcome his paralysis and go on to cultivate his successful career, working as a strength coach at a few southern universities, while also becoming an entrepreneur, educator, and certified business, executive, and High-Tech Mentor. It is through these experiences and extensive research that Mr. Melecio is able to parlay theory into application, and effectively teach, coach, mentor and motivate others to transcend their circumstances and achieve the impossible. Mr. Melecio is known for his outgoing personality, impressive intuition, and positive attitude, all of which facilitate building sustainable relationships with clients, partners, and vendors alike. A devout man of faith, Mr. Melecio parlays his gifts into the joys of work and stewardship. Mr. Melecio currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.