Build a Culture Where Innovation is Everyone's Job

AI-assisted innovation programs that unlock front-line innovation

DoD innovation contractor | 2021–2025

Navi Pro Dashboard

Impact

49
Programs Delivered
31
Organizations Supported
1,240
Participants Trained
223
Ideas Pitched
67.2
Net Promoter Score (2025)
Program Experience & Coaching
$5.5 Million
Raised by Teams
Funding to commercialize innovations
2019–2021

Hackathons and startup accelerators for universities and founders

2021

First DoD programs for human-centered design and innovation

2022

First proprietary digital platform for innovation programs

2024–2025

AI-enabled workflows and Navi Pro platform released

Navi Pro

Full-stack platform with AI coaching and team collaboration

Key Features

Innovation route

Innovation Route

Clear roadmap of next steps to go from unstructured idea to structured innovation

AI coaching feature

AI Coaching

AI workflows made by professional innovation coaches, for personalized & expert guidance

Organized collaboration

Organized Collaboration

Multiple innovations managed and organized with clear visibility for strategic direction

Team

Nic Meliones

Nic Meliones

Co-founder & CEO

Co-founded and sold bitcoin startup BitWall (2018). CEO Coach at Alchemist Accelerator. Co-hosts The Startup Help Desk podcast.

Kwaku Farkye

Kwaku Farkye

Co-founder & CTO

Technical co-founder or first hire for 5+ startups (2 exits). Built collaboration tools used by millions across enterprises and communities.

Steven McClelland

Steven McClelland

Co-founder & CPO

Director of Duke's Christensen Family Center for Innovation. Former product leader at Yahoo and Twitter. Third-time startup founder.

Alexandra Jones

Alexandra Jones

Portfolio Director

Co-founded BitWall. Advises startups that have raised millions in venture capital. Part of Navi's founding team since inception.

Success Stories

Real innovation. Real impact. See how organizations partner with Navi to unlock their innovation advantage.

Featured Case Studies

Defense Innovation

Space Launch Delta 30: Accelerating the Spaceport of the Future

How SLD 30 delivered five innovative solutions to transform space launch operations at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Key Outcomes:
  • 73 user interviews conducted across the organization
  • 5 innovation teams formed from 20 participants
  • 4 solutions approved by Command leadership
  • Enhanced collaboration across launch operations
U.S. Space Force Innovation Bootcamp 2024
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AI Innovation

Space Force Fuel GenAI Innovations

Guardians and DoD personnel harness Human Centered Design and GenAI to create breakthrough solutions for Space Force operations.

Program Highlights:
  • 5 teams across 3 Space Force ecosystems
  • 6-week virtual bootcamp with 7 HCD lessons
  • 7 AI-powered innovation tools deployed
  • 5 GenAI solutions delivered to strengthen mission capability
U.S. Space Force Generative AI 2024
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In The News

Ecosystem Building

Duke & Knox Studios: Revitalizing Durham's Entrepreneurial Spirit

How the Christensen Family Center partnered with Knox St. Studios and Navi to empower Durham's diverse community through TechStars Startup Weekend.

Duke University Community Impact 2023
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Mission Success

NASIC Delivers Four Innovations Through Bootcamp

National Air and Space Intelligence Center service members leverage Navi's Human Centered Design framework to improve mission support and analytic processes.

NASIC Mission Support 2024
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Army Reserve

75th Innovation Command Tackles Gray Area Retiree Challenges

Soldiers from the 75th Innovation Command virtually joined forces with U.S. Army Human Resources Command in an NSIN Innovation Bootcamp to resolve retirement processing challenges.

75th Innovation Command Retirement Processing 2022
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Contracting

Workshop Results in Tangible Solutions for Contracting Challenges

Hanscom Air Force Base personnel took part in a Bootcamp, developing core innovation and design thinking skills to tackle real challenges.

Hanscom AFB Contracting 2023
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Installation Readiness

Innovation Bootcamp Leads to Breakthroughs for Hanscom AFB

Team Hanscom personnel pitched tangible solutions to help track and improve installation readiness during a National Security Innovation Network Bootcamp outbrief.

Hanscom AFB Readiness 2023
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Multi-Track Series

Innovation Bootcamp Series Delivers Contracting, Readiness & IT Solutions

Three Team Hanscom-focused Bootcamp sessions at UMass Lowell's Northstar Campus produced practical solutions across contracting, readiness, and IT domains.

Hanscom AFB Contracting Readiness IT 2023
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Tech Forecasting

Innovation Bootcamp Encourages Culture of Innovation

Hanscom Air Force Base officials partnered with DoD's National Security Innovation Network for a technology forecasting-focused Bootcamp session at the NEXUS Center.

Hanscom AFB Technology 2024
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Continuous Improvement

Design Thinking: A Valuable Addition to Your Innovation Toolkit

Air Force Reserve Command highlights design thinking as a powerful tool within the CI2 toolkit to help teams improve processes, address problems, and promote innovation.

AFRC Design Thinking 2023
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Duke Startup

EzTrain Secures $125K in AFWERX Grants After Duke Innovation Studio

Duke startup streamlines military readiness management with AI, winning AFWERX grants after participating in the Navi-powered Duke Innovation Studio accelerator program.

Duke University Startup Success 2022-2023
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Impact Snapshots

Duke Blockchain Innovation Program

A three-stage program (Bootcamp → Hackathon → Accelerator) that launched 10 new blockchain startups and created a 330+ member crypto community at Duke University.

Program Impact:
  • 13 startups created or accelerated
  • 330+ member crypto community established
  • 12 world-class speakers and mentors
Real Value Created:
  • New co-founders formed teams
  • Startups acquired customers & sales
  • 92 Net Promoter Score from participants
Duke University Blockchain Accelerator 2020