From Starlight to Misalignment: How basic astronomy research found its way into a startup for industrial applications.

This talk will focus on how basic astronomy research at the University of Louisville’s Physics & Astronomy Department spawned a high growth startup, RDI Technologies, that now employs 20+ people, including 3 Ph.D. physicists. RDI’s products are currently being used in many Fortune 100 companies including Google and NASA. The talk will include a discussion on the research that occurred at UofL, as well as the current technology, applications and ongoing research at RDI Technologies. Similarities between physics research at the University and that within a company, especially a startup, will be covered, as well as how the research experience laid the foundation for entrepreneurship.