As we begin 2025, NobleReach stands at a pivotal moment in our journey to transform how talent and technology serve the public. The reception of national best-seller ‘Venture Meets Mission’ and our conversations at forums from SXSW to the Aspen Ideas Festival have confirmed what we believed when we started: there’s an urgent need and opportunity to bridge the gap between academia, talent, and innovation. Over the last year, we’ve built critical infrastructure that is transforming how next generation talent engages with mission-driven work and translating public research into public benefit, strengthening America’s security and prosperity for decades to come.

2024 Key Highlights

Talent

• Launched the NobleReach Scholars Program, placing 19 early-career tech, science and entrepreneurship professionals at eight federal agencies and three industry-leading tech companies.
• Had significant participation from senior government leaders, including Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Lt. General Jack Shanahan (ret.), who joined us for our Scholar’s Bootcamp.
• Achieved significant growth of Scholars Program applicants by nearly 300%, with over 1200 candidates engaging in the application process for the 2025 Scholars Cohort and 550 progressing to the next stage.

Academic Partnerships

• Established the first-of-its-kind Innovation for Public Service Certificate Program with Purdue University, creating new opportunities for engineers to engage with mission-driven work.
• Integrated Hacking for Innovation into NobleReach, further expanding our reach in university innovation programs.
• Built strategic alliances with Princeton, Carnegie Mellon, Virginia Tech, and other premier institutions, reaching more than 3,000 students in the last two years.

Innovation

• Completed work with the National Science Foundation, culminating in a final report with actionable insights for advancing translational research—details to be shared publicly soon.
• Worked with researchers to turn their work into real benefits for the American people including through inhalable medications, next-generation battery technology, and planar waveguide technology for immunoassay testing.
• Pivoted our focus to place-based innovation work enhancing our national and economic security.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we enter the new year, NobleReach is positioned to scale our impact even further. We will expand the Scholars Program with new government and industry partnerships to broaden opportunities for emerging leaders. We are also poised to launch new university initiatives that empower students and faculty to bridge academia and public service through innovative programs and convenings.

Thank you to our partners, supporters, and team members who share our vision of a stronger, more innovative America. Together, we’re building a future where talent, technology, and mission converge to drive security, prosperity, and progress.

The best is yet to come!