About
Advisor and CTO/EVP of the Deep Tech + Exploration Domain at the XPRIZE Foundation. Formerly a DARPA Program Manager directing a $700M+ portfolio and founding the DoD's first lunar research programs, with prior experience across NASA centers.
Experience
- XPRIZEChief Technology Officercurrent2026 — presentUnited States
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)Program Manager2022 — 2026Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Air Force Test CenterAssistant Director of Operations, Test2019 — 2022Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
- United States Air Force Test Pilot SchoolFlight Test Engineer2019 — 2020Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
- United States Antarctic Program (USAP)Principal Investigator, LANDIT2017 — 2018South Pole, Antarctica
- Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing SiteChief of Research2016 — 2018Maui County, Hawaii, United States
Skills & more
Entrepreneurial OrganizationsCreative EntrepreneurshipTechnical LeadershipExecutive LeadershipAerospace15Project Management9Research7Program Management5Aviation6National Security4Organizational Leadership1Science Communication3
+3 more
Flight TestProcess ImprovementSecurity ClearanceFrom Dr.'s professional profile.
Colleagues at Industrious Ventures
Alexandra Johnson
Head of External Affairs at Industrious Ventures
Henri Rizack
Head of Capital Markets at Industrious Ventures
Lt. Gen. John Shaw
Advisor at Industrious Ventures
Lt. General John Shaw
Advisor at Industrious Ventures
Mason Angel
Founding Partner at Industrious Ventures
Max Conway
Partner at Industrious Ventures
Steve Angel
Advisor at Industrious Ventures
Taylor Sargent
Partner at Industrious Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Dr. Michael Nayak?
- Advisor and CTO/EVP of the Deep Tech + Exploration Domain at the XPRIZE Foundation. Formerly a DARPA Program Manager directing a $700M+ portfolio and founding the DoD's first lunar research programs, with prior experience across NASA centers.
- Where does Dr. Michael Nayak work?
- Dr. Michael Nayak is Advisor at Industrious Ventures.
- Where did Dr. Michael Nayak go to school?
- Dr. Michael Nayak studied at United States Air Force Test Pilot School (Master of Science - MS, Flight Test Engineering); University of California, Santa Cruz (Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Earth and Planetary Science); University of California, Santa Cruz (Master of Science (M.Sc.), Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences).
Same school
Also attended University of California, Santa Cruz74
Daniela AmodeiCo-founder & President of AnthropicNeha JewalikarDirector of Communications at Scale Venture PartnersChristine SamsAssistant Controller at Crosslink CapitalAnne FoorInvestor at Khosla VenturesNoor NijjerHead of Investor Relations at Sierra VenturesJohn BurkeCo-Founder, Managing Partner at PROOF
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Also attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University14
Steve SargeantSenior Advisory Board at IronGate Capital AdvisorsJames B. HeckerGeneral USAF (ret.) at NEW VISTA CAPITALLance LandrumLieutenant General USAF (ret.) at NEW VISTA CAPITALJohn LeeVenture Partner at Zero Infinity PartnersSusan KilrainSpace Shuttle Pilot at New North VenturesSam LevineManaging Partner at Black Mountain Investment Group
+ 8 more
Shared employers
Also worked at XPRIZE23
Sergey YoungCo-Founder at BOLD LongevityPeter DiamandisPhysician, entrepreneur, and futurist inspiring leaders to think exponentially and create a future of abundanceAaron FykeFounder and Managing Partner at Thin Line CapitalSergey YoungCo-Founder BOLD Longevity at Bold Capital PartnersJohn GedmarkAdvisor at Commonweal VenturesRyan BethencourtManaging Partner at Sustainable Food Ventures
+ 17 more
Also worked at Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)23
Houman HaghighiPartner, Business & Corporate Development at Menlo VenturesBrandon AlexanderEntrepreneur In Residence at Crosslink CapitalTaylor SargentPartner at Industrious VenturesEvan LoomisVenture Partner at Audere CapitalWilliam YoungInvestor at Green FlagAmy KruseVenture Partner at Prime Movers Lab
+ 17 more