My Space Story - Ashley Johnson
My name is Ashley Johnson, founder and CEO of Applied Atomics, a UK space company on a mission to harness sustainability and atomic technology and to enable the next generation of space exploration.
We joined the UK Space Agency Accelerator seeking to future proof our business foundations, grow our network and to give and receive meaningful value for our business. At Applied Atomics, everything we do is driven by sustainability, which was also a key value point we wanted to progress going into the programme.
The accelerator has been an incredible experience from start to end. Our experience throughout not only enabled us to satisfy our intended outcomes but brought a new level of discovery and inspiration that fuelled our rapid business growth. We had the privilege of working with our designated tech enablers who balanced both a technical and a business outlook throughout the programme. We had the privilege of working with Ashleigh Dinter and James Eddy, industry experts who really homed in on the discovery of key aspects of our business as well as bringing new ideas and opportunities. Throughout the programme you are greeted with numerous industry experts giving incredible insights into every aspect of your space business venture, whether that’s sustainability, tech or legality and licensing. The accelerator enables every aspect of a well-structured business covered with the highest quality learning, insights and experts.
We were given the opportunity to meet and network with other space start-ups, which gave us the chance to network and meet incredibly exciting businesses and gain crucial advice and outlooks from others. The networking aspect of the accelerator was second to none, and tying this in with daily activities was a huge factor in not only the growth of the business, but the growth of the people behind the business.
The development aspect throughout the accelerator is two-pronged, guided by the philosophy that a great business also needs great people. This was exemplified through the balanced approach of developing people as well as the business, from the group exercises and discussions to the micro learning daily sessions that mapped out each segment of a solid business structure. The deep dive Orbit sessions gave you an incredibly interactive and detailed approach on specific topics crucial to business growth.
Our experience was simply fantastic, and we strongly recommend the accelerator to all entrepreneurs. The journey and value received from the team was second to none and the entire atmosphere of the accelerator was geared towards turning big dreams into reality. It has encapsulated the essence of what the space industry is about - a sense of inspiration with knowledge and data driven thinking. We are proud to have been a part of the accelerator and we are looking forward to continuing our journey towards harnessing sustainability and atomic technology for the next generation of space exploration. As we venture into the cosmos, we are confident that our time on the accelerator has equipped us with the skill, knowledge and network needed to navigate opportunities ahead. I would like to give a big thank you to the UK Space Agency Accelerator team for this opportunity.
Applications for the next UK Space Agency Accelerator Explore cohort will open on the 21st of June.