Strategy, Growth, and Federal Opportunities: Insights from Michael Niggel

Join Michael Niggel, Board Member at Novel Microdevices and Founder & CEO of Second Venture, L.L.C., for an insightful and informal presentation on Strategy, Program Management, Financing, and Growth — particularly focused on navigating federal and defense opportunities as a life sciences innovator.

This event offers a rare chance to hear directly from a leader who has spent over three decades bridging national security, technology, and innovation — and who now brings that expertise to help life science and biotech companies thrive in highly regulated, government-aligned environments.

Speaker Bio

Michael Niggel is the Founder & CEO of Second Venture, L.L.C., providing advisory services to venture capital and technology firms across the national security, space, cyber, and healthcare sectors.
He previously founded and led ACT1 Federal, L.L.C., a mid-tier defense contractor recognized among Virginia’s Fastest Growing Companies and Inc. 1000 honorees.

Mr. Niggel’s national security experience spans over 35 years, managing major DoD, DHS, and Space programs, including international defense programs such as F-35 Foreign Military Sales and F-18/EA-18G Direct Commercial Sales.
He has served as Industry Commissioner on the Atlantic Council’s 2023–2024 Defense Innovation Adoption Commission, co-chaired by former U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and former Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James.

Mike has also held leadership roles with SAIC, the Department of Defense, and served as a Presidential Management Fellow during the Reagan Administration.
He serves on multiple boards, including the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and Novel Microdevices, Inc., and is a member of the Economic Club of Washington and Reagan Foundation’s National Leadership Council.

He holds an MPA in Finance and Policy Analysis from Indiana University and a BA with Distinction in Political Science & History from Hendrix College.