Outer Loop Engineering is an innovative aerospace product development and services company.
Joni Sytsma is the Queensland female founder and Chief Executive Officer of Outer Loop and leads a team of rocket scientists who are highly skilled in systems engineering and program management of extremely complicated technology programs.
Having launched multiple rockets in the outback, Outer Loop have learned firsthand how to develop exceptionally high-quality hardware and software systems that will do their job with excellence and accomplish the mission.
One of the projects that Joni and her team are currently working on are small satellites, which will enable the next generation of connectivity from the current diminutive space platforms.
We chatted to Joni to find more about Outer Loop and her journey as a Queensland female founder.
What inspired you to start your business?
I come from a background of defence technology, and agile and lean research and development. This experience was uncharacteristic of large government procurement processes, but my scrappy startup mentality allowed me to lead teams to field significant defence projects and products with minimal time and funding successfully.
I’m particularly inspired by working in the private Space 2.0 race towards the stars and how lean startup best practices can bring amazing capabilities to market with incredible velocity and for minimum expense.
I’m committed to building a company in Brisbane that brings highly advanced aerospace technologies to market while inspiring young Australian women to become interested in careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The glowing bright futures of science fiction have also been a continuous backdrop of inspiration, and professional innovations have brought science fiction to reality in my professional career.
What milestones have you reached?
Outer Loop is racing towards demonstration of our first technology product, a self-assembling satcom antenna. This system will enable the smallest satellites to communicate with higher bandwidth in a small size and weight form factor by robotically assembling itself once in orbit. We have passed the conceptual design review phase and are moving towards our preliminary design review.
What business achievements are you most proud of to date?
Thus far I am most proud of the pro-woman and LGBTIA in technology advocacy work I have been involved with. I hope to be a strong female leader that can inspire young women to pursue careers in STEM and other deep technology, and I want to build a company that has the most entertaining and fulfilling careers to offer them.
Have you participated in any Advance Queensland programs, or received any support from Advance Queensland to date?
I have received training from Advance Queensland and regularly attend events.
What’s your advice for other female entrepreneurs and businesses starting out on their entrepreneurship journey?
STEM is a male dominated field and it will stay that way if women do not get involved, and the gender wage gap is real. If you want to be in control of your future and push for the higher wages that STEM offers, you need to get in there to fight to be the best. The more of us that get in the ring and fight and win will help turn the tide towards a more equitable future. Find a champion, get a mentor and learn what you need to succeed.
