CalOSBA Success Story: Ascender Systems

This is a special video success story following up with the father and son founders behind Ascender Systems who won the grand prize in last month’s ACE Pitch Competition. Click the link to watch the video and learn how Jorge, a 25-year veteran of the Navy, and his son Ethan, who is still in high school, have applied the information and support of small business service providers to win non-dilutive capital and grow their business.
If you are in, or near the San Diego Area, and you also want to start or see your innovative business grow, visit The Brink SBDC: www.sandiego.e...
Jorge and Ethan also received support from :
San Diego and Imperial Small Business Development Center (SBDC): sdivsbdc.org/
SoCal Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC): socalvboc.org/
SCORE San Diego: www.score.org/...
APEX Accelerator - SoCal: apexsocal.org/...
Visit Ascender System online: ascendersystem...
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Ascender Systems is led by Jorge Muniz, Jr., a seasoned leader with over 32 years of experience in both military service and defense industry. As a former US Navy Helicopter Pilot and a current Lead Program Manager at Northrop Grumman Aeronautical Systems, Jorge brings a unique blend of technical expertise and real-world experience to the role. His extensive knowledge of aerospace engineering, coupled with his leadership skills and strategic vision, has been instrumental in driving Ascender Systems' success.
Driven by a passion for humanitarian assistance, Jorge has personally flown in missions around the world to support those affected by natural disasters while serving in the US Navy. This experience has instilled in him a deep commitment to developing innovative solutions that can make a tangible difference in the lives of people in need. At Ascender Systems, we are dedicated to empowering communities to build resilience against natural disasters and creating a brighter future for all.
Ethan Muniz, a talented young innovator and co-founder of Ascender Systems, is a student at Poway High School with a passion for architecture. Inspired by a desire to ensure his father's safety during holiday decorations, Ethan developed the foundational concept for the company's revolutionary robotic climber. Ethan's ingenuity has earned him recognition, including first place at the Fowler Business Concept Challenge. The father/son duo then pivoted to a broader use-case of supporting Emergency Services with Ascender Systems, and went on to pitch in several other regional and even worldwide competitions, to include becoming a finalist for the 2023 Global Social Innovation Challenge. Graduating in 2026, Ethan intends to pursue his passion for architecture, theology, and cooking, while he continues to contribute to Ascender Systems' mission of revolutionizing disaster response and community resilience.