Thomas Larkin
Thomas Larkin is a dedicated innovator and entrepreneur who founded NanTenna, a cutting-edge company specializing in antenna technologies for military satellite communications, in 2020. In only 4 years, NanTenna has established itself as a leader in the field, developing and delivering antennas designed to revolutionize traditional military SATCOM antennas. Thomas founded NanTenna with an initial Phase I SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grant from AFWERX. After rigorous research and design phases, NanTenna released its first product to the market in May 2022, where it met with national and international acclaim. Under Thomas’ leadership, the company has sold hundreds of low-profile UHF TACSAT antennas, which have not only enhanced communication capabilities but have also been credited with saving lives on the battlefield by enabling real-time video and messaging transmission over UHF TACSAT channels. NanTenna’s antenna technologies are now included in two programs of record and are quickly becoming the “gold standard” for tactical UHF communications antennas.
NanTenna remains at the forefront of innovation, consistently developing high-gain, low SWaP (size, weight and power) antennas for diverse applications. Thomas has developed an L-Band antenna that is enabling real-time video and metadata transmission over Iridium and Viasat’s L-Band networks in a highly portable, small-form-factor profile. His and NanTenna’s many accomplishments have led Thomas to become a trusted advisor for military special operations customers, who know to expect integrity and candor from his assessments of new technologies. Thomas is regularly requested to facilitate live technology demonstrations and interactions between emerging technology firms and defense customers. He also provides professional guidance to emerging small b businesses and firms that aim to win SBIR business opportunities, based on his own experience with founding NanTenna.
Outside of working hours, Thomas is an active supporter of suicide prevention services, investing time and resources in several aligned organizations. He volunteers his time at his alma mater, Florida Technical Institute, as a guest speaker for business classes and a mentor to emerging leaders. Thomas is also a recurring guest speaker for the government’s SBIR office engagement forums, where he tells the NanTenna story and helps shape governance reform around SBIR processes.
