Daniel H. | Leland

Daniel H.

Win Funding for your Technology, Idea, or Research

Studied at Colorado State University

Works at American Systems

Available today at 9:30 PM UTC

Protected by the Leland Experience Guarantee

Available today at 9:30 PM UTC

Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.

Daniel's Coaching Offerings

Learn how to fund your Research, Product, and Ideas

Starting at $1,4006h+ of coaching

Physical Sciences Recruiting: Start-to-Finish

Expert help on everything from getting the interview to landing the offer.

Starting at $1,57510h+ of coaching

Custom hourly · $175/hr

Get help with Business Development Strategy, Laboratory Techniques, and .

Daniel also coaches for Transitioning from the Military, PhD Programs, and Publishing & Writing. View all.

Daniel’s Science & Research Qualifications

Coaches professionally

Experience level: Executive

10+ people coached for Science & Research

Many teams have strong technical ideas but lack a clear starting point for funding. For more than a decade, I have mapped technologies to specific funding mechanisms and supported the award of millions of dollars in R&D funding. I have secured non-dilutive funding for teams across energy, environmental systems, AI, defense, and advanced manufacturing by identifying, qualifying, and prioritizing viable opportunities, grounded in detailed knowledge of the funding landscape and in targeted recommendations on which avenues merit pursuit. With PhD experience in Systems Engineering, I have advised startups through IPOs, and Fortune 500 clients on where and how to secure non-dilutive and strategic R&D funding. I provide a combination of technical evaluation, program fit assessment, and capital strategy, with a track record of guiding technologies toward funding paths that support adoption. I'm here to help you transition your research from paper to product!

Daniel can help with:

Business Development Strategy

Laboratory Techniques

Networking Strategy

Scientific Writing

Grant Writing

Research Proposal

Research Publications

Daniel also coaches for Transitioning from the Military, PhD Programs, and Publishing & Writing. View all.

About Daniel

I'm a military veteran who followed a conventional path after service: technical roles, then an MBA to move into leadership and strategy. The MBA did its job: It put me in rooms where decisions were made and taught me how organizations evaluate risk, cost, and credibility. What it did not do was satisfy the part of me that wanted to build original knowledge and be the person others rely on for technical judgment. That realization is what pushed me toward a STEM PhD and a career as a principal researcher and subject matter expert. What I offer comes directly from that path. I help people, especially transitioning military veterans, decide if a PhD is right for them. I also help technical teams compel decision makers to fund their product or idea, having won millions in funding for clients. When I work with people, I help them decide whether a PhD makes sense, what kind of program fits their background, and how to explain their story. I care about helping people make choices they will not regret and show up prepared for what a career as a technical expert looks like (hint: it's not just boring, number crunching in a lab!).

Why do I coach?

I coach because I saw a valid, but narrow version of success repeatedly presented to veterans and technical professionals, and I followed it myself. After the Navy, the MBA path was clearly marked and widely encouraged. I pursued it because it made sense, it was legible to employers, and it translated service into business language. What was less visible was the path toward deep technical authority and long-term intellectual ownership. That gap is what led me toward a technical Ph.D. and toward coaching. More importantly, my experience in the Navy shaped how I think about work and identity. I learned to take responsibility early and to explain complex situations clearly. Leaving that environment, I saw many veterans and engineers feel pressured to simplify themselves to fit familiar corporate paths, even when their strengths pointed elsewhere. I coach because I want people to see more options, especially those whose background gives them the curiosity to do serious technical work. Sometimes the right next step is a role change, sometimes it's clearer positioning, and sometimes it's choosing a path like a PhD, that is less advertised for veterans, but highly lucrative and rewarding, when done strategically!