by Alexandra Hoey, Chief Growth Officer, Strategic Alliance Business Group LLC (SABG)
The increasingly dynamic space domain, once exclusively the realm of government giants and established aerospace behemoths, is now witnessing a surge of innovative small businesses. Firms like SABG are proving that customer-focused and execution-oriented service is essential for success. Having navigated the dynamic space domain as an emerging company, SABG has gained valuable insights we believe could be helpful for any aspiring space enthusiast.
Scalable Agility Comes Through Rigorous Research
Breaking into the space industry demands deep expertise, relentless pursuit, and accepting that overnight success is more myth than reality. For SABG, our foray involved endless research, meticulously analyzing solicitations, and crafting numerous bids. We collected a few “thanks, but no thanks” debriefs, but each one was an invaluable lesson in “how to actually speak their language.” Viewing research as less a dusty textbook and more a dynamic, ever-shifting puzzle? That’s how we cracked the code and optimized our bidding strategies unlocking the doors to strategic partnerships and contract wins.
Strategic Alliances Are Vital to Growth
SABG quickly grasped a fundamental truth: in the space game, going solo is a recipe for a lonely orbit. The old adage “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” wasn’t just a poster in the breakroom; it was our operational mantra, and we prioritized building strategic alliances – as our name, Strategic Alliance Business Group – requires. Attending industry conferences, networking events, and even informal gatherings became essential because, in this business, your network is your net worth. It was about more than just swapping business cards – it was about forging genuine connections and finding partners whose capabilities and company DNA complement our own. These strategic alliances have served as powerful catalysts for expansion, broadening our reach and cultivating mutually beneficial partnerships that consistently achieve impactful results for all stakeholders.
Customer Understanding Must Go Beyond the PWS
At SABG, we learned serving our customers means going beyond written requirements. The DoD and its agencies, like Space Force, aren’t just monolithic entities; they’re intricate ecosystems, each with its own unique pressures and priorities. We’ve made it our business to understand the why behind the what – delving into their operational nuances, strategic aspirations, and even the subtle cultural currents that shape their decisions. This level of deep customer empathy allows us to craft solutions that don’t just meet requirements; they anticipate needs and align seamlessly with their overarching objectives, making us less of a vendor and more a vital partner of mission-driven success.
Trusted Advisors Are Developed Through Exceptional Service
Once a contract is awarded, our primary focus is delivering exceptional customer service. SABG’s priority shifts decisively to the provision of remarkably reliable service. In the fast-paced and critical domain of space operations, responsiveness and dependability are not optional features; they are essential elements of mission success. We endeavor to be more than a vendor; we aim to be the trusted advisor, consistently delivering on our commitments and proactively supporting our customers’ strategic aims. This steadfast dedication to exceeding expectations is not just a sound business strategy; it is the key to fostering long-term client trust and building a reputation for unparalleled reliability and expertise.
A small business’s journey into the space domain is a continuous odyssey of learning and evolution. By creating scalable agility through research, cultivating strategic alliances, committing to customer understanding, and becoming trusted advisors by prioritizing customer needs, small businesses can carve out their own place in the space domain and beyond.
Note: “Navigating the Space Domain as a Small Business: Lessons in ‘Mission-Driven’ Success” by Alexandra Hoey was first published in April 2025 by the Space Force Association. It can be found here.
