Vantage Spotlight on Scott Swann of Rank One
Why did you and your team start Rank One Computing? What problem were you trying to solve and why is that important?
“While I wasn’t at Rank One Computing during the early years, I can speak to our current mission – which the founders whole heartedly endorse – that we believe that computer vision, powered by machine learning, has an incredible potential to make the world significantly safer and more convenient. Several of our nation’s adversaries have made it clear that they will stop at nothing to out pace American innovations in this area. But at Rank One Computing, we are developing world-class and top-ranked computer vision solutions with a firm commitment to ethical development and deployment.”
How will your specifications for future projects change as a result of recent events and/or new technologies?
“Training computer vision algorithms require massive amounts of data and computing power. As both of these ingredients become more accessible, the algorithms get better and better. But it’s vitally important that we continue to develop and deploy these technologies in a way that is consistent with our values. So, I think that privacy and data governance will take on a larger role in the future – both in the government and commercial sectors. On the technology side of things, I think we will all see more and more innovations that deploy computer vision. At ROC, we are well underway at developing more integrated solutions that will increase both security and convenience – from safe schools to frictionless commerce to better intelligence on the battlefield.”
What are some of the obstacles you had to overcome as an entrepreneur?
“Personally, one of the biggest challenges I faced was transitioning from government to industry. There are great people in both sectors, but the mindsets and motivations are incredibly different. Most people who succeed in the government dread the idea of going into sales. I learned quickly that success in the private sector usually goes to those who can generate revenue. It’s not about having the best products or technology, it’s about delivering results that customers will pay for. It’s pretty simple, but that’s one of the biggest lessons I learned along the way. The biggest obstacle that I have faced through the years is finding talented professionals. At Rank One Computing, we invest significantly in our employee culture as a commitment to our team – and that will continue to be our greatest asset as we continue to grow. It’s incredibly important to build and nurture your networks and to partner with thought leaders like Vantage Ventures to find and attract top talent. West Virginia has an impressive and growing pool of engineers and technologists which is a key reason that we decided to locate our east coast headquarters in Morgantown.”
Can you tell us a bit about the culture of the Rank One team?
“At our core, we are an engineering-first company. The first five employees were engineers and that continues to be the majority of our team. We focus on efficient and effective processes to solve important problems. While that certainly characterizes how we develop our software solutions, it’s also how we run our business. Co-founder Brendan Klare, also our Chief Scientist, regularly reminds us all of ROC’s Founding Culture that really prioritizes our people which is how we get things done:
- A well rested and nourished mind bears the most fruit for the team.
- We all just want to get it right.
- When you come to work, hang your ego at the door.
These continue to be front and center, every day at ROC.”
In scaling your business and creating more jobs in West Virginia, what do you feel West Virginians offer that other states do not?
“West Virginia is my home state, and I continue to appreciate the commitment that so many of my colleagues and friends make to support the business community here. West Virginia has an impressive collection of academic institutions, federal and state organizations, and commercial enterprises that all focus on developing and deploying innovative technologies that leverage our identities. From WVU, Fairmont State and Marshall to FBI CJIS and DoD Biometrics to the many businesses that innovate in this area. That landscape, coupled with an active group of state and federal legislators makes WV a great place to build a business like Rank One Computing.”