Passion. Experience. Perspective.

What we do

Cian Sanga supports early stage startups, providing advice and mentorship just as they are setting out. Importantly, we are not a full-time consultancy. No 100 hour weeks. No customer off-sites. Instead, we help nurture and mature startups incrementally by equipping them with the knowledge and tools to start them down the right path. Cian Sanga’s insights are captured in the book Startup Statesmanship and are available to companies through one-on-one engagements. When ready to leave the nest, Cian Sanga guides the relationship to one of its partners, who specialize in SBIR/STTR, intellectual property, business development, or government relations.

Company Founding

Cian, pronounced KEEN, is an Irish name with family significance to the company founder. Sanga is a breed of cattle found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, in particular amongst the migrating tribes of Sudan and South Sudan, like the Dinka and Messiria.

Prior to Cian Sanga, Rob Miller served in roles across the Executive and Legislative Branches, including an assignment to the Sudan desk. There, he grew a profound respect for the toils of Sudanese and South Sudanese peoples caught up not only in the everyday struggle for grazing lands and water, but the global hunt for oil and natural resources. Caught between Western and Eastern power centers, the experience of many in the region was reminiscent of the East African proverb, “When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”

Like the grass, many businesses trying to make their way in the federal marketplace can feel trodden by large prime contractors or caught between power centers, like the branches of government. Cian Sanga offers its passion, experience, and perspective, gained over 20+ years in and around Washington, D.C., to help others work with the federal government and achieve their business goals.