Today we’d like to introduce you to Amberlei Oates.
Hi Amberlei, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Arkansas and spent my childhood in an orphanage from the ages of 3 to 12. I moved out of my mothers house and dropped out of High School at 16, worked 12 jobs a year, got my GED and at 18 years old, I enlisted in the military with one goal in mind: to build a better life and create opportunities I had never been given and I knew I’d never have in the circumstances around me. The military became far more than a career path for me — it became the foundation that shaped my discipline, resilience, leadership, and vision for success. It surrounded me with mentors, structure, and insight that completely transformed the trajectory of my life.
Although I initially enlisted, I later earned my commission as an officer and was placed in charge of military intelligence. Through those responsibilities, I saw firsthand the incredible power intelligence and geospatial awareness could provide — not only for national security, but for solving real-world human problems.
That realization sparked the vision behind my company, RadarQR.
I originally focused on the dating space because I was frustrated with modern dating apps. I never understood why people spent countless hours talking to strangers online just to discover whether chemistry existed in person. Every time I walked into a room, I already knew who naturally caught my attention — I simply lacked the tools to know whether they were single, interested, or aligned. I believed technology should enhance real-world human connection, not replace it.
That belief led me to develop and patent technology focused on bringing geospatial intelligence into social interaction, with 20 patents being officially approved in 2024. My mission became creating technology that helps people connect in the real world — safer, smarter, and more intentionally.
As I worked to grow the company, I realized the exact same problem existed in networking, conferences, and events. People were spending enormous amounts of time and money attending conferences, expos, and networking events without knowing who in the room could truly change the trajectory of their business, career, or future. So I went back to the drawing board and expanded the vision.
Today, we are building technology designed to transform how people connect at conferences, networking events, arenas, festivals, and beyond — helping people find the right connections in real time while reducing the anxiety and inefficiency that often comes with social interaction.
While my story begins in chaos – I love the grit it gave me to overcome adversities allowing me to even add Harvard Business School as part of my beautiful journey.
My ability to think differently, ignore the doubters, and focus on solving real-world problems has been one of the greatest drivers of my success. What excites me most is knowing we are building something that can genuinely change lives by making social networking real again — bringing human connection back into the real world where it belongs.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has absolutely not been a smooth road. Entrepreneurship is filled with struggles, setbacks, potholes, and moments where you question everything. Anyone who tells you otherwise probably hasn’t truly built something from the ground up. One of the biggest challenges throughout my journey has been funding, along with learning how to filter through distractions and people who claim they can add value but ultimately cannot execute at the level they present themselves.
In the startup and technology space, there are constantly people who want to attach themselves to your vision, especially once they see potential. Early on, when I first originated this idea, I was dating someone who attempted to position themselves as having ownership in the process simply because they assisted with filing paperwork. Thankfully, I sought guidance from an exceptional patent attorney who helped me understand the legal realities and protect what I had built. That experience taught me the importance of surrounding yourself with true professionals and understanding the difference between support and ownership.
Another challenge is competing in a rapidly evolving technical space. It’s easy to become distracted when you see technologies emerge that resemble your own. Your natural instinct is to fight back or constantly compare yourself, but I learned that often becomes an ego battle rather than a productive one. Instead, I focus on watering my own grass every single day — building, improving, learning, and staying disciplined while still monitoring trends and competitors strategically.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As the founder of RadarQR, everything started with a vision. I did not come from a technical background, nor did I know how to code or develop applications. My background was rooted in military leadership, operations, logistics, intelligence, cybersecurity, and counterintelligence. What I did have was the ability to solve problems, lead people, and refuse to quit when something seemed impossible.
I’m known for being the first person in the room to openly say, “I don’t know how to do this yet, but I will figure it out.” That mindset has defined my entire life. I have never looked at a challenge and thought, “I can’t do that.” Instead, my response has always been, “Give me a moment to learn it.” I research relentlessly, seek out experts, build strong teams, and execute the vision. RadarQR was built on exactly that mentality.
What I specialize in is applying geospatial intelligence and real-world operational thinking into social technology. I saw a massive gap in how people connect in the real world, whether in dating, networking, conferences, or large-scale events, and I recognized that the same intelligence principles used for awareness, positioning, and operational efficiency could completely transform human connection.
What I’m most proud of are the patents I’ve earned for this company. I still remember sharing this vision with someone before I had even fully started building it, and being told, “You don’t know what you’re doing. That’s not original. You’ll never succeed. This will teach you to stay in your lane.” Today, with 20 approved patents, those words became fuel rather than limitations. To me, those patents represent more than intellectual property — they represent perseverance, resilience, and proof that sometimes the people bold enough to think differently are the ones who create real change.
What sets me apart from others in the technology space is the lens through which I approach innovation. I am a retired military intelligence officer applying geospatial intelligence, operational logistics, and strategic awareness into real-world social connection. That combination is incredibly rare in the tech industry, and I truly believe my background allows me to solve problems from a perspective very few people can bring to the table.
Beyond business, I’m most proud of the example I’m setting as a mother. Knowing my daughter sees me as an inventor, a builder, and a woman who continues to overcome obstacles means everything to me. If she grows up believing there are no limits on what she can accomplish because she watched me build something from nothing, then that is one of my greatest successes of all.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
“One team, one dream” has always been my motto because no entrepreneur succeeds entirely alone. Building a company truly takes a village, and I’ve been fortunate to have incredible people who believed in both me and the vision behind RadarQR.
My cofounder, Rich LaMotte, has played a pivotal role in helping shape the business side of the company. As a seasoned serial entrepreneur, he brought experience, structure, professionalism, and strategic insight at a time when the company was still in its earliest stages. When I first shared the vision with him, his eyes immediately lit up. He recognized the ambition, potential, and purpose behind what I was building and became one of the first people to step in and help transform the idea into something scalable and sustainable.
Another person who deserves immense credit is Timothy Ciampaglio, a former captain of mine from the military whom I’ve known for over 24 years. From the day I met him, he consistently encouraged me to push beyond limits and pursue bigger goals. He played an instrumental role in helping guide me from enlisted service into becoming a commissioned officer, and years later, he once again became a foundational part of my journey by helping support the strategic growth of this company. He has remained a steady mentor, advisor, and source of wisdom throughout both my military and entrepreneurial career.
I’ve also had the opportunity to connect with incredible advisors and professionals through the GSD Venture Scaling Program led by Gary Fowler. One advisor in particular who has had a profound impact on me is Eric Pelletier in Paris. Despite the distance between us, the conversations we’ve had about networking dynamics, human behavior, scaling strategy, and long-term vision have been transformational. He has challenged me to think bigger, smarter, and more intentionally about the direction of the company and the broader impact we can create.
What I’ve learned throughout this journey is that growth often comes from the people you meet along the way. Every conversation, every mentor, every supporter, and even every competitor can teach you something valuable. I genuinely admire people who are disciplined enough to put their heads down, pursue a vision relentlessly, and bring ideas to life. Even companies operating in similar spaces inspire me because they help push innovation forward and challenge me to continue improving, evolving, and executing at a higher level.
At the end of the day, while leadership starts with vision, success is always strengthened by the people willing to believe in that vision beside you.
Pricing:
- User subscriptions: Zero cost currently, won’t exceed $25 when activated
- Small scale Hot Spot venue activations: Annual licensing rate of $5,000
- Hot Spot event activations: Singular event licensing available with pricing negotiable
- Large scale Hot Spot venue activations: Annual licensing rate of $50,000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.RadarQR.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radarqr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Radarqr-100067229124336/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radarqr-for-real-world-connections-4975b0289?trk=public_post_feed-actor-name
