Episodes
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Joakim Espeland is the co-founder of Quadsat, a company changing the way we manage radio frequencies with clever drone technology.In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Joakim shares his journey from testing satellite signals on ships to building game-changing solutions for both everyday and military use. He talks about the challenges of starting a company, raising money, and creating cutting-edge tech. Plus, he gives us a sneak peek into the future of radio spectrum management.Get intro to Joakim: https://brdg.app/s/dzdbnt-----------------------------------------------Timestamps(00:00) Introduction to Quadsat and Its Mission(03:08) The Evolution from Space to Defense(05:59) Founding Story: From Idea to Reality(08:46) Navigating the Startup Ecosystem(12:11) Accelerators and Their Impact on Growth(14:56) Funding Journey: Securing Seed Investment(17:48) Demonstrating Technology to Major Operators(21:02) Capital Management and Future Growth(23:50) Technical Challenges and Solutions(29:27) Design Challenges and Innovations in UAV Technology(32:39) Funding Rounds: Pre-Series A to Series A(37:16) Milestones in Measurement Campaigns(41:23) Pitch Evolution and Investor Expectations(43:19) Lessons from Early Fundraising Experiences(45:06) Strategic Partnerships and Future Directions(48:29) Advice for Early Stage Founders in Defense Tech(51:21) Reflections on Failure and Resilience(53:40) Building Quality Relationships in Business(55:33) Flaws in the Tendering Process(56:31) Challenges for Aspiring Founders-----------------------------------------------Takeaways- Space and defense are interconnected industries.- Initial ideas can pivot based on industry needs.- Accelerators can significantly impact startup growth.- Funding strategies should align with long-term goals.- Demonstrating technology to major operators is crucial.- Capital management is key for scaling a startup.- Accuracy in technology is essential for success.- Building a strong network is vital for founders. - Standardization is crucial for global operations.- Funding rounds require demonstrating market traction.- Proactive customer engagement is key to securing funding.- Quality relationships are more important than sheer exposure.- The tendering process can hinder innovation.- Don't give up; persistence is vital for success.
-----------------------------------------------Follow Martin Majercin on X (Twitter):https://twitter.com/monsfrost Follow Martin Majercin on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/monsfrost/Follow Joakim Espeland on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joakimespeland/Follow Quadsat on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/quadsat -
Benoît Deper is the founder Aerospacelab, a company revolutionizing satellite development with a bold approach to vertical integration.In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Benoît takes us on a journey from his work at NASA to founding one of Europe's most groundbreaking space startups. From the challenges of transitioning from government-driven to commercial space markets, to the importance of in-house manufacturing for quality and efficiency, Benoît shares his unique insights and bold predictions for the future of space exploration. Get intro to Benoît: https://brdg.app/s/gtxcvc-----------------------------------------------Timestamps(00:00) Introduction to Aerospacelab(02:49) The Evolution of the Space Industry(05:45) Challenges and Opportunities for Space Agencies(09:02) The Journey from Space Agency to Startup Founder(11:48) Founding Aerospace Lab: The Vision and Strategy(15:11) Navigating the European Space Market(18:05) The Decision to Build In-House(20:58) Fundraising and Early Growth(24:14) Building the Team and Company Culture(29:02) Revolutionizing Hiring Practices(34:43) Launching Satellites: The Journey Begins(38:50) Pricing Strategies in a Competitive Market(40:44) Milestones Post-Series A(42:09) Series B: Gaining Industry Recognition(45:32) Expanding to the US Market(47:13) Challenges in the European Space Ecosystem(50:04) Building the Charlois Mega Factory(51:57) Future Predictions for Aerospace Lab(53:53) Contrarian Advice for Founders(55:08) Final Thoughts for Early Stage Founders-----------------------------------------------Takeaways- Vertical integration in spacecraft development- The transition of the space market from governmental to commercial- How new technologies enable smaller teams to accomplish large missionsHow boredom and a desire for innovation drove the founding of Aerospacelab- The unique challenges of the European space market compared to the US- The importance of in-house manufacturing for quality and efficiency- The necessity of strategic partnerships for fundraising in the space sector- The inefficiencies of the traditional hiring process- The importance of strong commercial traction in funding rounds- The significant challenges involved in launching satellites- The complexity and evolution of pricing strategies- The crucial role of product development post-Series A- How industry recognition can shift perceptions of new companies- The new opportunities that come with expanding to the US market- The funding and fragmentation issues faced by the European space ecosystem- The critical role of time management in startup success
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Episodes manquant?
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Lorenzo Feruglio is the co-founder and CEO of AIKO, a cutting-edge company pioneering AI-based automation for satellite operations.
In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Lorenzo takes us on a journey from launching satellites as a university student to securing Series A funding and leading one of Europe's most innovative space startups.
Get intro to Lorenzo
Timestamps
(00:00) Introduction and Setting the Scene
(01:17) Lorenzo's Background: From Academia to Space Startup
(04:56) Decision to Start a Company After JPL Rejection
(07:05) Advice for Graduates Considering Startups
(09:39) Building Company Culture at AIKO
(22:56) Securing ESA as a First Customer
(24:42) Fundraising Journey: From Pre-Seed to Series A
(31:42) Expanding the Product Portfolio
(38:48) International Expansion: Why Toulouse and the US Are Next
(46:10) Quick-Fire Round and Future Vision
In this episode, we discuss:
1. Lorenzo's Path to Space: From launching satellites as a university student to founding AIKO.
2. Why AI is Transformative for Space Missions: How automation reduces costs and increases efficiency for satellite operators.
3. Securing ESA as a First Customer: How AIKO gained credibility and leveraged a strong technical proposal to win a contract.
4. Fundraising Strategies: Insights from pre-seed to Series A, and the lessons learned along the way.
5. Scaling Internationally: Why AIKO chose Toulouse, France, and plans for the US market.
6. Challenges in the European Space Ecosystem: What’s missing, and how founders can navigate these obstacles.
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Julian Fernandez is the co-founder and CEO of FOSSA Systems, a pioneering company building nanosatellites to democratise IoT connectivity and space access.
In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Julian shares his incredible journey from launching satellites as a 16-year-old to scaling one of Europe’s most exciting space startups.
Get intro to Julian
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
(6:06) Julian's Early Start in Space: From IoT Experiments to Satellites
(9:58) Turning an Open-Source Project into a Company
(14:37) Pricing Challenges and Shifting Business Models
(19:26) Fundraising Journey: From Seed to Series A
(24:58) The Value of Accelerators for First-Time Founders
(28:13) Scaling Up: Launching Satellites with SpaceX
(33:38) Expanding into Portugal: Opening an R&D Hub
(36:59) Shifting Focus: From Hardware to IoT Services
(42:48) Advice to Young Founders: Passion and FocusIn this episode, we discuss:
Starting Young: How Julian turned his passion for IoT and space into a startup.
Building Trust: Convincing customers and investors with an MVP launched on a $30K budget.
Accelerators & Fundraising: Lessons from navigating European and U.S. ecosystems.
Scaling & Culture: Balancing rapid growth while maintaining focus and passion.
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Joshua Western is the co-founder and CEO of Space Forge, a groundbreaking company combining space technology and semiconductor manufacturing to create next-generation materials.
In this inaugural episode of Rockets & Radars, Joshua takes us on the inspiring journey of Space Forge — from bootstrapping in a tiny garage in the UK to raising one of Europe’s largest space-tech seed rounds and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space manufacturing.
Get intro to Joshua
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction and Setting the Scene(02:36) Spaceforge: Mission and Vision
(05:02) Founding Spaceforge: The Origin Story
(08:15) Breaking into the Space Industry
(15:45) Early Challenges and Funding Journey
(25:16) Navigating the Deep Tech Investment Landscape
(26:34) Strategic Fundraising Lessons
(32:49) Cultural Values and Team Building
(40:45) Expanding Internationally: Challenges and Insights
(46:10) Future Vision and Final Thoughts
In this episode, we discuss:
1. The Early Days: How Joshua and his co-founder turned a garage lab into a global space-tech company.
2. Fundraising Insights: Navigating angel investments, non-dilutive grants, and building relationships with top-tier VCs.
3. Scaling Up: Challenges of rapid growth and creating a strong team culture.
4. Space Forge’s Mission: How manufacturing in space can solve Earth’s most pressing challenges.
