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Constellations, a New Space and Satellite Innovation Podcast
In this episode, Awais Ahmed, founder and CEO of Pixxel, talks about building a constellation called Firefly, otherwise known as the “health monitor for the Earth.” Join us to learn about hyperspectral imagery, how access to it can support faster responses to environmental issues, and how its data can be used to provide insights on terrestrial changes that haven't even happened yet.
The Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are partnering to accelerate the use of satellite-based technologies within the financial sector. Starfish Space's Otter Pup 2 mission to conduct rendezvous, proximity operations (RPO), and ultimately attempt docking with another spacecraft in LEO. Ursa Space Systems and Aireon are partnering to integrate Aireon's real-time aircraft tracking data into Ursa Space's geospatial platform, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is David Barnhart, CEO and co-founder of Arkisys. You can connect with David on LinkedIn, and learn more about Arkisys on their website. Selected Reading LSA and EIB Launch “Space for Finance” Initiative - News & Media Starfish Space Unveils Otter Pup 2 Mission Space Hi-Jinkies. (Starfish Space Interview) Ursa Space Systems and Aireon Team Up to Enhance Aircraft Monitoring with Space-Based ADS-B Data ICEYE and Safran Announce Strategic Partnership on Persistent Surveillance Capabilities SARsatX Secures $2.6M in Seed Funding - SpaceTech in Gulf Region Yank Technologies Selected for Prestigious NASA Phase II Contract for Dust-Tolerant Resonant Connectors NASA names geomagnetic storm for 1st time, honoring a space weather scientist who died suddenly in 2024 T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week planet Earth is seeing two re-entries of man-made objects: first the uncontrolled, possibly life-threatening, Soviet-era Kosmos 482; and second, the W-3 - an example of the very controlled, defense and in some cases possibly life-extending, business case that is Varda Space Industries. Laura Winter speaks with Delian Asparouhov, Varda Space Industries' co-Founder and President, and Partner at Peter Thiel's Founders Fund; and Muk Pandian, Varda's Director of Strategic Partnerships and Advanced Concepts.
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Bogdan Iordache conduce fondul de investiții Underline Ventures, activ pe piața din România și cea regională. Alături de Oana Coșman, el a analizat piața de investiții din momentul de față, dar și contextul macroeconomic. "Cea mai mare problemă pe care o avem în industria de capital de risc e lipsa de lichiditate. Fără stabilitate, tot ecosistemul este afectat", spune Bogdan Iordache. De asemenea, el consideră că investiții în zona de Industry 4.0 și space tech au devenit cruciale, iar Europa poate să schimbe sectoarele de energie și de manufactură. "Când evaluăm startup-urile ne uităm la problema urgentă a clienților pe care aceste companii încearcă să o rezolve imediat”.Episodul de astăzi este susținut de către Unicredit. Ești IMM și vrei pachetul MicroStar? Intră aici
*Moonrise*... what happened? This should have been a sci-fi masterpiece. I mean, *WIT Studio*, *Hiromu Arakawa*, *Tow Ubukata*—those names alone promised something groundbreaking! And visually, no complaints there. The animation? Stunning. The space battles? Thrilling. The engrave technology? Fascinating. The world-building? Full of potential. It looked and felt like a triumph in the making.But then the story happened. Or, rather, it unraveled.What started off so strong—an intriguing conflict between Earth and its oppressed Moon colony, governed by an AI overlord—just... lost its way. The pacing is baffling. One moment, you're deep in gripping action, and the next, you're stuck in a subplot that drags momentum to a halt. And the time jumps—why are they so messy? Instead of enriching the story, they confuse it. Jack, Phil, and the rest? They had so much potential, but instead, they feel underdeveloped, inconsistent, and sometimes just frustratingly vague. And the dialogue—oh, the dialogue. It's not even bad in a fun way. It's flat, sometimes forced, and the infamous "Moonrise!" line? Unintentionally hilarious. The tonal shifts don't help either. One moment, it's a serious war drama with genuine stakes, and the next? Slapstick humor. Did they forget what kind of story they were telling?Then there's the ending... or whatever that was supposed to be. Rushed, incomplete, full of unanswered questions—just completely unsatisfying.So, is it worth watching? If you care about deep storytelling, well-developed characters, and coherent pacing, probably not. But if you're here purely for gorgeous animation and space battles, you might still enjoy parts of it. But ultimately, Moonrise is frustrating because it could have been *great*. And instead, it's just... confusing, disappointing, and a missed opportunity.
While the 40th Space Symposium's theme was “Building Partnerships to Secure our Future”, everyone in Colorado Springs, Colorado was talking about building President Trump's Next Generation Missile Defense Shield, a.k.a.: “Golden Dome For America.” This week's guest cautions us that you cannot have a space-based missile defense shield without the ground segment. Laura Winter speaks with Mark Henrie, Divisional Vice President, Amentum Missile Defense Group, and Deputy Program Manager, Integrated Research & Development Enterprise Solution.
Check out what GLOBBLE looks like here: https://www.stellar.tc/pages/globbleThe future of mobility isn't just electric—it's connected. And as autonomous and software-defined vehicles take over the roads, seamless connectivity will be as essential as the engines themselves. But how do you ensure perfect, uninterrupted internet for cars, trucks, and trains moving across vastly different terrains? Enter Stellar, the startup building a bridge between terrestrial and satellite networks to keep vehicles online—everywhere.In this episode, we sit down with Damien Garot, CEO and co-founder of Stellar, who brings decades of experience from OneWeb, Eutelsat, and Thales Alenia Space (previously Alcatel). Damien breaks down why the car industry is now in an arms race for connectivity, how SpaceX's Starlink advantage is shaking up legacy automakers, and why space-based networks will be a game-changer for autonomous driving, fleet management, and beyond.We also explore:
I denne uges episode ser vi nærmere på diverse markedsnyheder og også forbi Chewys seneste regnskab. Ugens tema giver en status på AI-toget og dykker ned i Nvidias præsentation og deres fortsatte dominans. Derudover besvarer vi et lytterspørgsmål om investering i space-tech aktier. Alt dette og meget mere! Denne episode er sponsoreret af Finobo. Få et gratis økonomitjek hos specialisterne i låneoptimering ved at bruge linket:finobo.dk/gratis-oekonomitjek-aktieuniverset/Prøv den nye omlægningsberegner på Finobo.dk/beregner-omlaegningsberegner/?utm_source=aktieuniverset Denne episode er sponsoreret af investeringsfonden NewDeal Invest. NewDeal Invest er blevet børsnoteret, så der nu ikke er nogen minimumsinvestering for at komme med i fonden. Find den på din danske handelsplatform under PMINDI eller NewDeal Invest (nu også på Nordnet og eToro). Hvis du er en virksomhed, kan du også investere i hovedfonden gennem virksomhedsskatteordningen (VSO).NewDeal Invest: newdealinvest.dk Tjek os ud på:FB gruppe: facebook.com/groups/1023197861808843X: x.com/aktieuniversetIG: instagram.com/aktieuniversetpodcast
In this episode of Let's Talk Future™, host Jane Ross chats with Tim Horan, Managing Director at Oppenheimer, about the game-changing rise of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. Tim dives into how LEO tech is transforming global connectivity, expanding broadband access to remote areas, and unlocking exciting new investment opportunities. Discover how companies like SpaceX, T-Mobile, Amazon, and AT&T are driving this revolution and shaping the future of global broadband. Podcast Disclosure: This podcast is the property of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and should not be copied, distributed, published or reproduced, in whole or in part. The information/commentary contained in this recording was obtained from market conditions and professional sources, and is educational in nature. The information presented has been derived from sources believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed as to accuracy and does not purport to be a complete analysis of any strategy, plan, security, company, or industry involved. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. Oppenheimer has no obligation to provide any updates or changes. Any examples used in this material are generic, hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. All price references and market forecasts are as of the date of recording. This podcast is not a product of Oppenheimer Research, nor does it provide any financial, economic, legal, accounting, or tax advice or recommendations. Any liability therefore (including in respect of direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage) is expressly disclaimed. Securities and other financial instruments that may be discussed in this report or recommended or sold are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and are not deposits or obligations of any insured depository institution. Investments involve numerous risks including market risk, counterparty default risk and liquidity risk. Securities and other financial investments at times maybe difficult to value or sell. The value of financial instruments may fluctuate, and investors may lose their entire principal investment. Prior to making any investment or financial decisions, an investor should seek advice from their personal financial, legal, tax and other professional advisors that take into account all of the particular facts and circumstances of an investor's own situation. The views and strategies described may not be suitable for all investors. This report does not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation or specific needs of any particular client of Oppenheimer or its affiliates. This presentation may contain forward looking statements or projections regarding future events. Forward-looking statements and projections are based on the opinions and estimates of Oppenheimer as of the date of this podcast, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties as well as other factors, including economic, political, and public health factors, that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements and projections. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance of a benchmark index is not indicative of the performance of any particular investment; however, they are considered representative of their respective market segments. Please note that indexes are unmanaged and their returns do not take into account any of the costs associated with buying and selling individual securities. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index. Oppenheimer Transacts Business on all Principal Exchanges and Member SIPC. 7623350.2
This episode comes to you from SatShow'25 in Washington, D.C., where European space companies say the uncertainty of the Trump Administration's economic and security policies are creating a golden opportunity for their businesses and technology development. Laura Winter speaks with Declan Ganley, CEO Rivada; Ed Tate, CTO, VIrtus Solis; Martin Soltau, co-Founder and co-CEO, Space Solar.
This week, Etholle dives into the world of space tourism, how it started, where it's headed, and whether it could ever be accessible to the rest of us.
On this episode of Crazy Wisdom, I, Stewart Alsop, sit down with Gabe Dominocielo, co-founder of Umbra, a space tech company revolutionizing satellite imagery. We discuss the rapid advancements in space-based observation, the economics driving the industry, and how AI intersects with satellite data. Gabe shares insights on government contracting, defense applications, and the shift toward cost-minus procurement models. We also explore the broader implications of satellite technology—from hedge funds analyzing parking lots to wildfire response efforts. Check out more about Gabe and Umbra at umbraspace.com (https://umbraspace.com), and don't miss their open data archive for high-resolution satellite imagery.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast00:05 Gabe's Background and Umbra's Mission00:34 The Story Behind 'Come and Take It'01:32 Space Technology and Cost Plus Contracts03:28 The Impact of Elon Musk and SpaceX05:16 Umbra's Business Model and Profitability07:28 Challenges in the Satellite Business11:45 Investors and Funding Journey19:31 Space Business Landscape and Future Prospects23:09 Defense and Regulatory Challenges in Space31:06 Practical Applications of Satellite Data33:16 Unexpected Wealth and Autistic Curiosity33:49 Beet Farming and Data Insights35:09 Philosophy in Business Strategy38:56 Empathy and Investor Relations43:00 Raising Capital: Strategies and Challenges44:56 The Sovereignty Game vs. Venture Game51:12 Concluding Thoughts and Contact Information52:57 The Treasure Hunt and AI DependenciesKey InsightsThe Shift from Cost-Plus to Cost-Minus in Government Contracting – Historically, aerospace and defense contracts operated under a cost-plus model, where companies were reimbursed for expenses with a guaranteed profit. Gabe explains how the shift toward cost-minus (firm-fixed pricing) is driving efficiency and competition in the industry, much like how SpaceX drastically reduced launch costs by offering services instead of relying on bloated government contracts.Satellite Imagery Has Become a Crucial Tool for Businesses – Beyond traditional defense and intelligence applications, high-resolution satellite imagery is now a critical asset for hedge funds, investors, and commercial enterprises. Gabe describes how firms use satellite data to analyze parking lots, monitor supply chains, and even track cryptocurrency mining activity based on power line sagging and cooling fan usage on data centers.Space Technology is More Business-Driven Than Space-Driven – While many assume space startups are driven by a passion for exploration, Umbra's success is rooted in strong business fundamentals. Gabe emphasizes that their focus is on unit economics, supply-demand balance, and creating a profitable company rather than simply innovating for the sake of technology.China's Growing Presence in Space and Regulatory Challenges – Gabe raises concerns about China's aggressive approach to space, noting that they often ignore international agreements and regulations. Meanwhile, American companies face significant bureaucratic hurdles, sometimes spending millions just to navigate licensing and compliance. He argues that unleashing American innovation by reducing regulatory friction is essential to maintaining leadership in the space industry.Profitability is the Ultimate Measure of Success – Unlike many venture-backed space startups that focus on hype, Umbra has prioritized profitability, making it one of the few successful Earth observation companies. Gabe contrasts this with competitors who raised massive sums, spent excessively, and ultimately failed because they weren't built on sustainable business models.Satellite Technology is Revolutionizing Disaster Response – One of the most impactful uses of Umbra's satellite imagery has been in wildfire response. By capturing images through smoke and clouds, their data was instrumental in mapping wildfires in Los Angeles. They even made this data freely available, helping emergency responders and news organizations better understand the crisis.Philosophy and Business Strategy Go Hand in Hand – Gabe highlights how strategic thinking and philosophical principles guide decision-making in business. Whether it's understanding investor motivations, handling conflicts with empathy, or ensuring a company can sustain itself for decades rather than chasing short-term wins, having a strong philosophical foundation is key to long-term success.
The Department of Defense has less than six weeks to submit a plan for the “Iron Dome for America”, President Donald Trump's concept of a mostly space-based missile defence shield. The DOD is reaching out to industry for ideas, but what should the technology priorities be? Laura Winter speaks with Roger Lenard, a NASA and DOD consultant, and a Strategic Defense Initiative veteran, who led the classified Timber Wind Nuclear Rocket program, and the Lightweight Exoatmospheric Projectile (LEAP) program; and Peter Garretson, a Senior Fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, and co-Author of the book “The Next Space Race: A Blueprint for American Primacy”.
On this episode of The Founder's Sandbox, Brenda speaks with Chasity Lourde Wright. Chasity is inventor and founder of Infiltron Software Suite LLC. Infiltron operates in the cybersecurity space; a Service disabled-Veteran owned and women-owned small business. Infiltron offers quantum-resistant cybersecurity solutions for decentralized digital identity, digital assets, and AI governance, utilizing proprietary post-secure encryption. Its patented technology integrates AI, blockchain, and quantum-resistant encryption to provide advanced cyber resilience, compliance enforcement, and real-time threat mitigation across multiple industries, including aerospace & defense, fintech, smart cities, and EVs. Chasity, as inventor, speaks about her team and how creativity in the work place is necessary for enhancing innovation on really tough problems like Cybersecurity. As the CEO of Infiltron, Chasity Lourde Wright is also a former USAF Aerospace Engineer, Intel Officer, and Cybersecurity Instructor with extensive experience in cybersecurity, AI governance, and national security. She was part of the team that developed reconfiguration capabilities for the USAF C-130 and contributed to the creation of the CMMC framework since its inception in 2019. Additionally, she has engaged in high-level cybersecurity and AI governance initiatives, including industry collaborations, government advisory roles, and proprietary innovations in quantum-resistant encryption, AI security, and blockchain-based compliance solutions. Her expertise extends beyond participating in NIST challenges, encompassing leading-edge cybersecurity development, policy influence, and defense sector innovations. You can find out more about Chasity and Infiltron at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/infiltronsoftwaresuite/ https://infiltron.net/ Transcript: 00:04 Hi, I'm pleased to announce something very special to me, a new subscription-based service through Next Act Advisors that allows members exclusive access to personal industry insights and bespoke 00:32 corporate governance knowledge. This comes in the form of blogs, personal book recommendations, and early access to the founder's sandbox podcast episodes before they released to the public. If you want more white glove information on building your startup with information like what was in today's episode, sign up with the link in the show notes to enjoy being a special member of Next Act Advisors. 01:01 As a thank you to Founders Sandbox listeners, you can use code SANDBOX25 at checkout to enjoy 25% off your membership costs. Thank you. 01:19 Welcome back to the Founder's Sandbox. I am Brenda McCabe, your host of this monthly podcast in which I bring entrepreneurs, founders, corporate directors, and professional service providers who, like me, want to effectuate change in the world by building resilient, scalable, and purpose-driven companies. I like to recreate a fun sandbox environment with my guests. And we will touch on not only their purpose, 01:47 and what has driven them to create their own businesses. But also we're going to touch upon topics such as resilience, purpose-driven, and scalable sustainable growth. Today, I am absolutely delighted to have as my guest Chasity Wright. Welcome, Chasity. Hey. Thank you for having me. 02:13 Super excited to talk about how Infiltron has evolved and the lessons learned and how we're preparing to relaunch in 2025. Excellent. And it's perfect timing because I've known you for a couple of years now. Yeah. Right. So Chasity is CEO and founder of Infiltron Software Suite, a company that's headquartered out of Atlanta. 02:40 She is oftentimes in Los Angeles because she's working largely in the defense market and cyber security. So I wanted to have you on my podcast because you have gone further in building your business. So you and I met, I want to say back in 2022, you came out of the Women Founders Network cohort. 03:08 kind of very early stage. One of the events that I was a host of was the Thai So Cal Women's Fund. And you weren't yet ready for investing, but we struck up, I would say a friendship and I admire many things about you as, and we'll get into it in the podcast here, but you touch. 03:35 quite a few or check of quite a few boxes for my podcast. You says, so you are a woman owned veteran and women owned business. You are a veteran of the Air Force. You're in deep tech and you're by park and queer. And so there's many many boxes that you check and it was difficult to kind of hone in on what I really wanted to bring into the podcast today, but we're going to we're going to start from here. 04:05 I always like to ask my guests to start with kind of their origin story. I, when I first met you, right, in private conversations, got to hear your origin story and why you do what you do, what your firsthand experience while on missions, right, that really informed your aha moments to create infiltrant. 04:33 as a cybersecurity company. So tell us a bit about your origin story, Chasity. So, I mean, my origin story has, if you can imagine all of these different paths kind of streamlining into one path. So one of those paths would be a little black girl born in Georgia, still seeing dirt roads and... 05:01 being able to go to the country and work on a farm and, you know, just still having that connection to the past, you know, and not necessarily the past in a bad way. So athletic, played ball in college, went to Clark Atlanta University, you know, the HBCUs are a big hurrah right now, but they've always been one. 05:29 I grew up with one in my backyard, Fort Valley State, which is in Fort Valley, Georgia. So, you know, roughed it with the boys, played in the backyard with the boys, always been a boys girl, cousins, neighbor. We're all still close. We all still play sports when we meet. So it's like an adult play date, so to speak. But also, you know, 05:58 raised religiously, you know, I'm in Southern Baptist Church, two parent household, maybe lower middle class, but middle school was very transformative for me because they decided to mix in everybody. So it was my first time, you know, being in a more diverse population in school. 06:25 And, you know, music is a big thing for me as well. I DJ, I make music. That's the creative part of me. And I found a lot of people in deep tech to do something with music. So, yeah, so, you know, that's my like early years background. And then coming through, I decided to go into the Air Force. I actually took off between my junior and senior year at Clark Atlanta. 06:52 Um, there I was majoring in global leadership and management. Okay. And went in and I was in for eight years. I was an aerospace engineer, uh, got deployed several times, uh, to different places, and that kind of brings us to why Infiltron exists and, um, on one of those deployments, I was a part of a network takedown. 07:21 And it was, whoo. I mean, I don't mean to quote the pitch deck story, but it is what it is. I wrote it because that's the way it felt. It was catastrophic. So just imagine the city of Los Angeles losing power out of nowhere. The rail stops working, Sinai has no power, so all of the medical equipment is no longer working. 07:49 The internet's completely gone and not rebooting like it normally would. Your energy grid is down. That is what I experienced in one of those deployments. And I was a part of Iraqi freedom and Afghanistan. I was a part of both of those wars. And when we came, you know, we got everything back. Thank God we were smart enough to ship. 08:19 brand new equipment. Okay, you know, so you know, we weren't able to get there. Yeah. I mean, I mean, that's part of our job. We're engineers. And when you're in the middle of nowhere, there's no calling HP. There's no calling Cisco. Like you got to know how to do what needs to be done. There was there was a lot of makeshifting. I can be I came out of Air Force, I could be a mechanical engineer to 08:45 because we had to figure out how to make components on the fly. It was just so many things. Innovation, right? Like you had to be innovative. You had to be adapt quickly while keeping the mission as a focus. So just imagine something that catastrophic and something similar has happened. I feel like Colonial Pipeline was something that is known now in the US for sure. 09:15 that had similar elements of what we experienced in being deployed. Yeah, and that was two years back. And SolarWinds is another one. I generally refer to those because people generally gasp, even non-technical people, because they know how damaging it was. So we can reuse. Normally, when the equipment goes down, 09:44 Unplug, right? Plug back in. Reboot. Yeah, reboot. But that was not happening. And what we found out in the debrief was that quantum was used. So quantum simplistically is about frequencies in this context. It's about frequencies. And frequencies matter in so many aspects of life, from spirituality all the way through tech like what Infotron has. So... 10:14 What they did was they basically zeroed out the frequencies of our satellite communications. And I believe that they created some frequencies that damaged other equipment. So these are things that again we found out in the debrief. And I wasn't really able to talk to that probably when we met because I wasn't sure if it was unclassified yet. 10:42 But as soon as Biden started talking about quantum initiative, which was back in 2022, when we were in, I was like, everything's hitting it the right time because we were literally in Techstars LA space. And Biden pushed the quantum initiative. And I'm like, see, told you, because a lot of people, a lot of people doubted what I was saying because of the year that I said it had happened. And as. 11:09 we started to grow out our team. There are other veterans on our team from different branches. And of course we war story swap all the time. And those other two people work for like NSA and they did kind of the same thing, telecommunications. And I'm telling the pitch desk story and they're sitting there like, yep, yep. That happened to us too. And I'm like, when? 11:38 And they're saying different years. So at that point, we understood it. It happened more than once. So that's why Infiltronic. So what's Infiltronic? So let's bring it back to, Yeah. So you leave, you leave service after eight years after also experiencing that. I still feel like I'm a part of it because I do consult them still. Right. So it'd be great. So. 12:08 And once in the Air Force forever? Always. Well, I really would have been in Space Force. Yes. Yeah. Well, you heard that here on the Founder Sandbox. The next, yes. So for my listeners, again, you check a lot of boxes. Deep tech, women in STEM. What is it exactly that? 12:37 your suite of services. All right. So Info-Trans software, right, has two patents now. And on your landing page, it says, our patented solutions, solutions utilize adaptive artificial intelligence, advanced quantum encryption and blockchain technology to deliver real-time cybersecurity for a wide array of applications. Later on, we'll get into smart cities, but 13:06 including the internet of things, smart devices, legacy systems, hybrid data, signals and devices. All pretty, pretty understandable, but what is it that Infiltrion software is able to do that others are not? So we're able to create a easier way for businesses to migrate their devices. 13:36 and their software, so their applications that they use, maybe they've developed them themselves, we provide a way for them to easily migrate those entities over into a more quantum-proofed infrastructure. So we created what we've trademarked as quantum encapsulation. So just imagine something being encapsulated. And basically we've created, 14:05 a brand new method of leveraging quantum, the AI, we leverage it for the pro-activeness. So in lieu of just waiting for threats to happen to our clients, we go look for the threat. So we want to go be where the bad guys are and find out and bring that information back and update the solution in real time to provide protection for all of our clients in real time. 14:33 That's how we leverage the AI. The blockchain is kind of leveraged to kind of make sure that people, things like devices, aren't on networks that shouldn't be. So it's kind of, I mean, we use it for what blockchain was pretty much basically developed for, and that's a ledger. So keeping up with the transactions of what's happening. 15:03 in a client's infrastructure. Fantastic. So it's largely a B2B business, yours, right? We do. We have B2B, but we've been approached several times here recently by consumers. Because now, because of the biometric protection aspect of our solution using the quantum encapsulation, we can protect, say, 15:32 Halle Berry from deep fake, being deep faked, or, you know, protecting her likeness from being used without her knowledge in movies, CGI'd into movies. So it's kind of getting a little bit more consumerish as we iterate, right? Yeah, and we were briefly speaking before the podcast recording, Chasity and I, and... 15:59 I've known her for years. She's a very private person, would not allow photographs. So I told my producer, I'm certain Whitney Chastity's not going to be sending us a picture, but you said yes, that you might, because you do have biometric, artificial intelligence, safeguards that can actually discover deep fakes, right? Yes, yes. Yep, if it didn't come from us, if it wasn't checked back from us, 16:29 It wasn't approved by the person. So it's kind of pretty much that simple. Amazing. Well, later on in the show notes, we will have how to contact you at Enfield Tron. So you are in the startup ecosystem. Again, you travel a lot. You're between Washington DC, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and actually the Bay Area. Yeah, the Bay Area. Right. So. 16:58 Revenue can be elusive, right? How? Especially in tech, and especially in these really large markets that I call deep tech. Deep tech and leading edge, bleeding edge, right? People don't know what they're actually buying, right? Or what they don't even, they probably don't even know that they have a need, right? What's been your strategy at Infiltron to keep the revenue flowing while maintaining also a pretty playful, innovative culture? 17:27 You talked about your team and so talk, that's kind of two questions. So how have you kept revenue coming, right? While not going out for dilutive funding yet, but tell us a little bit about how, what's your business model? So the business model in itself is set up for B2B and we also have a licensing element there. So if they, for instance, 17:56 a Fortune 500 company who has a cyber team, right? They have an internal cyber team. If they want to license out the patents that we have and kind of customize it or create or build off of those, use it as a baseline for what they need for their systems, we offer that as well. But let me just put it out there. But back to your question, how do we keep it fun? So the team... 18:25 The original team members, should I say. So we met about seven years ago at a place called the Gathering Spot in Atlanta. So the Gathering Spot is a community and they just opened one in LA and I do go to the one in LA too when I'm there. But it's a community of people, creatives from creative people to deep tech people like myself and everything in between. 18:55 We went to a black tech event at the gathering spot and found ourselves not being able to get into the actual room. So we ended up, because they have a bar and everything at the gathering spot. It's a social club too. It has a club aspect to it too, but you can network there, have meetings there, meet all types of people. I mean known people, I mean it's a great 19:25 great concept, shout out to Ryan. But we found ourselves at the bar, and we're looking at each other. We knew each other because we had been introduced by the Hellbrella person, Tracy. Yes, yes. Because they had done some things for her with a previous startup that she had, development-wise. So we're all sitting at the bar, and we're looking at each other like, but we're the real tech people. 19:55 We do it. It's like we don't really take people. Um, we can't even get in there. We like, we know the organizers and personally and everything. So let's start a company. Well, what we did was we launched, um, what we launched kit labs. And it was literally right down the street from the 20:23 and connect to the community. So we had, it's not far from the AUC and the AUC is where Morris Brown, Morehouse, Spelman and Clark Atlanta are. Got it. So a lot of times you would come in there and find some of the founders, cause this was founded by myself and like six or seven other black tech founders. The ones that were outside. Drinking like, you know. 20:53 That's where we had that conversation. You know, the conversation started at the bar, being outside of that first Black Tech meetup, so to speak, with Joey Womack, who is a part of Goody Nation, who we did get a 50K grant from back in 2020 through Google for Startups. Let me just say this so much. We were so interconnected. I mean, Atlanta is Wakanda. Don't let anybody tell you anything different. 21:21 It's definitely Wakanda. But literally, not even a mile away from the Gathering Spot, we opened up Kit Labs. It's a smart lab where we can tinker with stuff. We're engineers. We're tech people. We need something. We need a makerspace. We don't necessarily need a space that is compared. The Gathering Spot was a little bit more buttoned up. 21:46 And then what we needed, we needed to be able to throw things and make things. We had everything from like 3d printers to, um, VR, AR headsets. I mean, you, anything in tech. Innovative fun. It was in, is in that lab. Um, but that's where around today. So we dissolved it. So it's been dissolved. What one of, one of the founders, he unfortunately transitioned. Um, 22:15 So, you know, and he was kind of like the pillar of it. And it kept going for a while, but it was just a lot of people like myself, it was two female founders, Dr. Nashley Cephas, who herself is from Jackson, Mississippi. I'm shouting out everybody, right? She's from Jackson, Mississippi, and she bought 10 acres in downtown Jackson, Mississippi and started a nonprofit called Bean Pad. And he basically took the concept of what we were doing at Kit Labs and brought it to our hometown. So. 22:44 Um, and it's so funny. She actually founded it on my birthday. So I was like, okay, I can dig that. Um, uh, but, but no, but we're still connected. Everybody still works with each other. You know, if I have to come in and do some things around cyber for a contract or, you know, commercial or whatever client that they have, I do like we, we all kind of still work together on each other's things. So that has allowed you to bring in some revenues, right? 23:14 through its service context. Yeah. Oh, for sure. For sure. Consultant wise, cause they're like, I think people may look at Infotron and think that there's not a human touch piece there, but if you're dealing with me, there's always gonna be a human touch point there because we have to consult the client. We can't assume, you know, we cannot assume. 23:41 what you need, we have to actually have a conversation with our clients throughout the process, even after we possibly have set up the platform for you, trained your people on it, there still needs to be an element of communication, human communication, right? But the team, we've been working together for about seven years. Yes. 24:10 Infiltron has been around for five, going on six years now. So, you know, I mean, respect, mutual respect, we're still kids at heart. I mean, we grew up wanting to be engineers. So, you really can't take the light of innovation out of an engineer unless they're just at the point of not wanting to do it anymore. So we're always, what I've found is most people in any engineering discipline are very, 24:39 curious and forward thinking. So we, and we kind of, we're kind of like a community. We are community and not kind of like, but we are community of folks that contribute to each other's, you know, projects. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And not just, not just business-wise, but personally, like we, I mean, we've been around each other for almost a decade, so. 25:04 there's been kids born and like I just said, one of our founders transitioned, like we've been through some things together that have brought us closer together. And you can, I believe when you have a team like that, and we're all diverse, you know, we have a team like that that cultivates innovation, for sure. You know, I've had a few guests to my podcast and I also write about this, 25:35 Creativity is only possible or it's greatly possible when you create a fun environment and make games out of things and have, right? And set up teams. So I think a shout out to you and what you've set up at Infiltron and in its earlier rendering at Kit Labs, just creating an environment that allows for what ifs, right? Is key. There are a lot of what ifs in cyber. 26:04 I bet you there. So I have a boatload of questions here. One is, before we get into your fundraising path, again, I mentioned earlier you have two patents that have been issued. What is post-quantum encryption technology in layman language? Post. 26:32 Quantum encryption technology. So there is definitely confusion out there that has been addressed. And because there is a difference between post secure quantum and encryption. There's a difference. So. Excellent. 27:02 Post quantum encryption, it is designed to protect data from quantum computers. So. And that's done through the encapsulation? For us, that is how we provide the protection, the encryption. That is the quantum encapsulation is a method of encryption with Involtron. So the current encryption. So you have things like RSA. 27:32 elliptical curve, which elliptical curve is more widely used and kind of being marketed as quantum encryption. It is, it is, it's on the list of quantum protections, right, or quantum methods of encryption protection. So companies like Okta use ECC a lot. But what's happening is that quantum computers are being built now. Yes. Like right now, there's no... Yeah, the cost is going down. 28:02 Yeah, there's no waiting five years from now. Like I urge anyone under the sound of my voice to prepare now for quantum computer attacks. The same thing that I describe happening to us when we were deployed, it's gonna happen. And again, I alluded to feeling like 28:33 situations like Colonial Pipeline and SolarWinds were, I feel like they were tests because there were so many different elements of what we saw in the deployment that happened in those two cases. Yeah, because I'm sitting there and think it's like 2020, 2021, 2019 actually, it started. I think this didn't know, but. 28:59 And it's still going like 20, SolarWinds was still going, the last time I checked SolarWinds was still unraveling. Like it's still, still going. But back to the question. So for us, quantum encapsulation for us is breakthrough. So NIST has had these challenges, right? Where they put out bidding for companies, 29:27 researchers, because a lot of people that are in the quantum space, whether it's physics, mechanics, are generally found in academia. They're not at Infiltron. They're not at QED. They're just not there, right? It's very far in between, and we generally have to lure them. Or we have to do something like partner with them on... 29:53 grants, like the STTR grants. Like that's the only way, generally the only way that we can probably connect with the academia or pierce them and have them work with us. And they usually through that take all the funding, but it's, you're still. Exposed, right? You're exposed, but you're also getting the expertise that you possibly need and can't rightly find in the freelancing world. Yeah. So it generally works out in the long run. 30:23 Um, but so our encapsulation is a, is a breakthrough method because I look at it like this, NIST is holding these challenges and nothing against NIST. We're connected. I contribute to NIST and everything, but they are holding these challenges. And basically they're telling the hackers what people are going to the framework. 30:49 what people are gonna have to adhere to when they create their quantum algorithms to protect their devices and data. You know, you're giving away the secret ingredients. So like, even if they don't know specifically your algorithm, they know what you've based it off of. And that gives it like a tiny thread can unravel a whole t-shirt, right? So I look at it like that. So... 31:15 And even before, you know, we were already developing things before NIST put out these challenges. We are in alignment. We can adhere and do it here to the framework that they're putting out because, you know, you have the DOD space who definitely follows their framework, especially when it comes to the risk management framework. So they're going to follow NIST regardless. They're going to follow their framework, whatever they put out about cybersecurity protection. 31:44 The DOD space and all of its agencies are gonna follow that. However, being in the cybersecurity space every day, seeing what is happening and knowing that you've given some clues, some contextual clues to the malicious hackers about what you're using as a baseline to build your algorithms will, guess what? What we have is not that. Like we are... 32:12 One of the things that differentiates us right now, because I'm sure as quantum cybersecurity continues to grow legs, so to speak, people are gonna start using the more, less susceptible to hacks by quantum computers method. So you have things like multivariate hash code. So these are some of the 32:40 quantum properties that you can use that are not generally hackable by a quantum computer. They won't be hackable by a quantum computer. So we leveraged some of that. It was like, if I'm built, I looked at it like this, I've been in cyber, I've been in tech for almost 20 years. I know I don't look it. I get it all the time. You don't have to say it. I've been in tech for almost 20 years. I've been, and when I was in the air force, we call it InfoSec. It's the same thing. And that dates me. 33:08 If I say, if you hear somebody say InfoSec, trust me, they've been in cybersecurity for at least 20 plus years. So, but it's cybersecurity, that's what it is. And I've seen the changes and I've paid my dues too. Like I didn't, when I got out of the Air Force, I was just, side note, like I cut grass and loved it. I would go back and do it if I can make these results. So then like, it's very, it's very fulfilling. Don't let anybody fool you. Like I love, but I like being outside, but. 33:38 Um, my first tech job though, I literally went through the phone book. Cause this is like still, you know, internet was not quite what it is now, of course, but it was like still growing. And I went through the yellow pages and went through the aerospace companies and called all of them and was like, Hey, let's just get out of the air force, look for a job. I don't care if it's an intern or co-op and L3 L3 before they merged with Harris. Uh, 34:08 they created me a co-op. And, but again, still in touch with, cause you know, L3 is a huge government contracting company, right? And in the satellite communication space, cause they're in line with my background. And so I've seen it all. I've seen the changes of InfoSec into cybersecurity. And now we're entering a new frontier with quantum cybersecurity. So I've been here, 34:37 maybe at the latter part of the info set, but definitely through the cybersecurity and here for and to forge some guidelines and pathways in the quantum cybersecurity space with Inflotron. So when you know Inflotron was founded in 2019, I was like, okay, if I'm gonna start 35:03 something new in cyber and we hadn't even gotten to the quantum piece yet. They hadn't even gotten to me yet. Like it started like I was getting downloads. Yeah. Because I'm, I always, I'm a reader. I wake up looking at cyber news and just staying in the know because I need to know what's going on so I can protect my clients, whether that was me in a government contracting position or me as a consultant in my businesses. So. 35:33 I need to know what's going on. And if I'm going to build something new, why am I going to build it with compromised parts? Right. That's a great way to describe it. Yeah. Forget the tech. It didn't make logical sense. If I'm going to build something new, a SaaS product that's going to integrate and be flexible and adaptable and proactive. 36:01 Why would I use RSA encryption when I know what's coming? Got it. That will be one of the snippets that I share in my YouTube channel as well as the podcast. That is excellent. Why build something with compromised parts? Frontier technology, quantum cybersecurity is what Epfiltron is about. 36:30 Next generation. Talk to me a little bit more for us, less tech savvy listeners about the use of Infiltron in a SelleGov's program for smart cities. That kind of brings it more home and more tangible. How is technology used for smart cities? So first, SelleGov through leading cities. Yes. 36:59 It connects companies like ours with municipalities to tackle urban challenges. So for us, it's infrastructure, security, and sustainability. So we were a finalist in leading cities global competition back in 2021. And we've worked through them. You know, we've been able to work with city leaders to secure IOT systems and critical infrastructure. 37:28 And quick shout out to Michael Lake. Okay. He's the founder of Leading Cities, amazing guy. Another keep in touch, answer the email quickly person. He's based in Boston, but he's built a very supportive ecosystem. So shout out to Michael Lake. But as a part of this program, 37:56 We're offering smart cities our enhanced quantum vulnerability assessment. And this is to help the smart city leaders identify areas that need better quantum protections now. We've just had a session on November the 11th, Veterans Day. And the second one is coming up December the 5th. So you. 38:24 If you're a smart city leader or see so small, medium, large enterprise, no matter what market you in, you're in, definitely tap in. You can register for it on the leading city's website or on our website at Infotron.net. Yeah, that's on December 9, 2024 at 1pm. Is that Eastern? December 5th. December 5th? No, it's the 9th, because I have it here. And that's my cousin's birthday. So yeah, it's December 9th. 38:53 Did you get to influence those dates? Yeah. So let's jump into your startup. You've taken in very little dilutive funding. How much money have you raised to date? And how have you, what is the next phase, right? In terms of outreach for fundraising. So we've raised 120K and that was through Techstars, LA Space. 39:23 Still counting. I do not take a salary. I could take one, but I'm just, it's the long game for me. And I still consult. Don't let these people tell you not to quit your job and be an entrepreneur. Don't let people do that. Especially if you have a family. Don't let these people, don't let these people try to guilt you or shame you because you still have a job while you're building your startup. Don't let, don't do it. 39:53 Because I do have a company that I started called Right Tech Solutions and we still, that's why I said I still feel like I'm in the Air Force because I still consult them. So I can, you know, the revenue that we do and we've hit 500K in revenue. So you know, I could easily take a salary, right? But I just, it's the long game for me. It's the global expansion. 40:22 um, you know, more IP and patents, uh, protections, right? Because we do have global count clients. And, um, one of the things that I wanted to make sure of before we even took on the clients was that we had legal backing there. So IP trademarks, um, at least patent, at least the application is pending, but you know, like I want to, I want to, I want it to at least have that. And we have great attorneys. Um, shout out to Malika Tyson. 40:52 and Matthew and Dorian who have, they took over because I had a, I had an attorney, IP attorney that would, had her own boutique firm and then she had to go back, you know, she just couldn't do the entrepreneurship, it's not for everybody, but we still stay in contact as well. But she introduced me to McAndrews, they're based out of Chicago. 41:20 And they are the legal team for Impletron. I always tell them that when we're on calls, like you are the legal team. Like, yeah, anything that I need from them legal, legal wise, they do it. I literally just sent a partnership NDA over to Malekka this morning and she just sent it back to me. So like, that's not IP and trademark, right? But they do, they do it. And I always tell them how much I appreciate them because... 41:49 IP and trademarks are not free and they're not inexpensive. So, and then imagine, you know, we have one pending now in Japan. We just got one in Canada. So yeah, like it's expensive, you know, it's expensive. So a lot of the funding that we get now is going to be allocated to pay them, you know, even though they work with us. But it's going to be paying them. 42:18 doing some iterations, we have a partnership where there's some hardware that's gonna be involved. We're definitely tapping into the hardware. So we'll be forging our way there because people like things they can touch. SaaS isn't necessarily something that you can touch, although put it into a platform makes it a little bit more tangible for people, visual at least. So in the- 42:48 Yeah, I mean, hardware has always been a part of the vision. FBGAs, we have another colleague of mine, he has developed a cryptocurrency mining machine, and it leverages quantum. So it's mining at exponential speeds, right? Because generally what quantum does is speeds things up. It speeds exactly, in simplified terms. 43:18 Definitely still going after Sivers traditional government contracts globally. We participated in Fintech down in the Bahamas last October. Cause we are in the Fintech space and there's a lot of similarities between Fintech and Space Tech. Because when you're talking about fault zeros and being able to detect anomalies. 43:46 both of those markets need that and they need it quick. So we've been able to, yeah, like we've been able to leverage some of the things that we're learning in both of those for each other. So we've been able to participate in some conferences. We actually getting ready to go to Barbados in January for Fintech Islands, I'll be speaking about 44:14 the kind of the intersection of the quantum age and what's coming in respect to the fintech space, cryptocurrency, web three, traditional finance and AI, because we do leverage AI. And we've been in the AI space, Impletron has been in the AI space from the beginning. One of our advisors is an AI evangelist at AWS. I did say her name earlier on this podcast, but. 44:42 She's amazing. She's a Georgia Tech grad. We do have a few Georgia Tech people on the team, but she's amazing. And I'm able to tap her. I've been able to tap her because she was one of the Kit founders. So I've been able to tap her about AI and machine learning very early on. So all of the LLMs and the SLMs that everybody's kind of talking about, we've been doing. 45:11 Like even as small as we are, we've been. 45:16 Yeah, so, Chasity, how can my listeners contact or get information about Infotron? So, yeah, of course the website. So, infiltron.net. You can follow us on all of our socials at Infotron Software Suite. It might be, I think on Twitter is Infotron app. We wanted to keep it short. 45:41 And then, or you can email us at mfultronapp at gmail.com. And I know people are gonna be like, why you use Gmail? That's another filter. And that's an email that everybody on the team can look at and not be bombarded with, cause spam and it's just, everybody has their own email address, but. So you probably, it's a test environment for all of you. 46:09 beautiful quantum encryption that you're working on. Yes. And that's it all. One better way to start. Yeah, Gmail, right? Google knows a lot more about us than we'd like them to. Oh, Google knows everything. That's tough. Even when you turn location off. Oh, Instagram. I just posted something about Instagram. So Instagram's new. They just updated their policy maybe a month ago, maybe. 46:38 Okay. Whether you want to or not, they now have access to your photos, your GPS location, everything even if you say no, even if you turn it off, they still contract. 47:00 Just putting it out there guys. Yeah. So if you do platform. So there's cause to the platform. Right? Yes. Thank you. All right. We're coming down to the section of the podcast where I like to ask each of my guests what the following three words mean to you. Because this is what I do with my consulting business. 47:24 In addition to my podcast, I work with founders that are really building resilient, purpose-driven and scalable businesses. What's resilience mean to you, Chasity? Man, that's a word that I use. Uh, I mean, I'm, I mean, you gotta think about it. I'm black trying to raise money. It's hard for black people to raise money on top of that. I've been, you know, um, I've come face to face with people that didn't believe that I wrote my own patents. Like. 47:53 you know, as if black people didn't invent a lot of things, like that we still use today. Like, come on. I mean, it's just the truth. Resilience. Resilience for me is bending, but never breaking. Bending, but never breaking. Yeah. It's about, you know, adapting to challenges. I just mentioned some and facing them. Like you can't, you can't, and I'm about to sound 48:23 run from the pain, you gotta run towards it. So you can come out stronger on the other side. And it's not necessarily about survival, it's transformation. That's transformation. It's transformation. And that transformation is preparing you for what's next. And you'll be standing taller than you were before. Amazing, thank you. Purpose-driven, what's a purpose-driven? 48:53 Enterprises or? Yeah. I'm a visionary. So like, there's a lot of founders that I've met. If I have the opportunity to get close to them or kind of hear them speak about what they're building to include myself, because I do talk to myself about the things that I'm building. I counsel myself. I'm sure my ancestors are around me. 49:23 Purpose is, it should be intentional. I think that it's kind of interchangeable for me. But in the context of the question that you asked on purpose driven enterprise, so it's the heartbeat in what we build here at Infotron. I can definitely say that. It's creating meaningful solutions that solve real problems. And in solving those real problems, 49:52 you're still staying true to the mission. I still bring the aspect of the military into Infiltron. We are mission focused. We have fun. We do all the fun things, right? Because again, that cultivates innovation too. And it keeps it spicy. You need to let things be spicy because in a regular deglar cybersecurity job, you're probably bored. Like. 50:19 I mean, let's just be real. Like you're probably bored. You're probably looking at Excel spreadsheets and creating a report by hand from that. Like it's boring. Like, but you know, it's also making moves that matter. And it's solving problems that for me leave a legacy and just never losing sight of why we started in the first place. 50:48 So never lives in sight. Excellent. What about scalable? So how does- That's one of those BC's favorite words. That's right. Because that's what they want to see. How will you scale? That's right. I mean, I'm an investor too guys. Don't get it twisted. Like, I think that was a question that I did ask with one of the investors I had. Like, how are you going to get over that challenge? Like, before I give you this money. 51:18 Scalable. So growth, like we can think about growth in so many different ways, like growth, personal growth, because if you embark on the entrepreneur trick, you are going to be, and need to be open to growth. To me, entrepreneurship is a spiritual journey. Beautiful. 51:45 about the Southern Baptist roots, but I'm not spiritual. I'm a yoga, meditating, put my feet in the sand, grass grounding person nowadays, but still bringing that element of praying. And it's all the same to me. They just changed the name of God, right? Just that's my perspective, but growth isn't just about getting. 52:14 bigger. It's about getting better. And me speaking about the personal aspect, that is what growth is. It might not feel good, you know, while it's happening. But, you know, once you get through it and you can get in a reflective mindset and look back with what you just came through and be grateful, like find gratitude in it, you know. 52:43 That's how I look at growth. It's expanding mindfully and staying grounded in your values and making sure that every step that you take going forward strengthens the foundation that you've already built. And it's... 53:11 Like I said, it's moving with intention. And while you're moving with intention, you're also preserving the quality and the vision that define you. Which goes back to purpose-driven. Yes, thank you. Last question, Chasity. Did you have fun in the sandbox? Oh yeah, I mean, it's you. You know, we already have a great rapport. 53:38 I'll say this, one of my favorite memories of you is when you brought Ty to the table to kind of see if they were, could invest in Infiltron and it was too early. But we had to sign an NDA, it was some type of contract, but it was during Mercury retrograde. You said it before I said it, I was like, I wonder if she's onto this type. 54:05 Cause I wasn't going to sign it. I was going to try to delay it as much as possible, but you're like, no, let's wait, let's wait. So after Mercer, that's your great. Well, I was like, oh, these are this. She's my people. And I was like, and I think I responded like, let's wait five days. So it is no, it's like clear. So, um, that's a little fighter for me with you. Oh, I love it. I love it. Generally hear that in business. No, no. 54:32 And the Founder Sandbox again is a pretty eclectic podcast, bringing in deep tech founders like Chasity Wright that are on the frontier, bringing in what the future, will, it's the future's here. It's here. That's right. So to my listeners, if you like this episode with Chasity Wright, CEO and founder of Infiltron, sign up for the monthly release of 55:01 this podcast where founders, business owners, corporate directors, and professional service providers share their own experiences on building with strong governance, a resilient, scalable, and purpose-driven company to make profits for good. So signing off for this month, thank you, Chasity. Thank you, Brenda, so much. I hope to see you soon.
As the interest in both space and solar grows, one startup aims to merge the two industries. By tapping into the momentum of the commercial space industry and the increasing demand for renewable energy, Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt is on a mission to make space-based solar power a reality with his latest startup: Aetherflux. Today on Equity, Rebecca Bellan caught up with Bhatt to talk about his transition from fintech to deep tech and why he believes now is the right time to scatter solar power-collecting satellites across the skies. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: How Aetherflux approached funding as a bootstrapped startup (for now), and what investor interest in space-based solar looks like. The challenge of scaling tech that's literally out of this world. And Bellan and Bhatt's idea for a Burning Man light show. Equity is TechCrunch's flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We'd also like to thank TechCrunch's audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time.
I denne uges episode ser vi nærmere på Kinas nye Deepseek og den store reaktion fra Nvidia. Vi har besøg af Simon He, der giver indsigt i Kinas AI-landskab og udviklingen på området. Derudover tager vi fat på et lytterspørgsmål om indtjening i space-tech og gennemgår de nyeste regnskaber fra Apple, Meta, Tesla, Microsoft og flere andre. Alt dette og meget mere! Denne episode er sponsoreret af Finobo. Få et gratis økonomitjek hos specialisterne i låneoptimering ved at bruge linket:finobo.dk/gratis-oekonomitjek-aktieuniverset/ Denne episode er sponsoreret af Voksevaerket. Din eksterne CMO og marketingsafdeling. Book gratis strategisparring på Voksevaerket.dk. Denne episode er sponsoreret af Mads Christiansens foredrag om AI og teknologi-investering. Kontakt Mads på mads@newdealinvest.dk for at høre om et muligt samarbejde eller booking af foredrag. Tjek os ud på:FB gruppe: facebook.com/groups/1023197861808843X: x.com/aktieuniversetIG: instagram.com/aktieuniversetpodcast
On this wide ranging conversation we sit down with Maria Yarotska, Hackathon Headmistress of the NEAR Ecosystem, contributor at DevHub.Some of the topics we cover and stood out to me:* Anatomy of a hacker: tales from an experienced hackathon organiser on what makes some teams thrive and others burst in flames.* Maria's Origins: attending a Space Tech hackathon that changed her life.* Thoughts on different approaches to hackathons. In particular, her answer to what she would do if she had unlimited budget blew my mind.Podcast is Sponsored by @MetaPoolNEARliquidstaking - Thank You!Follow on SocialsAVB - https://x.com/AvbNearWuipod - https://x.com/wuipodDevHub - https://x.com/NEARDevHub
While the flurry of executive orders coming from the newly installed Trump Administration is unsettling folks near and abroad, the first U.S. Space Force Chief Scientist wants us to focus on what is strategic: Avoiding technology surprise. Laura Winter speaks with Joel Mozer, who retired from a decades-long career in government service after serving as the first United States Space Force Director of Science, Technology and Research.
Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S04E19Welcome to another thrilling episode of Astronomy Daily, your go-to source for the latest in space science and exploration. I'm your host, Anna, and today we're venturing into some of the most captivating stories from across the cosmos.Highlights:- Mysterious Fast Radio Burst: Discover the enigmatic FRB 20240209A, found in an unexpected region of an ancient elliptical galaxy, challenging our understanding of these cosmic phenomena.- Supersonic Winds on Exoplanet: Astronomers have detected record-breaking winds on the exoplanet WASP127b, reaching an astonishing 33,000 kilometers per hour, offering new insights into alien weather systems.- Oxygen Production in Space: China's Tiangong Space Station achieves a breakthrough in artificial photosynthesis, paving the way for sustainable long-term space missions.- European Space Launch Milestone: German startup Rocket Factory Augsburg secures a historic license for vertical launches from mainland Europe, marking a new era in European space capability.- Spinning Black Holes: New research reveals supermassive black holes are spinning faster than previously thought, reshaping our understanding of their growth and evolution.- Lunar Power Innovations: Chinese researchers propose using laser wireless power transmission to sustain lunar missions during the long, dark lunar nights.For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, Tumblr, and TikTok. Share your thoughts and connect with fellow space enthusiasts. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.00:00 - Astronomy Daily brings you the latest developments in space science and exploration00:52 - Scientists have made a fascinating discovery that challenges our understanding of fast radio bursts03:07 - Scientists have detected the fastest planetary winds ever measured on distant exoplanet05:41 - China has successfully demonstrated the world's first in orbit Artificial photosynthesis technology09:55 - Astronomers find supermassive black holes are spinning much faster than previously thought12:02 - Chinese researchers have unveiled an innovative solution to lunar keeping spacecraft powered✍️ Episode ReferencesCanadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experimenthttps://chime-experiment.ca/Northwestern Universityhttps://www.northwestern.edu/European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescopehttps://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/Tiangong Space Stationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiangong_space_stationRocket Factory Augsburghttps://www.rfa.space/SaxaVord Spaceporthttps://www.saxavord.com/Sloan Digital Sky Surveyhttps://www.sdss.org/James Webb Space Telescopehttps://www.jwst.nasa.gov/Astronomy Dailyhttps://www.astronomydaily.io/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily--5648921/support.
Jeremiah Anderson is the CEO and co-founder of ORE, a pioneering company transforming mineral exploration through cutting-edge muon tomography technology. With more than a decade leading the development of scalable products that leverage physics and AI, Jeremiah now drives a diverse team dedicated to creating faster, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable solutions for subsurface imaging. His vision for ORE is to revolutionize resource discovery while advancing the global transition to sustainable energy. Balaji, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Outer Rim Exploration (ORE), brings over two decades of diverse experience, blending technical expertise and strategic acumen. With a vision to revolutionize the mining industry, Balaji drives ORE's mission to identify underground green minerals essential for renewable energy using innovative muon tomography technology. His focus on scaling ORE's solutions to meet the global demand for sustainable resource discovery. His strategic leadership ensures ORE stays at the forefront of combining advanced imaging technologies with real-world applications. Passionate about bridging technology and impact, Balaji is committed to making a greener future. Outer Rim Exploration (ORE) is a deep tech company that is solving a fundamental bottleneck of mineral resource discovery to enable the world's renewable energy transition. Our drone-based muon sensors enable rapid exploration of inaccessible terrain and active brownfield sites greatly reducing cost while increasing the speed and safety of exploration. Utilizing automation, multiple sensor data fusion, and AI we create maps of the subsurface and locate ore bodies in a scalable way. ORE was accepted into the deep tech accelerator, UC Berkeley Skydeck and is advised by University of Tokyo particle physics professors. In this episode, you'll hear about: AI and deep tech innovations transforming the mining industry and space exploration. Urgent need for increased mineral extraction to support renewable energy goals. Autonomous vehicles and data fusion technologies enhancing mining efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Muon sensor technology as a game-changer for subsurface exploration, both on Earth and in space. Potential of muon sensors to revolutionize mineral detection in challenging terrains like the Andes and celestial bodies. Intersection of mining and space exploration technologies paving the way for sustainable resource exploration. Future vision of mining industry evolution with deep tech innovations reducing environmental impact and increasing safety. Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outer-rim-exploration/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiah-l-anderson/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ram-123/ https://www.ore.space/ Emails: jeremy@ore.space balaji@ore.space Alcorn Immigration Law: Subscribe to the monthly Alcorn newsletter Sophie Alcorn Podcast: Episode 16: E-2 Visa for Founders and Employees Episode 19: Australian Visas Including E-3 Episode 20: TN Visas and Status for Canadian and Mexican Citizens Immigration Options for Talent, Investors, and Founders Immigration Law for Tech Startups eBook
Unravel the daring tale of Cold War espionage that reads like the plot of a Hollywood thriller. Set against the backdrop of the 1950s Space Race, we delve into the clandestine operation where CIA agents and a Mexican spy dismantled and studied a piece of Soviet space technology—the Luna satellite—right under the noses of the USSR.From smoky salvage yards in Mexico City to the shadowy corridors of Langley, this story reveals the extraordinary lengths the United States went to in its quest to level the playing field in the Space Race. You'll hear how a team of spies orchestrated one of the most audacious heists of the era, risking it all to gather intelligence that could alter the course of history.What secrets did the Luna satellite hold? How did this covert operation remain hidden for decades? And what does this story reveal about the darker side of Cold War geopolitics? Join us as we uncover the full scope of this secret mission and explore the conspiracies that shaped the Space Race.https://www.mydarkpath.com/68-cia-heist-of-soviet-space-techMy Dark Path explores the hidden conspiracies and unexplained stories that shaped our world.Visit us at www.mydarkpath.comwww.youtube.com/@mydarkpathwww.patreon.com/mydarkpath
What is your space strategy? Yes, space. As the cost to launch has plummeted and satellites have proliferated, we now interact with data from space every day, and as Alexander shared, “every company in the future will become a space company.” Alexander is the Managing Director of Seraphim Space Enterprise (SSE), the global insights and acceleration division of Seraphim Space, the world's leading specialist investor in SpaceTech with a portfolio of over 130 companies across 30 countries. They support businesses from inception to exit across their accelerator, venture fund, and listed growth fund. Their quarterly insights on SpaceTech innovation have become a must-read for corporations and governments to inform their space strategies. Today, we talk about magnetic levitation, how science fiction is now science fact, the similarities of gov tech to space tech, and what change agents in corporations can learn from these regulated industries.
On this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop welcomes Swati Chaturvedi, CEO of Propel X, to explore the world of deep tech, frontier technology, and the forces shaping the future of human progress. Swati shares her decade-long journey in deep tech, reflecting on how the term evolved as a response to the "tech startup" boom, and discusses her focus on companies leveraging breakthroughs in science and engineering for humanity's advancement. The conversation touches on the role of government support, the power of hypothesis-free experimentation, and the critical importance of partnerships between startups and large corporations. They also discuss transformative technologies like AI, autonomous drones, bioinformatics, robotics, and the possibilities and perils of human augmentation. For more insights from Swati, visit Propel X at www.propelx.com or connect with her on LinkedIn, where she shares her thoughts on innovation, R&D, and the future of technology.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast00:16 Defining Deep Tech and Its Evolution03:06 Challenges and Philosophical Insights in Deep Tech07:07 AI's Role in Engineering and Bioinformatics14:22 Future Shock and Human Augmentation14:35 The Evolution of Science and Technology22:58 The Future of Work and Social Dynamics24:06 Exploring Sci-Fi Genres: Cyberpunk vs. Solarpunk25:25 Exploring Solar Punk and Human Problems26:01 The Promise and Limitations of Deep Tech26:39 Economic Realities of Technological Advancements27:16 Future Impact of Emerging Technologies28:58 Challenges in Ag Tech and Environmental Concerns29:30 Global Environmental Change and Human Activity33:53 The Role of Modeling in Predicting Climate Impacts36:22 Scientific Method and Industry Collaboration39:23 Government's Role in Early Stage Research42:34 Investment Strategies in Deep Tech46:27 Consumer and Corporate Markets for New Technologies49:12 Conclusion and Future DiscussionsKey InsightsThe Rise of Deep Tech as a Distinct Category: Swati Chaturvedi explains how the concept of "deep tech" emerged as a response to the overuse of the term "tech startup" during the heyday of consumer technology. Unlike simple software apps like photo-sharing or delivery platforms, deep tech focuses on companies leveraging scientific and engineering breakthroughs to solve fundamental human challenges. This includes innovations in fields like AI, robotics, life sciences, space technology, and advanced materials. Her 2014 blog post defining deep tech has since become a widely referenced resource in the field, signaling a shift in focus from digital consumer solutions to tangible, science-based advancements.The Role of Hypothesis-Free Experimentation: Traditional scientific research follows a hypothesis-driven approach, where scientists predict outcomes before testing. Swati highlights the transformative potential of "hypothesis-free" experimentation, where AI and machine learning allow for large-scale experimentation without predefined assumptions. This approach mirrors the randomness of evolution, enabling faster discovery of unexpected results. Companies like Helix are applying this method in drug discovery, where AI-driven processes identify new therapeutic compounds. This shift could significantly accelerate R&D timelines and reduce costs in fields like pharmaceuticals and materials science.The Power of Government Support in Early-Stage R&D: Swati emphasizes the essential role of government funding in de-risking early-stage research. Through programs like SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grants, government agencies like the NSF (National Science Foundation) and the Department of Defense (DoD) fund exploratory research at universities and small businesses. These grants act as the "seed fund of America," investing billions annually into high-risk, high-reward projects. Companies that receive these grants often have their private sector investments matched by government dollars, providing significant leverage for investors and entrepreneurs. This public-private funding model enables startups to bridge the "valley of death" between research and commercialization.The Critical Role of Corporate-Startup Partnerships: Swati highlights the importance of partnerships between startups and established corporations, especially in deep tech. These joint development projects allow startups to access resources, validate their markets, and co-develop products with corporate customers. While some founders worry about protecting their intellectual property (IP), Swati believes that the benefits of corporate partnerships outweigh the risks. Corporate collaborations offer crucial early traction and revenue, helping startups de-risk their path to market. This is especially vital in sectors like healthcare, robotics, and clean energy, where the cost of developing and commercializing products is exceptionally high.AI as a Force for Human Augmentation: The episode explores AI's role as an augmentative force rather than a replacement for human intelligence. Swati notes that AI is best understood as a tool that allows humans to multiply their cognitive abilities—processing vast amounts of information, identifying patterns, and making faster connections. This augmentation goes beyond software, extending into physical augmentation with devices like robots and smart tools that help humans accomplish physical tasks. While AI-driven tools like ChatGPT may lead to job displacement, Swati sees it as a natural progression, requiring humans to upskill and shift to higher-value tasks.The Promise and Risks of Climate and Environmental Technologies: Swati identifies climate change and global environmental degradation as existential challenges that even the most advanced deep tech may struggle to address. Technologies like atmospheric water generation, carbon capture, and agtech are making strides, but she notes that they are not yet sufficient to solve global challenges like water scarcity, food security, and air pollution. Drawing from her personal experience with air pollution in India, Swati argues that we need to better price and internalize the "cost of the commons"—the shared environmental resources that are often depleted for private gain. Without a clear economic incentive to prevent environmental harm, she warns that climate issues will continue to escalate.The Future of Space Tech and Human Exploration: Swati expresses optimism about the commercialization of space technology, noting its growing impact on daily life. Technologies like satellite internet (e.g., Starlink) are already improving connectivity in remote areas worldwide. The use of satellites for earth observation, weather tracking, and resource management is also becoming essential for sectors like agriculture and disaster response. Looking ahead, Swati is bullish on the potential for space colonization on the moon and Mars, although she acknowledges the immense technical and ethical challenges involved. While space tech once felt like science fiction, companies like SpaceX have made it tangible and real.
Lorenzen, Dirk www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Studio 9
Join us for an insightful conversation with Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-Founder of Skyroot Aerospace, a leading player in India's space sector. Pawan shares his expertise on the transformative impact of space technology, innovative advancements, and the future of space exploration. Resource List - Skyroot Aerospace - https://skyroot.in/ Vikram Rocket by Skyroot - https://skyroot.in/launch-services.html What is SPADEX? - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPADEX ISRO's Crew Module - https://www.isro.gov.in/First_Crew_Module_Gaganyaan_test_flight_TV_D1.html Artemis Program by NASA - https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis/ See more of SpaceX Chopstick Catch - https://youtu.be/hI9HQfCAw64?feature=shared https://youtu.be/NfrLoG2CeNU?feature=shared Space tourism by Blue Origin - https://www.blueorigin.com/new-shepard/fly About SparX by Mukesh Bansal SparX is a podcast where we delve into cutting-edge scientific research, stories from impact-makers and tools for unlocking the secrets to human potential and growth. We believe that entrepreneurship, fitness and the science of productivity is at the forefront of the India Story; the country is at the cusp of greatness and at SparX, we wish to make these tools accessible for every generation of Indians to be able to make the most of the opportunities around us. In a new episode every Sunday, our host Mukesh Bansal (Founder Myntra and Cult.fit) will talk to guests from all walks of life and also break down everything he's learnt about the science of impact over the course of his 20-year long career. This is the India Century, and we're enthusiastic to start this journey with you. Follow us on Instagram: / sparxbymukeshbansal Website: https://www.sparxbymukeshbansal.com You can also listen to SparX on all audio platforms Fasion | Outbreak | Courtesy EpidemicSound.com
I denne uges aktieunivers ser vi nærmere på en række spændende regnskaber, heriblandt fra Sea Ltd. Kryptohypen fortsætter med fyrer afsted, mens Trump-markedet i USA tager en lille puster. Dagens tema dykker ned i den fascinerende verden af space-tech, og vi bringer også en opdatering på de seneste AI-nyheder. Alt dette og meget mere! Denne episode er sponsoreret af Kereby. Kereby tilbyder erhvervslejemål med fleksible vilkår, der tilpasses din virksomheds behov. Se mere på Kereby.dk. Denne episode er sponsoreret af Finobo. Få et gratis økonomitjek hos specialisterne i låneoptimering ved at bruge linket:finobo.dk/gratis-oekonomitjek-aktieuniverset/Denne episode er sponsoreret af Kejserindens Gryder. Cateringløsning i Storkøbenhavn. Få halv pris på fragten ved at henvend dig fra Aktieuniverset. Se mere på kejserindens-gryder.dk. Tjek os ud på:FB gruppe: facebook.com/groups/1023197861808843X: x.com/aktieuniversetIG: instagram.com/aktieuniversetpodcast
Over the last few years, VC Ben Horowitz has donated at least $7.6 million to fund police department purchases - including the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's new drones from a16z-backed Skydio. Skydio is not the first of a16z's portfolio companies to benefit from these donations, either.Today, on TechCrunch's Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Devin Coldewey and Margaux MacColl dug into the implications of Horowitz's approach and why others in the VC world should maybe hold off on praising the controversial move.Listen to the full episode to hear about:Elon Musk's new role in the Department of Government Efficiency. The crew wondered how much change Musk and co-lead Vivek Ramaswamy will actually be able to enact. And yes, DOGE jokes were made. Klarna's plans for a U.S. IPO. Unfortunately, it looks like we'll have to wait for 2025 before we get another IPO, but Margaux has a theory about what might be behind the slowdown.Vecna Robotics' $14.5 million raise and the CEO choice that caught Kirsten's attention. Starfish Space's latest round and impressive batch of contracts for its full-size Otter spacecraft.Who's joining the unsolicited bidding war over Cursor-maker Anysphere.Equity will be back next week, so stay tuned!Equity is TechCrunch's flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products.
I am excited to have Alexandra Vidyuk, the space tech Venture Partner at Aloniq, founder of Space Ambition, a world-class space technology research centre that collaborates with space agencies, investors, start-ups and co-founded a space tech venture builder and an investment syndicate named Beyond EarthIn this episode, Alexandra Vidyuk, venture partner at Aloniq and founder of Beyond Earth, shares her journey from a banking career to space tech investing. She explores the emerging trillion-dollar space tech industry, its intersections with sustainability, and the role of private versus government funding. Alex offers valuable insights into due diligence, navigating geopolitical influences, building syndicates, and advice for aspiring founders and investors entering the space sector—and much more!Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on YouTubeSubscribe on iTunesLearn* What are some of the unique challenges faced by startups in the space industry?* What criteria do you use when selecting startups or projects to support through Beyond Earth's venture-building program?* Does Alex prefer founders who are new to a problem or those who are insiders and experts?* What is your favourite business book? –Psychology of money* What is your favourite online tool? –ChatGpt* If you could go back to when you started working, what is the one thing you would have focused on? – Start syndicate earlier earlierTimestamps[1:30] Alexandra shares her transition from banking to startups, highlighting the desire for more impact.[3:15] Discusses her initial startup in fintech, raising the first round and gaining early traction.[5:00] Realization of her interest in deep tech and space tech, shifting from fintech to venture capital in space.[7:00] Overview of sustainability's role in space tech and its broader industry impact.[8:30] The trillion-dollar potential of the space tech industry by 2035 and its expected exponential growth.[10:00] Examples of satellite tech applications, like monitoring greenhouse gases and energy sources.[13:00] Alexandra's admiration for Elon Musk's impact on space tech, including the Starlink network.[14:45] Unique challenges of space startups, including scientific feasibility, engineering, and regulation.[18:00] Criteria used to select startups at Beyond Earth, including market size and team capability.[20:30] Importance of government support and the independent approach Beyond Earth takes with investments.[23:00] Alexandra's views on politics in space investments and how they influence decision-making.[25:00] Due diligence process for space investments, especially for startups like BioOrbit.[29:00] Value of outsider perspectives in space, contrasting with industry insider advantages.[31:30] Balancing founder quality and market opportunity when making investment decisions.[34:00] Alexandra's experience with Space tech's visionary but challenging market sizing.[37:00] Private vs. government funding in space tech, with private funding now at 80%.[39:00] Importance of government-funded projects like the Artemis Program for foundational infrastructure.[42:00] Advice for aspiring space founders on entering the space sector, even without technical backgrounds.[45:00] Tips on building a successful syndicate and gathering LP support, including warm introductions.[47:00] Marketing strategies, including LinkedIn ads, webinars, and masterclasses, for syndicate growth.Alexandra's Links LDN– https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrausyninaWebsite - https://beyondearth.tech/My Links Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunesYouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmasteryTwitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit partnergrow.substack.com
This video was originally released on Patreon 1 week ago. If you want to see the videos as soon as they come out, join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PeterZeihan And if you needed another reason, if you join me on Patreon in the month of October, your subscription fees for the rest of the year will be donated to MedShare: https://bit.ly/medsharepatreon Watch this video I sent out a year ago for a refresher on a few of these technologies and the limits to innovation. Here's the link: https://youtu.be/fF4YTDsxcnc Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/spacex-takes-one-giant-leap-for-space-tech
In this episode of The Jeff Fenster Show, we dive into the fascinating career of Neal Bloom, a connector, community builder, and venture capitalist with a background in aerospace engineering. Neal shares his journey from working on the Space Shuttle program to founding and scaling tech startups, and eventually launching Interlock Capital, a thriving venture capital group. We explore Neal's passion for building meaningful relationships, his approach to entrepreneurship, and his unique ability to bridge the gap between tech and community. Tune in to hear Neal's insights on how to create value through connection, navigate the startup world, and the importance of betting on people rather than just ideas. If you're interested in entrepreneurship, venture capital, or building a strong network, this episode is for you!
Space Tech: Talking To The Far Side of the Moon On the Moon China's ahead in the race to stake claims for lunar resources by the not-so-simple fact that it can communicate with its equipment on the far side, near the south pole. This week's episode is about how ispace's Mission 3 could change the state of the race and establish the very communications network that will be necessary to create a lunar economy and secure it. Laura Winter speaks with Tyler Mundt, Mission Director, ispace; Marchel Holle, U.S. Government Relations Lead, ispace; Greg Johnson, Director of Business Development, Swedish Space Corp.; and George Pullen, Chief Economist, Milky Way Economy.
In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, I'm Stewart Alsop, and my guest is Nathan Mintz, CEO and co-founder of CX2. We explore the fascinating world of defense technology, the evolution of electronic warfare, and how consumer tech is reshaping the battlefield. Nathan shares insights from his experiences, including his work with CX2, a company focused on building affordable, scalable electronic warfare systems for modern conflicts. We also touch on military tech's impact on broader societal trends and dive into the complexities of 21st-century warfare. You can find more about Nathan and CX2 at CX2.com. Nathan also writes on his Substack, Bow Theseus, which you can access via his LinkedIn.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:23 The Gundo vs. El Segundo Debate01:32 Tech Hubs in the US: San Francisco vs. LA02:41 Deep Tech and Hard Tech in Various Cities04:59 Military Tech: Software vs. Hardware09:54 The Rise of Consumer-Scale Warfare13:32 Nathan Mintz's Background and Career22:17 The Evolution of Military Strategies26:57 The Evolution of Air Combat Tactics28:29 Vietnam War's Impact on Military Strategy29:23 Asymmetric Warfare and Modern Conflicts31:43 Technological Advances in Warfare34:16 The Role of Drones in Modern Combat38:38 Future of Warfare: Man-Machine Teaming45:13 Electronic Warfare and CX2's Vision46:44 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsKey InsightsThe Rise of Consumer-Scale Warfare: Nathan Mintz discusses how warfare has reached a "consumer scale," with small, affordable, and widely available technologies like drones playing a massive role in modern conflicts. In Ukraine, for instance, inexpensive drones are regularly used to take out much larger, multi-million-dollar military assets. This shift shows how accessible tech is transforming the nature of warfare.The Importance of Spectrum Dominance: A central theme of the conversation is the increasing importance of controlling the electromagnetic spectrum in modern warfare. Mintz explains that the ability to maintain secure communications, disrupt enemy signals, and ensure the operation of autonomous systems is critical. As battlefields become more technologically complex, controlling the spectrum becomes as important as physical dominance.Hard Tech's Role in Military Innovation: Nathan highlights the growing importance of hard tech—physical hardware solutions like satellites, drones, and electronic warfare systems—in the defense industry, especially in regions like LA. While software has dominated in areas like San Francisco, LA has become a key hub for aerospace, space tech, and hard tech innovations, crucial for the future of defense technology.Dual-Use Technologies in Defense: A significant insight is the role of dual-use technologies, where products developed for consumer or commercial markets are adapted for military use. Technologies like drones, which have everyday applications, are being repurposed for the battlefield. This shift allows for more cost-effective, scalable solutions to military challenges, marking a departure from traditional defense industry practices.The Future of Manned-Unmanned Teaming: Nathan describes how the future of military operations will involve manned-unmanned teaming, where humans will act as "quarterbacks" managing a fleet of autonomous drones and systems. This strategy is designed to leverage the strengths of AI and automation while keeping humans in the loop to make critical decisions in contested or unpredictable environments.Electronic Warfare as a Key Battlefield Domain: One of Nathan's key points is that electronic warfare is becoming a primary battlefield domain. Modern warfare increasingly involves not just physical attacks but also the disruption of enemy communications, navigation, and targeting systems. This form of warfare can neutralize advanced technologies by jamming signals or launching cyber-attacks, making it a vital aspect of future conflicts.Innovation in Warfare through Startups: Nathan discusses how small defense tech startups like CX2 are becoming crucial to military innovation. These companies are building nimble, affordable solutions for modern challenges, contrasting with the traditional defense contractors that build massive, expensive systems. This shift allows for quicker development and deployment of technologies tailored to the changing face of warfare.
Space Tech: Is It A Bird? A Plane? Actually It's A Drone Space Force acquisitions officials have said for years that they want tactically-responsive commercial-off-the-shelf solutions that can be easily configured for military uses. The founders of BlackStar Orbital Technologies say their drone, a satellite-space plane hybrid, will answer the call, at a competitive price point. Laura Winter speaks with the BlackStar Orbital's co-Founders, CEO Christopher Jannette and CTO Kit Carson.
The objects humans send to space teach us a lot about the universe, but they are also cluttering it up. While some objects are close enough to be retrieved, others become dangerous, fast-moving bullets that can cause serious damage. In addition to cleaning up what's already there, MIT Assistant Professor Danielle Wood says that we need to think more sustainably about the technology used in future missions. "We have to ask the question, will we respect the rights of people and the environment as we go forward in space," Wood says. One possible solution is a wax-based fuel source (made of beeswax and candle wax) for satellites that would be less toxic and more affordable than currently used inorganic compounds, and that would help bring the objects closer to Earth for deorbiting and destruction. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Space Tech: Defense Looking At Modular Upgrades For Greater SDA Space Command wants “enhanced battlespace awareness”, a clearer picture of what's going on on orbit. This episode is about how a new set of modular technologies can provide satellite operators with “upgrades” and the opportunity to participate in the space domain awareness ecosystem, to serve military and commercial customers, and to generate new revenue streams. Laura Winter speaks with Ghonhee Lee, Founder and CEO of Katalyst Space Technologies, a company founded in 2020 that has a fistful of defense contracts.
We welcome Mark Boggett, CEO and co-founder of Seraphim Space, Europe's biggest Space tech fund and the world's first space-focused investment fund Mark's journey from a career in technology investment to pioneering space venture capital reveals the transformative potential of space tech for our civilization. Mark's expertise is rooted in his careful monitoring of SpaceX's revolutionary impact on the market, inspiring him to establish Seraphim Space. With significant investments in over 120 space tech companies, including cutting-edge startups like iSci and Hubble Network, Mark shares invaluable insights into the industry's future. Mark discusses Seraphim's unique approach to investment, focusing on seed and Series A stages, and highlights their accelerator program, which has become the largest space tech accelerator in the world. He elaborates on how Seraphim supports startups, from early-stage university spinouts to scaling established companies, ensuring they are investment-ready and poised for success. The conversation explores the evolution of space tech, the rise of miniaturized satellites, and the potential for space tech to revolutionize various sectors, including defense, climate, and sustainability. Mark sheds light on the economic and strategic importance of space tech, the role of government R&D, and the impact of global geopolitics on the industry. We also cover the ethical considerations and regulatory challenges surrounding space tech, emphasizing the importance of sustainable development and the potential for space tech to create a healthier and more resilient planet. All the topics that we covered in the episode: * Tech Industry Evolution: Mark's journey from tech investment to pioneering space venture capital. * Venture Capital Dynamics: Seraphim's investment philosophy and support for startups. * Space Tech Innovations: Advancements in miniaturized satellites and digital infrastructure. * Market Conditions and Job Impact: The economic and strategic importance of space tech. * Future of Space Applications: The transformative potential of space tech in various sectors. * Regulatory Environment: Challenges and opportunities in space tech regulation. Join us for an enlightening discussion as we explore the future of space technology with one of the industry's leading investors. Follow our host, Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo), for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets. Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode. (00:00) - Intro (01:42) - Mark's background and career journey (03:09) - Seraphim's investment philosophy and framework (04:17) - Investment stages and focus areas (07:35) - Supporting startups post-investment (11:05) - Space tech innovation waves, market dynamics, and investment landscape (14:59) - Large constellations of miniaturized satellites (19:07) - Future potential of space applications (23:27) - Future direction of space tech regulation (27:30) - Innovative business models in the space tech industry (35:15) - LLMs & Space Tech are revolutionizing modern applications & technology (41:42) - Need for Government-funded R&D in space tech. (51:52) - Space tech's role in planetary sustainability (56:29) - Outro
Dr. Pippa Malmgren is an economist who makes sense of the world economy by writing books, founding tech businesses, advising policymakers around the world and through public speaking and teaching. She lectures at Sandhurst and is a Founder member of the Lunar University, a NASA-originated project to ensure the first human institution on the moon represents the arts and humanities. She served President George W. Bush in the White House as Special Assistant to the President and on the National Economic Council. After 9/11 she was also responsible for assessing terrorism risks to the economy and technology as a source of geopolitical competitiveness. She advised the British cabinet on trade issues as a Board Member for the Department for International Trade from 2017-2019. Her most recent bestseller, The Infinite Leader, won the International Press Award for the Best Book on Leadership for 2021. In this podcast, we discuss what Trump's administration will be like, importance of JD Vance and Robert Kennedy, Project 2025; threats to democracy, and much more. Follow us here for more amazing insights: https://macrohive.com/home-prime/ https://twitter.com/Macro_Hive https://www.linkedin.com/company/macro-hive
Le meilleur de l'actu tech cette semaine : Ariane, Li-Fi, jumelles connectées, Samsung Galaxy Ring, Apple Vision Pro, Shadow AI, Usine pilotée par IA...-----------L'ACTU TECH DE LA SEMAINE :- Samsung dévoile deux smartphones pliants, une bague connectée, une montre intelligente et des écouteurs (02:15)- Apple lance le Vision Pro en France (06:07)- La Commission Européenne oblige Apple à accepter des concurrents d'Apple Pay (lien) (07:37)- Les cyberattaques ont aussi des conséquences psychologiques sur les humains (source : InCyber) (08:50)CAFETECH avec Jérôme Marin :- Grève historique chez Samsung au plus mauvais moment (10:10)LE DEBRIEF TRANSATLANTIQUE avec Bruno Guglielminetti (13:57) :- La bague connectée de Samsung - L'IA non autorisée en entrepriseL'INNOVATION DE LA SEMAINE (24:58) :- Une usine pilotée par IA LES INTERVIEWS DE LA SEMAINE :
Today my guest is Sajith Pai, who is a partner at Blume Ventures and he is a long-time media executive turned VC. At Blume, Sajith supports investments in media, ed tech and e-commerce, while simultaneously helping Blume building a research and knowledge platform. We spoke about the 2024 Indus Valley Annual Report. written by Sajith and his co-authors, Anurag Pagaria, Nachammai Savithiri both at Blume Ventures; the many countries that make up the country of India; bifurcated between India1, 2, and 3; gross fixed capital formation, fintechs, the consumption led boom that India is experiencing, the space industry, and much more. Recorded June 25th, 2024. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Connect with Ideas of India Follow us on X Follow Shruti on X Follow Sajith on X Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox. Timestamps (00:00:00) - Intro (00:09:16) - Private Consumption and Fixed Capital Formation (00:14:15) - Gross Fixed Capital Formation (00:22:39) - Regime Uncertainty (00:26:51) - The Indian Consumer (00:35:10) - Bottlenecks and Reforms (00:42:18) - Mutual Funds Savings Model (00:47:33) - Path from Seed to IPO (00:55:40) - India's Foreign Investors (01:00:57) - India's Fintechs (01:11:09) - Space Tech in India (01:17:36) - What's on Pai's Bookshelf? (01:23:39) - Outro
NASA's next moon mission will be getting a (literal) hand from a Canadian company. Kind of like when John Lennon asked us to imagine life without possessions, Uber is asking Canadians to imagine life without a car. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
In a rapidly evolving tech landscape, securing enterprise contracts can be a game-changer for startups and tech firms alike. The journey to winning over Fortune 1000 clients requires strategic planning, tailored communication, and a deep understanding of the enterprise world. Drawing insights from venture capital experts, we explore the nuances of navigating enterprise sales and building successful relationships with top-tier clients. In this episode, we sit with Theo Williams, the founder of Third Vector and an expert in venture capital specializing in the space technology industry. Theo shares his journey from a finance background to diving into the tech world, highlighting the challenges and opportunities he encountered along the way. He delves into the importance of investing in the space technology industry and how it can drive significant global impact. If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. Founder Bio: Theo Williams is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in venture capital, strategic partnerships, and business development. As the Founder and Managing Partner at Third Vector, he spearheads an early-stage VC firm specializing in investments at the intersection of Space Tech and Big Data. Prior to founding Third Vector, Theo served as a Senior Portfolio Development Manager at Salesforce Ventures, where he played a key role in fortifying the enterprise ecosystem through strategic partnerships and investments. Before his tenure at Salesforce Ventures, Theo held positions in sales and investor relations at Cadre and in product development at Nuveen, a TIAA company. Throughout his career, Theo has demonstrated a commitment to driving growth and innovation in various sectors, leveraging his expertise in investment strategy and relationship management. Theo holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Rice Business - Jones Graduate School of Business, where he was recognized as a Robert Toigo Foundation Fellow. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Louisiana State University, where he demonstrated leadership as part of the Tiger Twelve Senior Recognition Class of 2012 and in various student government roles. Time Stamps: 02:49: Theo's journey from finance to tech 06:33 Understanding alternative investments 09:08 Transitioning to tech and angel investing 14:15 The birth of a space tech VC firm 21:37 Investment focus: Space data and infrastructure 24:22 Navigating the fundraising process 26:34 Aligning with founders and managing risk 31:43 Enterprise sales strategies for founders 37:49 Building for Enterprise vs. SMB 42:22 What's coming new in 2024, and how to get in contact with the team Resources Email: Theo@thirdvector.ventures LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/third-vector/ Theo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theowilliams3/
In this episode, AV CEO Mike Collins interviews David DellaPelle about his experience building Dune Security, which addresses a staggeringly prevalent cause of cybersecurity breaches: employee error. Next, AV Partner Pete Mathias dives into Multitude Insights with its co-founder Matthew White, who is working to revolutionize information sharing between police departments. Finally, Collins and AV Senior Associate Drew Wandzilak discuss all things space: what's interesting, what's investable, and where are we headed? To Learn More:-- Alumni Ventures (AV): www.av.vc-- AV LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/alumniventures-- AV Deep Tech Fund: www.av.vc/funds/deeptech -- AV US Strategic Tech Fund: www.av.vc/funds/strategictech -- AV Foundation Fund: www.av.vc/funds/foundationfund -- Dune Security: www.dunesecurity.io -- Multitude Insights: www.multitudeinsights.com -- Tech Optimist: www.techoptimist.vcSpeakers:-- Mike Collins - Host - www.linkedin.com/in/mike-collins-362100-- David DellaPelle - Guest - www.linkedin.com/in/daviddellapelle -- Pete Mathias - Guest - www.linkedin.com/in/petemathias-- Matthew White - Guest - www.linkedin.com/in/matthewwhite- -- Drew Wandzilak - Guest - www.linkedin.com/in/drewwandzilak Chapters:(00:00) - Intro (02:42) - Dune Security (23:36) - Multitude Insights (37:15) - New Innovations in Space Tech (01:05:24) - Closing Legal Disclosure:-- https://av-funds.com/tech-optimist-disclosures
Zenno Astronautics is an Auckland and US-based austronautic company which has already sent its technology into space via Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Squarespace - Turn your idea into a new website! Go to http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST for a free trial. When you're ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. LinkedIn Ads - To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups Dot Tech Domains - Dot Tech domains are the go-to namespace to build anything in tech… and home to the world's most innovative startups. Keep an eye out for our “Jam Session with JCal” contest… coming soon! Be sure to secure your .Tech domain today at https://get.tech/Jason * Todays show: Ian Cinnamon joins guest host Mark Suster to discuss all things space tech; including: the importance of building Apex in L.A. (4:49), the drastic change in costs for satellites (16:03), their first Aries Satellite bus on it's maiden voyage (30:29), and more! * Timestamps: (0:00) Ian Cinnamon joins guest host Mark Suster. (1:53) Why space is a hot sector right now with startups and investors. (4:49) The importance of building Apex in L.A. (6:44) Ian's background and what brought him to the space industry. (9:52) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST (11:13) Origin story and perfect fit with Apex co-founder Max Benassi. (13:25) What Apex does and why Max's manufacturing skillset matters. (16:03) Cost of satellites then and now. (19:55) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups (21:25) Details about the sateliilite bus at Apex. (23:43) The differences and business implications of LEO, MEO and GEO. (29:15) Dot Tech Domains - Be sure to secure your .Tech domain today at https://get.tech/Jason (30:29) Their first Aries Satellite bus on it's maiden voyage and a selfie from space. (53:30) The current scale and expected growth at Apex. (56:19) Competitions in the “space” space. * Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp * Check out Apex: https://www.apexspace.com * Follow Ian: X: https://twitter.com/IanCinnamon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iancinnamon/ * Follow Mark: X: https://twitter.com/msuster LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marksuster/ * Thank you to our partners: (9:52) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST (19:55) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups (29:15) Dot Tech Domains - Be sure to secure your .Tech domain today at https://get.tech/Jason * Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland * Check out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis * Follow TWiST: Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups * Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
Embark on a lunar adventure with Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson in this episode of Space Nuts, as they delve into the challenges and innovations surrounding our celestial neighbor, the Moon. First up, the duo discusses the recent setbacks of Boeing's Starliner, a spacecraft that faced yet another delay just moments before its much-anticipated launch. What went wrong this time, and what does it mean for the future of crewed missions?Next, they illuminate the idea of using mirrors to shine sunlight into the permanently shadowed craters of the Moon's South Pole. With the potential of harvesting water ice for resources, could this reflective solution be the key to sustaining future lunar bases?Then, celebrate a special anniversary with the team as they highlight ten years of HIPPI, the High Precision Polarimetric Instrument, and its incredible contributions to astronomy. From tracking magnetic fields in distant galaxies to the possibility of detecting rainbows on exoplanets, HIPPI's decade of discovery is truly something to cheer about.Finally, the conversation turns to Earth as Andrew and Fred explore how satellites are revolutionizing agriculture by predicting crop yields from space. This technology holds promise for farmers around the globe, especially in the face of changing climate conditions.From the intricacies of space technology to the practical applications of satellite data, this episode of Space Nuts is a cosmic journey that connects the farthest reaches of the universe to the down-to-earth matters of daily life. Tune in and let your curiosity take flight.00:00:00 Andrew Dunkley: Space nuts podcast about astronomy and space science00:01:30 Launch of Boeing Starliner scheduled for Friday has been scrubbed00:04:47 Andrew Webb: There's a lot of interest in the moon right now00:10:41 A valley in Norway has a mirror that doesn't see the sun00:14:56 Andrew Dunkley: Hipie is the high precision polarimetric instrument00:20:45 Polarising sunglasses can detect rainbows with incredibly high precision00:25:40 Fred Geyer explores the use of satellites to predict crop yieldsSupport Space Nuts and join us on this interstellar voyage by visiting https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts--2631155/support. Don't miss out on future episodes as we continue to decode the universe's grandest puzzles. Clear skies and bold questions await on Space Nuts, where we make the cosmos your backyard.
How is new tech helping protect the rainforest? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice learn how space technology is helping uncover illegal gold mines and protecting the Amazon, with illegal mining expert Larissa Rodrigues and Earth researcher Jennifer Holm. Thanks to SkyFi for sponsoring today's episode. Bringing nearly instant access to high-quality satellite and aerial imagery along with expert-created analytics, get a bird's eye view of anywhere on the planet with SkyFi's easy-to-use web browser or mobile app and create a free account today at http://StarTalk.SkyFi.com.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here:https://startalkmedia.com/show/eyes-in-the-sky-with-larissa-rodrigues-jennifer-hull/Thanks to our Patrons James Aurouze, Andrea Ramirez, Amy Tan, Joede870, Cris, Gina Martin, Glenn Fishkin, Mihael Mirt, Lion King, and Gábriel Németh for supporting us this week.
Meka Asonye, a Partner at First Round Capital, started angel investing in 2018 while working at Stripe and joined First Round in 2021. He has made dozens of Angel investments and 13 Venture investments, and he's just getting started! While he focuses on B2B SAAS, he has not shied away from investing in audacious founders, from modernizing 911 call centers to putting the biggest satellites in space. Meka shares his approach to finding true outliers, a practice he began while uncovering hidden talent for the Cleveland Guardians. Meka writes checks of $2M to $5M as the lead at pre-seed and seed.Highlights from the discussion:Meka's unconventional path to VC: from discovering high-potential baseball talent to leading sales at startups to VCMeka's first angel investment came from Craiglist!Exploring the frontiers: investing in Space and GovTechHow Meka supports founder friends, honestlyLeveling up in VC by learning from partners, retros, reviews, and reflection powered by process and dataThis is for information purposes only. This is not investment advice.
Are you looking for a successful approach to implementing engineering processes and building a culture of innovation? That's what my guest, Steve Massey, is discussing on this episode. Steve is the CEO and Co-Founder of Prewitt Ridge, which creates software tools for engineering. He discusses what he and his team are doing to build new and creative approaches to engineering. Steve has previously worked for two Space Tech companies: SpaceX and Slingshot Aerospace. He shares his insights and lessons learned while working for those companies. Steve also talks about engineering processes that tackle difficult problems in deep tech. For example, his team has created an engineering collaboration environment that eases friction when designing, assessing, and managing complex systems. You're going to enjoy this discussion with Steve and get some valuable insights to implement in your own business. "The most important thing is to make sure you're sharing the right information with everyone so that they're able to make the best decision." – Steve Massey Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Innovative approaches to engineering - Managing difficult problems in deep tech - Mob programming and its effectiveness - Automating the approval process to streamline compliance and safety - Project ownership and sprint cycles Book Recommendations: Terminal World by Alastair Reynolds: https://www.amazon.com/Terminal-World-Alastair-Reynolds/dp/0316362298 The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber: https://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Everything-New-History-Humanity/dp/0374157359 Connect with Steve Massey: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lostorbit/ Website: https://www.prewittridge.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.
Guest: Amy C. Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School [@harvardhbs]On Twitter | https://twitter.com/AmyCEdmondsonOn LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/amycedmondson/Host: Charlie Camarda Ph.DOn ITSPmagazine