Shows
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceOur Rockets Run on Paraffin. Yes, Like CandlesChristian Schmierer, an aerospace engineer who grew up next to Europe's largest rocket test center, co-founded HyImpulse in 2018. When every expert dismissed hybrid rockets as failed technology from the 1960s, his team did the unthinkable: they built rockets powered by paraffin—essentially candle wax.Today, HyImpulse has raised over €45 million and became Germany's first privately-funded company to successfully launch a rocket—spending just €15 million to get there while competitors burned through ten times that amount.In this episode, Christian shares the unfiltered journey of building Europe's most unconventional launch company...
2025-12-121h 08
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceWhy I Had to Go to the North Pole to Build My First SatelliteRafel Jorda Siquier, an aerospace engineer from Mallorca, founded Open Cosmos in 2015. When they landed their first satellite contract, every university—including his own—refused to give them clean room access. So they went to the Arctic Circle to assemble their first satellite. Today, Open Cosmos has secured over €120 million in contracts in the last year alone, building satellites faster and cheaper than the industry thought possible—while actually turning a profit.In this episode, Rafael shares the unfiltered reality of building Europe's fastest-growing space company: how launching stratospheric balloons as a student led to an in...
2025-11-281h 14
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceHow an Ukrainian Soldier Built AI That Saves Other SoldiersV'yacheslav Shvaydak, an ex-lieutenant with a PhD in economics co-founded DROPLA in 2023. Starting with three co-founders and zero revenue, they pitched military officials: "we're a small startup, our name is nobody, can you please give us some land mines?" They were shown the door. Today, DROPLA has raised millions from international investors and built technology now deployed across Ukraine, expanding from humanitarian de-mining into real-time threat detection systems dictated by battlefield needs.In this episode, Slava shares the unfiltered reality of building defence tech during wartime: how his experience as a former tank commander...
2025-11-141h 13
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceI Started European NewSpace Company Before Anyone ElseLars Alminde co-founded GomSpace in 2007, one of Europe's first New Space companies, at a time when ESA openly dismissed their technology as "not something we're ever going to use." Fast forward 18 years, ESA is now a customer of GomSpace, and Lars has lived through nearly every crisis a space founder can face. He stepped down as CEO after seven years, watched the company go public with a 6x stock surge, then saw it nearly die twice - once from cancelled contracts in 2019, then again from a devastating stock crash in 2023 - before reaching profitability in 2025.
2025-10-3150 min
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceEx-Goldman Trader Who Decided to Build Data Centers In SpacePhilip Johnston is the CEO and Co-founder of Starcloud, a YC-backed startup building data centers in space to solve AI's growing energy crisis. After working at Goldman Sachs and consulting for Middle Eastern space agencies, Philip assembled what he calls "the 10 most kickass engineers in the world" from thousands of candidates. Their mission: create gigabit-scale orbital data centers with 4km solar arrays that could fundamentally transform computing infrastructure.In this episode, Philip reveals his journey from being rejected twice by YC to securing $21M in funding and preparing to launch Starcloud's first satellite this year. He explains why his...
2025-07-1851 min
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceWhy I Left Europe's Top Rocket Lab to Start My Own StartupLukas Werling is the CEO and co-founder of ISPTech, a German space startup developing green propellants that eliminate the need for hazmat suits and could slash space propulsion costs by 75%. The company has in a short time secured €2 million in funding with three orbital missions lined up for flight later this year.In this episode of Rockets and Radars, Lukas shares his journey from a mechanical engineering student rejected from aerospace programs to spending 14 years at DLR (Europe's premier rocket testing facility) before selling his motorbike to raise startup capital. From supervising thousands of ro...
2025-07-1159 min
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceHow an Ex-Soldier Built FedEx for SpaceSebastian Klaus (CEO and co-founder of ATMOS Space Cargo) went from a 17-year-old watching SpaceShipOne make history to building Europe's fastest-moving space reentry company from prototype to flight under 12 months.In this episode of Rockets and Radars, Sebastian reveals how ATMOS went from nearly going bankrupt in 2022 to successfully demonstrating inflatable heat shield technology from a small plane over the South Atlantic. From 14 years of military service to convincing investors to put €10M+ into the "most advanced technology in spaceflight history," this is the raw story of Europe's race to build space sovereignty—and how...
2025-07-041h 02
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceFrom Unemployment Money to €40M DefenceTech Startup in 3 Years | Stefan Roebel @ ARX RoboticsStefan Roebel transformed from 12 years in the German military and a decade scaling Amazon operations to co-founding Europe's largest autonomous military vehicle production facility in just 3 years.In this episode of Rockets and Radars, Stefan reveals how ARX Robotics (ARX) went from a university research project to life-saving robots supporting Ukrainian troops in under 3 years. From a tired Thursday dinner where "nothing existed" to raising €40M+ and building combat-proven systems, this is the raw story of Europe's race to build its defense future before it's too late—and how ARX could become Europe's next defe...
2025-06-2751 min
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceHow I Built Europe's First Asteroid Mining Company | Mitch Hunter-Scullion @ Asteroid Mining CorporationMitch Hunter-Scullion is the CEO and founder of Asteroid Mining Corporation (AMC), Europe's first asteroid mining company with operations across three continents and partnership with Japanese lab that built HAYABUSA (actual asteroid missions).In this episode of Rockets and Radars, Mitch shares his journey from a 21-year-old university student writing a dissertation on asteroid mining to building a space robotics company with operations across three continents. From registering the company name on a whim to appearing on BBC World News, from failed crowdfunding campaigns to million-pound investment rounds, Mitch explains how he transformed an "...
2025-06-201h 08
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceI Raised Millions to Repair Satellites in Space | Adel Haddoud @ Infinite OrbitsAdel Haddoud is the CEO and co-founder of Infinite Orbits, a space servicing startup that has raised €12 million in Series A funding. In this episode of Rockets and Radars, Adel shares his journey from aerospace engineer and serial entrepreneur to building the world's first commercial nanosatellite in geostationary orbit. From surviving month-to-month during the pandemic to landing contracts with major players like Intelsat and the US Air Force, Adel explains how persistence and customer focus helped them achieve what many called impossible - repairing and servicing satellites in space.Wa...
2025-06-1357 min
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceI Built a €1.5M Company That Trains 10,000 NATO Soldiers | Kenneth Skorpen @ BlinkTrollKenneth Skorpen is the co-founder and CEO of BlinkTroll Robotics, a defence tech startup that has raised €1.5 million just a few days ago.In this episode of Rockets and Radars, Kenneth shares his journey from a decade in Norwegian special forces to building moving target systems that increase soldiers' hit accuracy from 10% to 80%. He reveals how his frustration with predictable static training targets during military exercises led him to start tinkering in his garage, eventually founding a company that now serves over 10,000 soldiers and police across Europe.Want to ge...
2025-06-061h 06
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceHow I Raised €70M+ To Detect Fires From Space | Thomas Grübler @ OroraTechThomas Grübler is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of OroraTech, Germany's pioneering space-based wildfire detection company that has secured over €70 million in funding. In this episode of Rockets and Radars, Thomas shares his journey from building satellites as a university student to creating a company that provides fire intelligence to firefighters worldwide. He reveals how a simple question - "how can a fire burn for three days without anyone finding it out?" - led to pivoting from hardware to software, securing their first international contracts during COVID, and launching multiple thermal imaging sat...
2025-05-301h 02
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceI Built Europe's 5G Space Network With Zero Co-Founders | Omar Qaise @ OQ TechnologyOmar Qaise is the founder of OQ Technology, Luxembourg's first New Space startup as well as Europe's leading satellite 5G operator in direct-to-device connectivity. In this episode of Rockets and Radars, Omar shares his journey from working at ESA and DLR to founding a space startup without co-founders in 2016. He reveals how he secured early contracts, demonstrated the world's first satellite 5G connectivity through Tiger missions, and focused on connecting industrial assets beyond cellular coverage. Omar discusses securing €13M in Series A funding co-led by Aramco Ventures, winning the prestigious EIC Accelerator grant, and hi...
2025-05-2352 min
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceHow I Built a Defence Company After Work Hours | Dan Hermansen @ MyDefenceDan Hermansen is the founder of MyDefence, an European drone defence company that's become a global leader in soldier-borne counter-unmanned aerial systems.In this episode of Rockets and Radars, Dan shares his remarkable journey from Danish Air Force reserve officer to building an European defence tech with 150% annual growth. He reveals how they pivoted from roadside bomb protection to drone defence, securing their first contract with Danish Defence in 2013 with just €1 million while working full-time jobs. He explains My Defence's innovative approach to portable drone detection, the unprecedented NATO framework agreement they recently secured, an...
2025-05-191h 12
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceSpace Balloon Founder Almost Got Will.I.Am to Space | José Mariano Lopez-Urdiales @ Zero2InfinityJosé Mariano Lopez-Urdiales is the founder of Zero2Infinity, an European space balloon company that's been challenging conventional approaches to space access for over 15 years.In this episode of Rockets and Radars, José shares his remarkable journey starting with just €90,000 and a vision for space balloon technology that could revolutionize how we access space. He discusses nearly securing a groundbreaking €5M deal with Vodafone to send Will.i.am to perform the first-ever concert from space, the corporate politics that derailed it, and his unwavering determination despite numerous setbacks. José explains Zero2Infinity's innovative approac...
2025-05-091h 10
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceHow a TERRIBLE STUDENT Built a €100M ROCKET COMPANY | Stanislas Maximin @ LatitudeStanislas Maximin is the founder and Executive Chairman of Latitude, a company valued over €100 million that's putting France back in the orbital launch business after almost 50 years.In this episode of Rockets and Radars, Stanislas shares his journey from being a self-described "terrible student" with a passion for rockets to building a space company. He discusses the challenges of starting with just €25,000, battling established players, rebranding multiple times, and creating a culture of rapid iteration and risk-taking. Stanislas explains Latitude's approach to rocket development, his philosophy on team building, and his bold vision for a Eu...
2025-05-021h 25
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceFrom PhD to €10M in Space Propulsion | Daniel Grande @ Ienai SpaceDaniel Pérez Grande is the CEO of Ienai Space, a Spanish space propulsion startup that evolved from university research into a company pioneering electric mobility for satellites. Beginning with winning the Young Visionaries Award at the International Electric Propulsion Conference in 2017, he built a team that would secure €10 million in funding and put the first European ElectroSpray thruster in orbit.In this episode, Daniel reveals how he transformed plasma physics research into a thriving space mobility company while surviving on just €12,000 salary and working from a garage. With no initial funding and competitors raisi...
2025-04-251h 13
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceFrom NASA Internship To $67M EXIT | Vytenis Buzas @ NanoAvionicsVytenis is the co-founder of NanoAvionics, a Lithuanian spacetech startup that transformed from a university project into a global player in the nano/smallsat market. Beginning with Lithuania's first satellite mission in 2014, he built a company that would eventually be acquired for €65 million by Kongsberg Group, representing one of Europe's biggest space industry success stories.In this episode, Vytenis reveals how he turned a university satellite project into Lithuania's first space success story that sold for €65 million. With no business experience and a team of passionate "no-lifers," he built a global company competing against indu...
2025-04-181h 02
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceHe Built a Rocket Engine NASA Abandoned | Adrià Argemí @ Pangea AerospaceAdrià is the founder of Pangea Aerospace, a European spacetech startup that transformed an abandoned aerospike rocket engine concept into a working engine. Beginning with his passion for propulsion at Airbus, he built a company that recently secured €23 million in Series A funding to revolutionize how rockets are powered. In this episode, Adrià reveals how he and his international founding team created Europe's first successful aerospike engine that could increase payload capacity by 30-40%. With no guarantee of success, this motocross enthusiast shares his journey of pivoting from full rockets to becoming "the propulsion prov...
2025-04-111h 08
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceAirbus Rejected Him, Then Became His First Major Customer | Marco Witzmann @ ValispaceMarco is the founder of Valispace, that transformed how space, automotive, and defence industries collaborate on complex hardware development. Starting from his frustration with Excel spreadsheets while building Europe's largest satellite program, he created the "GitHub for hardware" that grew from a weekend hackathon to serving over 1,000 engineers before being acquired even before reaching Series A. His journey represents one of the few success stories in the European space industry.In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Marco reveals the rollercoaster behind his success - from being rejected by an Airbus executive at a pitch...
2025-03-281h 06
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceEx-Apple Engineer Who Left to Defend Europe | Dimitrios Kottas @ Delian Alliance IndustriesDimitrios is the founder and CEO of Delian Alliance Industries (formerly Lambda Automata), which is building autonomous defence systems for European defence needs.In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Dimitrios shares his journey from leading autonomous systems development at Apple to building a defence tech company that raised €7 million to create high-tech autonomous weapon systems for the future of Europe. Discover the ethical dilemma he wrestled with, how he convinced his first investors to bet on him, and the moment he realized that building defence tech was not just a business opportunity but a du...
2025-03-1453 min
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceNASA Laughed at Him. Now He's Worth $500M | Luca Rossettini @ D-OrbitLuca is the founder and CEO of D-Orbit, which is revolutionizing space logistics by providing transportation and servicing solutions for satellites in orbit. In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Luca shares his journey from being rejected by the astronaut program to building a company that raised more than $200M to create what he calls 'the DHL of space' or 'Space Taxi'. Luca explains how D-Orbit helps satellites reach their optimal positions faster and is working toward an interplanetary logistics infrastructure that will connect Earth, Mars, the Moon, and beyond....
2025-03-071h 10
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceSatellites, Solar, and Selling PowerPoints | Even Kvelland @ Glint SolarEven is a co-founder of Glint Solar, which is accelerating the solar revolution by helping developers identify optimal locations for building large solar parks. In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Even shares his journey from being unexpectedly "kicked out" of the US to founding a company that leverages satellite data to make solar development faster and more efficient. Even explains how Glint Solar helps customers quickly identify suitable land that isn't in conflict with nature for solar development. Get intro to Even: https://brdg.app/s/cfg21y ----------------------------------------------- Timestamps:
2025-02-2857 min
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceBuilding World's Orbital Thermometer | Anthony Baker @ SatVuAnthony Baker is the founder and CEO of Satellite VU, which is building the world's orbital thermometer through high-resolution thermal imaging satellites. In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Anthony shares his journey from spending 30 years operating satellites for NATO and Qatar to convincing investors to put £30M into his vision of seeing heat from space.Get intro to Anthony: https://brdg.app/s/00hi6g-----------------------------------------------Timestamps(00:00) Introduction(06:03) Academic Background & Career Path(14:08 The Decision to Become a Founder(20:19) Seraphim Space Camp Experience(30:32) Product Evolution & Market Focus(41:39) Series A & Investment Strategy
2025-02-1457 min
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceHow to Start a Space Company with €2K | Thomas Sinn @ DCUBEDThomas Sinn is the founder of DCUBED, which develops mechanisms and deployable structures that need to be small in rockets but big in space. In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Thomas shares their journey from 3D printing prototypes in a basement to shipping hardware to the International Space Station. While growing from a €2,000 prize to a multi-million euro company. D-Cube is making space hardware more accessible by building critical release devices and deployment mechanisms for satellites and space stations.Get intro to Thomas: https://brdg.app/s/5vhet4-----------------------------------------------Timestamps00:00 Introduction08:45 From Academia to Rocket Lab13:20 Starting with 3D Printed Pa...
2025-02-071h 02
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceBuilding the Space Industry's Tow Truck | Luc Piguet @ ClearSpaceLuc Piguet is the co-founder and CEO of ClearSpace, a pioneering company developing technology to capture and remove satellites from orbit, making space more sustainable.In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Luc shares the journey from a research project at EPFL to winning an €86 million ESA mission, making ClearSpace the first European company to attempt satellite removal from orbit.Get intro to Luc: https://brdg.app/s/l5odpn-----------------------------------------------Timestamps(00:00) The Need for Space Debris Management(03:10) ClearSpace: A Vision for the Future(06:03) Challenges in the Space Industry(08:58) Public Interest and Policy Changes...
2025-01-3156 min
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceMaking Satellites Talk | Giovanni Pandolfi @ Leaf SpaceGiovanni Pandolfi Bortoletto is one of the co-founders of of Leaf Space, which operates a network of over 30 ground stations enabling satellite communications worldwide.In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Giovanni shares their journey from a student rocketry association at Politecnico di Milano to raising a €35M Series B, while scaling from 400 to 4,000 satellite passes per month in just one year. Leaf Space is making space communications accessible by building the backbone infrastructure for the growing space economy. Get intro to Giovanni: https://brdg.app/s/6bwyw8-----------------------------------------------Timestamps00:00 The Genesis of LeafSpace13:02 Navigating the Pivot to Ground Segment20:37 Securing In...
2025-01-271h 09
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceBuilding the Space Industry's Tow Truck | Luc Piguet @ ClearSpaceLuc Piguet is the co-founder and CEO of ClearSpace, a pioneering company developing technology to capture and remove satellites from orbit, making space more sustainable.
In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Luc shares the journey from a research project at EPFL to winning an €86 million ESA mission, making ClearSpace the first European company to attempt satellite removal from orbit.
Get intro to Luc: https://brdg.app/s/l5odpn
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Timestamps
(0:00) - Intro & Industry Overview
(4:35) - Market Timing
(12:09) - Origins at EPFL
(17:17) - Luke's Background
(27:28) - ESA BIC Support
(41:00) - Early Challenges
(54:00) - Series A Journey
(58:42) - Company Status
(1:04:00...
2025-01-1756 min
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceFrom Car Mechanic to IPO | Niels Buus @ ex GOMspaceNiels Buus is a renowned veteran in the space and defence industry, widely recognized for his role as the CEO of GOMspace, one of the few European satellite companies to go public.In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Niels shares his inspiring personal and professional journey, from his early days as a car mechanic through his tenure at GOMspace. The conversation delves into the evolution of GOMspace, the leadership lessons he learned during his tenure at Terma, and his insights into the critical role of startups within the space ecosystem. Niels offers invaluable advice for early-stage founders and underscores...
2025-01-1057 min
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceMapping the Invisible | Joakim Espeland @ QuadsatJoakim Espeland is the co-founder of Quadsat, a company changing the way we manage radio frequencies with clever drone technology.In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Joakim shares his journey from testing satellite signals on ships to building game-changing solutions for both everyday and military use. He talks about the challenges of starting a company, raising money, and creating cutting-edge tech. Plus, he gives us a sneak peek into the future of radio spectrum management.Get intro to Joakim: https://brdg.app/s/dzdbnt-----------------------------------------------Timestamps(00:00) Introduction to Quadsat and Its Mission(03:08) The Evolution from Space to Defense(05:59) Founding Story: From...
2024-12-201h 00
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceFrom NASA to Mass Satellite Manufacturing | Benoît Deper @ AerospacelabBenoît Deper is the founder Aerospacelab, a company revolutionizing satellite development with a bold approach to vertical integration.In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Benoît takes us on a journey from his work at NASA to founding one of Europe's most groundbreaking space startups. From the challenges of transitioning from government-driven to commercial space markets, to the importance of in-house manufacturing for quality and efficiency, Benoît shares his unique insights and bold predictions for the future of space exploration. Get intro to Benoît: https://brdg.app/s/gtxcvc-----------------------------------------------Timestamps(00:00) Introduction to Aerospacelab(02:49) The Evolution of the Spac...
2024-12-161h 00
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceLaunching AI in Orbit in Under 10 Months | Lorenzo Feruglio @ AIKOLorenzo Feruglio is the co-founder and CEO of AIKO, a cutting-edge company pioneering AI-based automation for satellite operations. In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Lorenzo takes us on a journey from launching satellites as a university student to securing Series A funding and leading one of Europe's most innovative space startups.Get intro to LorenzoTimestamps(00:00) Introduction and Setting the Scene (01:17) Lorenzo's Background: From Academia to Space Startup (04:56) Decision to Start a Company After JPL Rejection (07:05...
2024-11-2251 min
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceThe $30K Satellite Revolution | Julian Fernandez @ FOSSA SystemsJulian Fernandez is the co-founder and CEO of FOSSA Systems, a pioneering company building nanosatellites to democratise IoT connectivity and space access. In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Julian shares his incredible journey from launching satellites as a 16-year-old to scaling one of Europe’s most exciting space startups.Get intro to JulianTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction to the Podcast and Guest(6:06) Julian's Early Start in Space: From IoT Experiments to Satellites(9:58) Turning an Open-Source Project into a Company(14:37) Pricing Challenges and Sh...
2024-11-2250 min
Rockets and Radars: Zero to Millions in Space and DefenceFrom Garage to Orbit | Joshua Western @ Space ForgeJoshua Western is the co-founder and CEO of Space Forge, a groundbreaking company combining space technology and semiconductor manufacturing to create next-generation materials. In this inaugural episode of Rockets & Radars, Joshua takes us on the inspiring journey of Space Forge — from bootstrapping in a tiny garage in the UK to raising one of Europe’s largest space-tech seed rounds and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space manufacturing.Get intro to JoshuaTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction and Setting the Scene(02:36) Spaceforge: Missio...
2024-11-2252 min