The Techne Connect

Ethan Barajas, Co-Founder and CEO of Icarus Robotics, shares how an internship at NASA transformed his career ambitions and inspired him to tackle one of space's biggest challenges: labour. Rather than sending more astronauts to perform repetitive maintenance tasks, Ethan is building robotic systems capable of operating autonomously in orbit, unlocking the future of commercial space infrastructure...

Jackson Moses, Founder and Managing Partner of Silent Ventures, joins Connect to Venture Capital to discuss why defence technology is entering a new era of investment. Drawing on his experience as both a founder and investor, he explains how Silent Ventures identifies exceptional operators building the next generation of defence, aerospace and national security companies, and why manufacturing, ha...

In this episode of Connect to Visionaries, we speak with Joakim Sjöblom, Co-Founder & CEO of SWEBAL, about the urgent need to strengthen Europe's defence manufacturing capabilities. Drawing on his experience building and exiting a successful fintech business, Joakim explains why he turned his focus to defence and the importance of creating resilient, sovereign supply chains. Together, they exp...

In this episode of Connect to Orbit, Joe Reed is joined by Jackie Teran, VP of Engineering at Forerunner, to explore the leadership principles shaping the future of GovTech. Jackie shares her unconventional journey into engineering, the importance of adaptability in a rapidly evolving industry, and why maintaining a growth mindset is essential for both individuals and organisations. The conversati...

In this episode of Connect to Defence Innovation , we sit down with Kenneth Skorpen, Co-Founder & CEO of BlinkTroll Robotics, to discuss how robotics and emerging technologies are transforming the future of defence. Together, they explore the challenges of developing innovative solutions for a rapidly evolving operational landscape and what it takes to deliver technology that makes a tangible...

In this episode of Connect to Visionaries , Joe Reed sits down with Josh Hiebner, Co-Founder and Head of Growth at Bandelier Technologies, to explore the intersection of quantum technology, defence innovation, and entrepreneurship. Josh shares his journey from serving in Special Forces to building a defence-native quantum company, discussing the urgency behind emerging technologies, the challenges...

In this episode of Behind the Orbit , Joe Reed sits down with Felix Motzki, CTO of Reflex Aerospace, to discuss his unconventional journey into the space industry, from biomedical engineering and ultrasound imaging to leading one of Europe’s fastest-growing satellite companies. Felix shares the lessons learned from scaling teams through IPOs, navigating challenging leadership decisions, and helpin...

In this episode of Behind the Vision , Tom Sloan speaks with Sanal Kamal, Founder & CEO of Photon-IV, about the future of global connectivity and the growing convergence between satellite and terrestrial networks. Sanal shares how his journey from engineering roles in defence and photonics led him to uncover a critical gap in how modern systems stay connected. The conversation explores how spa...

In this inspiring episode of Behind the Influence , Molly-May Brissett sits down with Madison Feehan, Founder and CEO of Space Copy, to explore her remarkable journey from a teenage NASA intern to leading a pioneering space technology company. Madison shares how Space Copy is transforming additive manufacturing by developing rugged 3D printing systems capable of operating in extreme environments,...

What happens when space stops being a distant frontier and becomes part of everyday life? In this episode of Behind the Orbit , Pratish Shah, General Manager of Classified Programs at AI Tech Systems, shares how advances in satellite technology, AI, and space infrastructure are accelerating a future where space plays a far greater role in industries here on Earth. From building palm-sized satellit...

Bryan Mabry, Partner at New North Ventures, joins Behind the Capital to discuss his journey from the U.S. intelligence community and government service into venture capital. Drawing on experience as both an operator and investor, Bryan explains how New North backs early-stage dual-use technologies and why supporting founders goes far beyond simply writing a cheque. The conversation explores emergi...

What happens when artificial intelligence moves beyond software and into the physical world? In this episode of  Behind the Robot , Molly-May Brissett speaks with Brandon Coats, Director of Engineering at NoMagic AI, about the technologies driving the next generation of robotics. From Vision-Language-Action models and AI agents to autonomous systems and the future of industrial automation, Br...

Alex Fink, Founder & CEO of Swarmer, joins Behind the Orbit to explore how autonomous systems are transforming modern defence. Drawing on his experience at the intersection of software, strategy, and national security, Alex explains why the future of warfare will be shaped less by hardware and more by the ability to coordinate autonomous systems at scale. The conversation covers the rise of au...

In this episode of Behind the Orbit , we speak with Darko Filipi, VP of Space Systems at Overview Energy, a company building the next generation of space-based energy infrastructure. Darko shares his journey from astrophysics and spacecraft engineering to working on some of the most ambitious space systems ever conceived, including CubeSats, human spaceflight systems, and large-scale commercial sa...

In this episode of Behind the Vision , Pietro Guerrieri, Founder & CEO of Impulso Space, shares his remarkable journey from serving as a military pilot in the Italian Air Force to leading one of the space sector's most innovative launch service providers. Pietro reflects on the experiences that shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, the importance of discipline, continuous learning, and the pivot...

What if sending a sensor to orbit became as simple as booking a flight? In this episode of Behind the Vision , Theophile Lagraulet, Co-Founder and CEO of SpaceLocker, shares how his team is reimagining the future of space missions by building the infrastructure layer that could transform access to orbit. From launching their first mission within just two years of founding the company to operating...

In this episode of Behind the Robot , we speak with Christian Eberhardt, CTO and Founder of ARIS Robotics, a company building intelligent systems for waste sorting and recycling infrastructure. Christian shares his unconventional journey from sailing across the Atlantic and teaching navigation on tall ships, to studying robotics and co-founding a startup straight out of university. He reflects on...

In this episode of Behind the Vision , we speak with Kevin Lausten, CEO of Morpheus Space, about the future of space mobility, satellite propulsion, and sustainable orbital operations. Kevin shares his journey into the space industry, discusses how agile startups are reshaping aerospace innovation, and explains why responsible satellite operations will be critical to the future of the commercial s...

<iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/2y4aovgoJAk0shYbJKKrNg/video?utm_source=generator&si=eb8ef74433aa4600" width="624" height="351" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe> In this episode of Behind the Vision, K...

In this episode of Behind the Robot, we sit down with Tom Yeshurun, Co-Founder and CEO of Civ Robotics, to discuss how robotics is transforming the construction and renewable energy sectors. Tom shares his journey from civil engineering and construction management to building one of the leading robotics companies in infrastructure development. He discusses the challenges of scaling a startup, the...

In this episode of Behind the Flight, Tom Sloan is joined by Ben Williams, Chief Operating Officer at Exyn Technologies. Ben shares his journey from serving in the US Navy to becoming a serial entrepreneur and deep tech leader, reflecting on the lessons he learned transitioning from military service into industry and building innovative technology businesses. The conversation explores the future o...

In this episode we speak with Lukas Werling, CEO and Co-Founder of ISPTech, about building in-space propulsion systems for the next generation of spacecraft. Lukas shares his journey from the German Aerospace Center to founding ISPTech, the importance of understanding customer pain points, and why propulsion will be a key enabler for future space infrastructure, from commercial space stations to l...

In this episode we speak with Sumant Sharma, CEO & Co-Founder of EraDrive, about his journey from aerospace research at Stanford University into building autonomous systems for the future of space operations. Sumant shares insights into launching a venture-backed space startup, the growing need for self-driving spacecraft, and how AI, autonomy, and real-time decision-making will shape the next...

In this episode of Behind the Capital, Nicola Sinclair discusses venture capital, defence tech, and deep tech innovation across Europe. She shares insights on startup growth, founder resilience, fundraising challenges, and why clear communication and adaptability are critical for technical founders building in sectors like AI, aerospace, and defence. The Techne Connect Podcast 🎧 Thank you for lis...

In this episode of Behind the Vision, we speak with John Quinn, Founder and CEO of Exos Aerospace, about his journey from nuclear submarines and power systems into reusable rocket technology. John shares how his background in high-risk engineering environments shaped his data-driven approach to building and scaling aerospace systems. The conversation explores reusable rockets, launch licensing, ca...