The Techne Connect

In this episode of Techne Connect: Connect To Orbit , Joe Reed sits down with Abdelfattah Mostafa, Head of Global Manufacturing Infrastructure at ICEYE, to discuss the evolution of the space industry, from bespoke satellite missions to scalable, industrialised manufacturing. Abdelfattah shares his career journey from mechanical engineering and oil & gas into commercial space, explaining why so...

Mike Safyan, VP of Launch and Strategic Initiatives at Planet, joins Joe Reed to explore his journey from NASA Ames to becoming one of Planet’s earliest employees, and the decision to leave a secure career path to help build a company that would transform how we observe Earth. From Planet’s first satellites and its mission to image the entire planet every day, to its evolution into a publicly trad...

In this episode of Connect to Orbit, Joe Reed speaks with Alicia Kavelaars, Senior Technology Officer at Spacedock. Alicia shares her journey from studying theoretical physics and astrophysics, to building space systems, founding OffWorld, and now helping shape the future of persistent space infrastructure. The conversation explores: • Why the future of space depends on rapid prototyping and solvi...

In this episode of Techne Connects, Joe Reed speaks with Tim Solms, CEO of Slingshot Aerospace. Tim shares his journey from joining the US Army at 17 to becoming an Apache pilot, working across Dell, VMware and Microsoft, and later stepping into the space sector as a CEO. The conversation covers leadership, risk, culture, hiring and career development. Tim explains why culture matters more than co...

In this episode of Behind the Vision, Luke Campbell speaks with Albert Maas, CEO of Avular, about his journey from mechanical engineering and motorsport into entrepreneurship and robotics. Albert shares how his early passion for building and solving complex problems led him towards creating deep-tech companies focused on mobile robotic systems. The conversation explores: • The challenges of buildi...

Building a career in aerospace and complex hardware does not always mean staying on a traditional engineering path. In this episode of Behind the Vision, Lucy Hoag, founder and CEO of Violet Labs, shares how her experience across aerospace, government programmes and autonomous vehicles led her to build a company focused on improving hardware development. Lucy offers a clear view of what it takes t...

Scott Philips, Chief Innovation Officer at Forterra, joins Carlos Regini-Moran to explore a career shaped by engineering, AI and a drive to solve real-world problems. From developing early AI systems for the US Navy and working on radar technology at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, to deploying technology alongside soldiers in Afghanistan, Scott shares how getting closer to the end user transformed his ap...

From contributing to the Orion program to helping build Europe's next generation of space capsules at The Exploration Company, Jon Reinveld has spent his career turning ambitious ideas into engineering reality. In this episode of Connect To Orbit , he shares the journey from choosing aerospace over biology to leading the development of technology designed to shape the future of human spaceflight....

In this episode of Connect to Visionaries, Guilhem de Marliave, CEO and Co-Founder of Elistair, shares the journey behind building a European drone technology company focused on protecting those who protect us. From identifying the limitations of battery-powered drones to developing tethered systems capable of persistent aerial intelligence, Guilhem explains how Elistair found its market by listen...

Marco Agnan, Co-Founder and CTO of Odysseus Space, joins Joe Reed to discuss the future of laser communication and high-speed satellite data delivery. Marco explains how Odysseus Space is developing Cyclops, an end-to-end space-to-ground laser communication service. The model gives satellite operators access to optical communication terminals and ground infrastructure through a subscription, reduc...

In this episode of Connect to Orbit, Joe Reed speaks with Robert Sproles, CEO of Exolaunch, about the future of launch services and the infrastructure needed to support a rapidly growing space economy. Robert shares his journey into the industry and explains how Exolaunch supports satellite missions from the manufacturing floor through to orbit. He also discusses rising launch demand, the need for...

In this episode of Connect to Tech, Luke Campbell speaks with Per Björklund, co-founder of Further Than Capital, about what investors look for in early-stage technology companies. Per shares his journey from engineering and entrepreneurship into venture capital and angel investing. He explains why the founding team matters more than the original idea, the importance of customer validation and doma...

What does it take to go from engineer to co-founder in one of defence technology's fastest-moving sectors? In this episode of Connect To Visionaries , Suresh Kumar, Co-Founder & CTO of Vermeer, shares how curiosity, calculated risk and a willingness to embrace failure shaped his entrepreneurial journey. From aerospace engineering and autonomous drones to leading cutting-edge autonomy programme...

In this episode of Connect to Orbit, Robert Lamontagne, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Katalyst Space Technologies, reflects on his 25-year Air Force career, from flying B-52s and working with the B-2 to shaping future force design at the Pentagon. He shares how curiosity, adaptability and embracing unconventional opportunities shaped his journey from military service into the space i...

In this episode of Connect to Robotics, Raumi Sidki, Director of Robotic Systems at Robust AI, shares his journey from watching the 2004 DARPA Grand Challenge as a child, where his father competed, to developing cutting-edge robotics at Apple, Amazon, and now Robust AI. He discusses what it feels like to come full circle by competing in the same challenges that first inspired him, why safety and h...

Building a career in robotics does not always mean following a fixed path. In this episode of Behind the Robot, Carlos Fernandez, Chief Solutions Officer at AutoStore, shares how he progressed from an engineering role in a small 20-person company to executive leadership in a global robotics business. Carlos explains how AutoStore scaled from an early-stage company into a publicly listed organisati...

In this episode of Connect to Venture Capital , Joe Reed speaks with Justyna Redelkiewicz, Venture Partner at Depot Ventures, about Europe's evolving space investment ecosystem. Drawing on 16 years of experience shaping programmes including Galileo, Copernicus and the €1 billion Cassini initiative, Justyna explains how public funding helped transform venture capital's appetite for space startups a...

Marek Plavcan, Chief Business Officer and co-founder of Airvolute, shares his journey from studying international business and working in government to helping build a technology company at the forefront of unmanned systems. He explores the unexpected evolution of Airvolute, from developing autonomous warehouse inventory drones to creating an autopilot platform now used by more than 100 customers...

Paul Ziade shares his remarkable journey from tenured professor of mechanical engineering to CEO of one of Canada's fastest-growing defence technology companies. He explains why he left the security of academia to build North Vector Dynamics, the importance of hiring exceptional engineers, and the sacrifices required to create a business capable of protecting nations in an increasingly uncertain w...

Building a career in the space industry isn't always about following a linear path. In this episode of Connect To Orbit , Amy Miller, Head of Talent & People Operations at Portal Space Systems, shares how a career spanning global technology companies, including Amazon's satellite division, led her to one of the most exciting startups in commercial space. Amy offers a unique perspective on what...

In this episode of Connect To Visionaries , we speak with Kris Moell, Founder & CEO of Frost Unmanned, to explore an entrepreneurial journey that spans aviation, international operations and defence technology. From flying aircraft parts across the US and working in Indonesia to building a next-generation defence company in Sweden, Kris shares how his career evolved through curiosity, resilien...

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...