A VC, a Headhunter, and a Trainer Walk into a Bar

Recruiting Best Practices for Space Startups In this episode of VHTB , Brian Mejeur of AdAstra Talent Advisors takes the lead in a focused conversation on building a high-impact, scalable recruiting process for early-stage space startups. He's joined by co-hosts Matt Gjertsen of Better Every Day Studios and Justus Kilian of Space Capital. Drawing on years of hands-on experience in the space startu...

Mastering the Fundraising Process for Space Startups In this episode of VHTB, Justus Kilian from Space Capital is joined by Matt Gjertsen from Better Everyday Studios and Brian Mejeur from AdAstra Talent Advisors to discuss the disciplined approach to the fundraising process for early-stage space startups. The conversation covers key tactics and timelines, from beginning preparation nine months in...

Leadership Development in Space Startups: Key Steps and Best Practices In this episode of VHTB, host Matt Gjertsen of Better Everyday Studios is joined by Brian Mejeur of AdAstra Talent Advisors and Justus Killian from Space Capital to discuss leadership development strategies for space startups. Based on listener feedback, the team revises their format to delve into specific best practices for ta...

Welcome to VHTB, your guide to the talent, culture, and finance side of the space startup ecosystem. In this heartfelt episode, Seyka Mejeur, CEO of Ad Astra Talent Advisors, is joined by Matt Gjertsen of Better Everyday Studios and Justus Killian of Space Capital for an honest conversation about work-life balance, the realities of startup culture, and the unique challenges faced by parents and fo...

Welcome back to VHTB, your go-to podcast for insights into the talent, culture, and finance shaping the space startup world. In this episode, hosts Brian Mejeur and Matt Gjertsen are joined by Justus Killian of Space Capital for a lively exploration of workplace culture—from the value of hiring for “culture fit” versus “culture add,” to the role of friction in fueling growth and innovation. Togeth...

Welcome to Episode 14 of VHTB, your go-to podcast for insights into the talent, culture, and finance sides of the space startup ecosystem. This week, hosts Matt Gjertsen, Seyka Majeur, and Justus Killian dive into the fascinating dynamics of leadership transitions and the different skill sets required as startups evolve from invention to scale and beyond. They break down the distinct stages of com...

In this episode, Justus Killian, Seyka Mejeur, and Matt Gjertsen join the discussion on leadership transitions within venture-backed space startups. The conversation focuses on the implications of founder and CEO transitions, including the impact on company vision, culture, team morale, and operations. Drawing from personal experiences and industry examples, the guests explore common challenges su...

In this episode of the podcast, the hosts discuss the intricacies of building connections and partnerships external to organizations, focusing on the U.S. Government as a customer. The conversation highlights the unique challenges that startups face when engaging with government agencies. The discussion emphasizes understanding government culture, navigating complex processes for moving money, val...

In this episode of VHTB, the hosts discuss strategies for building effective internal connections within space startup organizations. The conversation focuses on how learning and development teams can become relevant within companies, emphasizing the importance of strong operational alignment and the integration of cultural elements. The hosts explore the value of professional likability, driven b...

In this episode of VHTB, the hosts delve into the early stages of space startup development and how founders can effectively pitch their ideas. The discussion focuses on strategies for aspiring founders, particularly those looking to transition from executive roles into starting their ventures. Key points include the importance of finding a balance between refining an idea and knowing when to pres...

This episode of the VHTB podcast focuses on transitioning from an engineering role to a management position within the space startup industry. We discuss the significant skill shift required for engineers moving into management. Key points include recognizing the change in role, avoiding the pitfall of pace setting, and understanding that management is not just about technical expertise. The episo...

In this episode of VHTB, we delve into the early-stage challenges faced by space startups. They discuss common pitfalls such as the importance of early hires and the risks of hiring solely from one's network, emphasizing cultural implications and the impact on company growth. The conversation also covers the danger of focusing on technical solutions without considering customer needs, sharing insi...

In this episode of VHTB, we explore the importance of storytelling within early-stage startups, particularly in leadership roles. They discuss how storytelling is essential for not just founders but also for leaders at all levels within an organization. The conversation highlights that effective storytelling involves presenting a compelling vision and using empathy to engage others. They delve int...

In this episode of VHTB, the discussion highlights the critical importance of establishing company culture early in the life cycle of space startups. The conversation highlights how culture is shaped from the inception of the organization and emphasizes that it is defined, whether intentionally or not, by the actions and values of the founders and early hires. Topics include the impact of culture...

In this episode of VHTB, the discussion centers around the role of mentorship in career growth within the space startup ecosystem. The conversation delves into how mentorship evolves from technical apprenticeships to more informal guidance throughout one's career. The episode explores methods for seeking mentorship, including leveraging online resources, reading books by industry experts, and proa...

In this episode of VHTB, the focus is on how lessons from other industries can guide the scaling of space startups. The conversation explores the role of government as an anchor customer, fostering ecosystems, and the importance of standardization and interoperability for industry growth. Key insights include the benefits and challenges of government regulation, with examples from aviation and the...

When building a company, every hire is critical. You need people who can start solving problems on day one. But what about the challenges you are going to face tomorrow? Will the same people you need today be capable of operating at the next level? This week's episode dives into exactly this challenge so tune in to get a clear strategy from people who have seen this story play out with numerous gr...

In this episode of VHTB, the discussion centers on the relative importance of technical skills versus people skills within the space startup ecosystem. The conversation begins by exploring how startups and engineering programs identify and address gaps in both skill areas. Key points include the importance of needs analysis in training programs and the frequent mislabeling of issues as training pr...

This episode of VHTB focuses on defining and replicating great engineering cultures within organizations. The discussion begins by examining the decline of engineering culture at established companies like Boeing and contrasts this with success stories from newer companies such as SpaceX. The conversation identifies key traits of a strong engineering culture, such as technical ability, attitude, a...

VHTB is your guide to the talent, culture, and finance side of the space start-up ecosystem. Each episode, hosts Matt Gjertsen from Better Every Day Studios, Seyka & Brian Mejeur of AdAstra Talent Advisors, and Justus Kilian of Space Capital will share stories and insights from their experiences working with some of the most innovative companies on the planet.