Hardware at the Speed of Software with Eduardo Torrealba

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske sits down with Eduardo Torrealba, co-founder and CEO of Lumafield. Lumafield has transformed industrial CT scanning, taking a technology historically locked inside expensive, specialised lab equipment and rebuilding it into an accessible, cloud-connected platform capable of inspecting manufacturing parts on production lines in seconds.Eduardo challenges the traditional deep tech belief that “software is fast and hardware is slow”. He shares how Lumafield achieves rapid hardware iteration, deploys systems in weeks rather than months, and integrates agentic software tools across the entire engineering lifecycle. The conversation explores non-traditional hardware business models, capital strategy beyond standard venture debt, internal innovation schemes, and what it takes to build a generational manufacturing technology company.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to DeepTech Unleashed and Eduardo Torrealba01:48 Eduardo’s Founder Journey: From Semiconductor Fabs to Form Labs05:15 The Lumafield Vision: Industrial CT Scanning Redefined07:19 Vertical Integration & Manufacturing Strategy08:35 Rethinking Competition: Competing Against the Bandsaw10:31 Challenging Deep Tech Dogma: Why Hard Tech Can Be Faster Than Software15:10 Iteration at Scale: Continuous Hardware and Software Upgrades19:01 Building an Urgent, High-Velocity Culture22:06 How AI and Agentic Tools Accelerate Hardware Companies25:30 Aligning Software and Hardware Engineering Teams28:56 Internal Tooling and the Lumafield Software Bounty Program30:11 Business Model Innovation: Subscriptions vs. Capital Purchases33:30 Financing Growth: Contracted Revenue Facilities vs. Traditional Venture Debt38:18 Quick-Fire Controversial Questions40:51 Founder Highlights: Impacting Mission-Critical Industries43:40 The 10-Year Tech Outlook & Personal Life BalanceAbout the Guest: Eduardo TorrealbaEduardo Torrealba is the co-founder and CEO of Lumafield, a company pioneering accessible industrial CT scanning for manufacturing and engineering teams. Prior to founding Lumafield in 2019, Eduardo led engineering and product development for the Fuse 1 3D printer program at Formlabs and co-founded PlantLink while earning his graduate degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is passionate about providing tools that give manufacturing engineers superpowers and helping to modernise industrial manufacturing.Follow Eduardo Torrealba on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eduardo3rd/Find out more about Lumafield here: https://www.lumafield.com/About the Host: Christian NoskeHost Christian Noske is General Partner at Uplift Ventures, focusing on industrial tech, enterprise software, and deep tech investments. With a wealth of experience in the venture capital landscape, Christian is dedicated to supporting founders who are solving complex technical challenges. Through DeepTech Unleashed, he brings listeners behind the scenes of the world’s most ambitious startups to uncover the human stories behind the hardware and code.Follow Christian Noske on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-noske/Find out more about Uplift Ventures here: https://www.upliftventures.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske sits down with Francesco De Stefano, co-founder and CEO of Caracol. Founded in Italy, Caracol is a pioneer in Large Format Additive Manufacturing (LFAM). By combining robotic arms, sophisticated software, and circular materials, Caracol prints massive industrial parts for demanding sectors including aerospace, maritime, automotive, and energy.Francesco shares how a non-engineering “business guy” from management consulting partnered with design engineers to build an international deep tech company. He details Caracol’s journey through its recent $40 million Series B fundraising round, its strategic expansion into the US and Middle East, and its unconventional acquisition of a century-old German business unit. The conversation explores the mechanics of scaling hardware globally, leading cross-cultural teams, and why embedding AI and intelligence into physical machines represents the next frontier for industrial production.What you will learn in this episode:Breaking the Box of 3D Printing: How combining multi-axis robotics with pellet-based raw materials unlocks large-scale, cost-effective additive manufacturing for parts over one metre.A Strategic Approach to Fundraising: How non-technical founders can align investor drivers, navigate board dynamics, and turn fundraising into a driver for corporate maturity.Playbook for International Expansion: The critical balance between maintaining local “boots on the ground” in key growth markets and retaining a central R&D and engineering core.Targeted M&A in Deep Tech: When and why an early-stage startup should acquire established industrial assets to accelerate technological roadmaps and market penetration.The Future of Smart Machines: How embedding software, machine learning, and AI layers into physical manufacturing hardware reduces waste and solves complex industrial challenges.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to DeepTech Unleashed and Francesco De Stefano01:18 The Caracol Founding Story: A Business Mindset Meets Engineering Vision03:28 Overcoming the Limits of Traditional Additive Manufacturing09:15 From Camper Vans to Boat Hulls: Large-Scale Industrial Applications10:20 Caracol’s Global Footprint: Italy, USA, and the Middle East11:40 Leadership and Managing Complexity as a Non-Technical Founder16:43 The Reality of Fundraising: Board Governance and Alignment25:03 Executing International Expansion: Boots on the Ground35:01 Acquiring a 100-Year-Old German Competitor’s Asset41:04 Moments of Magic: Launching the US Headquarters in Austin44:18 Looking to the Future: AI and Smart Machines in Physical ManufacturingAbout the Guest: Francesco De StefanoFrancesco De Stefano is the co-founder and CEO of Caracol. With a background in business and strategic consulting at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Francesco co-founded Caracol in 2017 to transform large-scale industrial manufacturing using robotics and additive manufacturing. Under his leadership, Caracol has expanded from Italy to establish manufacturing and commercial operations in the United States and the Middle East, raising over $40 million in Series B funding to scale its LFAM platform globally.Follow Francesco De Stefano on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-de-stefano-8b4b4497/Find out more about Caracol here: https://www.caracol-am.com/About the Host: Christian NoskeChristian Noske is General Partner at Uplift Ventures, focusing on industrial tech, enterprise software, and deep tech investments. With a wealth of experience in the venture capital landscape, Christian is dedicated to supporting founders who are solving complex technical challenges. Through DeepTech Unleashed, he brings listeners behind the scenes of the world’s most ambitious startups to uncover the human stories behind the hardware and code.Follow Christian Noske on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-noske/Find out more about Uplift Ventures here: https://www.upliftventures.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske sits down with Adrien Briod, co-founder and CTO of Flyability. Founded in 2014 as a spin-off from EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, Flyability is a global pioneer in indoor inspection robotics. Their collision-tolerant drones allow heavy industries—ranging from power generation and mining to chemical refining—to inspect hazardous, confined spaces without putting human lives at risk.Adrien reflects on Flyability’s 12-year journey from an initial research breakthrough inspired by insects to a thriving company of 140 people servicing 1,500 clients worldwide. The conversation explores the technical choices behind building hardware that can withstand extreme environments, the integration of 3D mapping and LiDAR to create digital twins, and how emerging Physical AI will shift drones from manual teleoperation to prompt-driven assistants. Adrien also shares his perspectives on leadership, explaining how cultivating a culture of purpose, ownership, and constructive feedback enables deep tech teams to compete at the highest level.What you will learn in this episode:Mechanical Intelligence vs. Software: How drawing inspiration from nature led to collision-tolerant hardware, proving intelligence begins with physical design.The Evolution of Indoor Inspection: Combining LiDAR measurements with computer vision to create 3D mapping and digital twins for risk-based maintenance.The Impact of Physical AI: Moving beyond joystick control to prompt-driven assistants capable of understanding complex environments.Building a High-Performance Culture: Shifting from top-down management to a culture grounded in purpose, transparent micro-decisions, and team alignment.Leadership and Constructive Feedback: Practical strategies for preserving team cohesion and encouraging fast learning from mistakes.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to DeepTech Unleashed and Adrien Briod01:50 The Flyability Mission: Safeguarding Infrastructure and Human Lives03:40 Teleoperation, Mazes, and Superpowers for Inspectors05:34 The Founding Story: From EPFL Research and Fukushima to Insect-Inspired Drones08:55 Technology Choices: Competing in the Global Hardware Stack12:01 Software Architecture: LiDAR, Digital Twins, and Autonomous Flight15:39 Hardware Limitations and the Physical AI Turning Point19:07 How Physical AI Delivers Frictionless Value to Enterprise Customers23:16 Rethinking CTO Leadership: Moving Beyond OKRs to Culture26:30 Cultivating Purpose, Ownership, and Constructive Feedback31:00 Operationalising Culture and Assessing Fit During Hiring33:41 Moments of Magic: High-Stakes Field Demos and Saving Human Lives38:48 Personal Insights: Woodworking and Simple Counterparts to Complex TechAbout the Guest: Adrien BriodAdrien Briod is the co-founder and CTO of Flyability. His PhD research at EPFL on bio-inspired mechanisms formed the core technology behind the company, which he has scaled to 140 people developing industry-standard inspection drones.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abriod/Website: https://www.flyability.com/About the Host: Christian NoskeChristian Noske focuses on industrial tech, enterprise software, and deep tech investments, supporting founders who are solving complex technical challenges.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-noske Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske sits down with Sai Shivareddy, the CEO and co-founder of Nyobolt. Born out of a decade of cutting-edge research at the University of Cambridge, Nyobolt is a battery scale-up tackling the all-important last metre of energy storage. Their revolutionary technology enables ultrafast charging, reaching an 80% charge in under five minutes, without the typical degradation associated with conventional lithium-ion batteries.Sai shares his 15-year journey across the battery value chain, reflecting on how early research funded by Dyson sparked his entrepreneurial drive. The conversation dives deep into the strategic choices that have driven Nyobolt's success, including a deliberate choice to focus on application-layer solutions and power density to uniquely solve industrial pain points. Sai also details the reality of navigating multiple hype cycles, building commercial credibility, and the milestone achievements that have validated their hardware stack—from a groundbreaking sports car demonstration to capturing massive automation contracts with reference customers like Symbotic.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to DeepTech Unleashed and Sai Shivareddy01:17 Sai's Background: From Cambridge Research to Dyson06:03 The Trade-Offs of Physics: Energy Density vs. Power Density09:03 Owning the Supply Chain and Navigating the Application Layer12:51 Fast Charging vs. Battery Swapping in Robotics16:04 Empowering the Physical AI Cake and Data Centre Architecture23:42 Juggling Hype Cycles and Managing an Experienced Team28:13 Advice for the Next Generation: Capital Efficiency and Niche Markets37:51 Moments of Magic: The 4-Minute EV Charge and the Symbotic Deal42:54 Personal Insights: Technology's Impact on Society and Farming HobbiesAbout the Guest: Sai ShivareddySai has dedicated his career to the mission of finding seamless solutions for energy storage and retrieval. His passion lies in clean energy and materials innovation, which drive Nyobolt’s unique high-power batteries with ultrafast charging times. Since founding Nyobolt in 2019, Sai has applied a whole systems approach to address the need for accessible power. His experience in inventing and developing various energy storage technologies across different industries for over a decade informs his vision. Sai collaborates with a world-class team—scientists, engineers, and industry experts—united by a shared purpose: unlocking the potential of battery technology. Together, they challenge conventions and inspire a paradigm shift in energy storage systems. Sai holds a PhD in Engineering from St John’s College, Cambridge, where he collaborated with Dyson on groundbreaking concepts for high-power energy storage technologies.Follow Sai Shivareddy on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saishivareddy/ Find out more about Nyobolt here: https://nyobolt.com/ About the Host: Christian NoskeHost Christian Noske focuses on industrial tech, enterprise software, and deep tech investments. With a wealth of experience in the venture capital landscape, Christian is dedicated to supporting founders who are solving complex technical challenges. Through DeepTech Unleashed, he brings listeners behind the scenes of the world’s most ambitious startups to uncover the human stories behind the hardware and code.Follow Christian Noske on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-noske/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host and partner at NGP Capital, Upal Basu, sits down with Brian Manning, Co-Founder and CEO of Xona, to explore the future of satellite navigation. Xona is pioneering a secure, high-performance navigation system from low Earth orbit (LEO) designed to meet the demands of modern automation, providing accuracy down to the centimetre level.Key topics discussed:The Entrepreneurial Spark: From tinkering in a family plumbing business to working at SpaceX on the Falcon rocket thrust structure, and how those formative experiences shaped Brian’s journey.The Limitations of GPS: Why traditional GPS is no longer sufficient for the era of 'hands-off' machine control, autonomous vehicles, and automated infrastructure.Validating Deep Tech: The parallel approach required to prove complex satellite technology and market demand simultaneously, avoiding the pitfalls of building in a vacuum.Overcoming the Doubters: Navigating early fundraising hurdles, managing runway through volatile periods like COVID-19, and the ultimate validation of launching Xona’s first satellite.The Launch Bottleneck: The current state of the space industry where satellite manufacturing capacity heavily outstrips available commercial launch supply.A Vision of Ubiquitous Precision: Looking ahead to a future where high-precision positioning transforms precision agriculture, critical infrastructure, and consumer applications.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Pulsar-0 and Market Opportunity02:57 Brian Manning's Journey to Entrepreneurship05:57 Inspiration from SpaceX and the Apollo Era09:04 The Transition from Automotive to Space Tech11:52 Identifying the Gaps in GPS Technology14:47 Commercial vs. Defense Applications of Navigation Systems17:47 Overcoming Investor Skepticism21:12 Parallel Validation of Technology and Market Needs24:06 Building a Strong Founding Team27:24 The Early Struggles of Fundraising34:05 The Launch of Pulsar-0 and Its Impact37:02 Transitioning from Technology Developer to Service Provider39:50 Future Use Cases and Consumer Impact46:05 Reflections and Advice for EntrepreneursAbout the Host: Upal BasuUpal has worked in the mobile and software technology industry for over 20 years. At NGP Capital, Upal leads the US investment team. Prior to NGP Capital, he was Founder and CEO of Mformation Technologies, the world’s largest mobile device management company, which was acquired by Alcatel-Lucent. Previously he was a management consultant for McKinsey & Company in New York and London. Prior to joining McKinsey, Upal led Product Management activities for Risk Management Solutions (RMS), a leading provider of software technologies for the management of insurance risks. Upal has an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MS in Engineering from Stanford University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Imperial College, London.Follow Upal Basu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/upalbasu Find out more about NGP Capital here: https://www.ngpcap.com About the Guest: Brian ManningBrian Manning is the Co-Founder and CEO of Xona. An engineer and mechanic at heart, he holds an aerospace engineering degree and an MBA from London Business School. He is dedicated to building the foundation layer for the next generation of autonomous and connected devices by providing modern, secure, and ultra-precise satellite navigation.Follow Brian Manning on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-manning-x/ Find out more about Xona here: https://www.xonaspace.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske sits down with Rhona Togher, the CEO and co-founder of Lios. Based in Dublin, Lios is on a mission to reduce noise pollution and prevent hearing damage through advanced material science. Rhona and her co-founder, Eimear O'Carroll, have developed SoundBounce, an award-winning acoustic material that is thinner, lighter, and significantly more effective at dampening low-frequency noise than traditional solutions. From its origins as a school science project to winning the European Patent Office’s Invention of the Year 2023, Rhona shares the remarkable story of Lios’s growth. The conversation explores the challenges of building a hardware powerhouse in a risk-averse industry, the importance of long-term customer relationships, and the unique dynamics of a co-founder partnership that began in high school.What you’ll learn in this episode:The Founder’s Journey: How Lios evolved from a high school science project in Sligo into an advanced materials company operating across the automotive, aviation, and construction sectors, and even in space.A Unique Co-Founder Partnership: Insights into building a long-term, successful co-founder relationship, and how constant, transparent communication serves as the foundation for overcoming the challenges of a deep tech startup.Overcoming Industry Resistance: Strategies for convincing veteran, risk-averse industries to adopt new, breakthrough materials through multi-phase processes and long-term engagement.Supporting Women in Tech: Why visibility and community are vital for encouraging more women to pursue careers and leadership roles in deep tech.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Deep Tech Unleashed and Rhona Togher01:22 Lios’s Mission and SoundBounce Technology05:04 Origin Story: From High School Project to Business11:50 Building the Team and Scaling14:23 Managing Funding and Capital Efficiency18:56 Navigating Early Investor and Supplier Challenges23:04 The Power of the Co-Founder Relationship26:11 Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Deep Tech31:13 Best Practices for Entering Risk-Averse Industries34:35 Moments of Magic and Recognition39:24 Personal Insights and Life Outside of WorkAbout the Guest: Rhona TogherRhona Togher is the co-founder and CEO of Lios, an advanced materials company based in Dublin. Along with her co-founder Eimear O'Carroll, she has spent over ten years developing breakthrough acoustic materials to combat noise pollution. Rhona’s work with Lios has earned significant recognition, including being named the European Patent Office’s Invention of the Year 2023. She is a passionate advocate for women in deep tech and focuses on building sustainable, customer-driven technology that has applications across global industries and in space.Follow Rhona on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonatogher/ Find out more about Lios here: https://lios-group.com About the Host: Christian NoskeChristian Noske is a Partner at NGP Capital, where he focuses on industrial tech, enterprise software, and deep tech investments. With a wealth of experience in the venture capital landscape, Christian is dedicated to supporting founders who are solving complex technical challenges. Through DeepTech Unleashed, he brings listeners behind the scenes of the world’s most ambitious startups to uncover the human stories behind the hardware and code. Follow Christian Noske here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-noske/ Find out more about NGP Capital here: https://www.ngpcap.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Debjit Mukerji sits down with Parth Trivedi, CEO and Co-Founder of Skylo Technologies, to explore the future of satellite-based communication. Based in Mountain View, Skylo is pioneering the world’s largest standards-based non-terrestrial network (NTN), enabling everyday mobile and enterprise devices to connect seamlessly via satellite without the need for proprietary hardware.Key topics discussed:The Founding Journey: How a background in aerospace engineering and a frustration with cumbersome satellite protocols at Stanford led to a mission to solve global connectivity.The Market Opportunity: Leveraging cellular standards and existing orbital infrastructure to create a network that already supports over 16 million devices across five continents.The Human Element: Real-world stories of how direct-to-device connectivity is saving lives, including a recent pilot rescue made possible by satellite-enabled mobile messaging.Technical Innovation: The development of a multi-orbit, orbit-agnostic technology stack that integrates with standard consumer devices like smartphones and smartwatches.Building Deep Tech Teams: The importance of "T-shaped" individuals who possess both broad cross-functional malleability and deep technical expertise.A "Standardised Sky": Moving towards a future where continuous global coverage is a utility that users can simply take for granted.Chapters:00:00 Revolutionizing Connectivity: The Skylo Approach03:02 The Journey of a Deep Tech Founder05:47 The Genesis of Skylo Technologies09:10 Impactful Use Cases and Real-World Applications11:52 User Experience as a Differentiator14:47 The Future of Satellite and Cellular Convergence26:46 Technical Challenges in Satellite Communication29:10 Skylo's Unique Positioning and Ecosystem32:06 The Future of Connectivity in the AI Era36:29 Investment Insights and Market Opportunities37:36 Navigating Competition in Space Tech42:45 Building a Resilient Team and Company Culture52:21 Future Roadmap for SkyloAbout the Host: Debjit MukerjiDebjit Mukerji is a Partner at NGP Capital, based in Palo Alto, California. A technologist at heart and engineer by training, Debjit partners with founders creating new categories or redefining existing ones with cutting-edge technology to help them navigate the complexities of global scaling. Follow Debjit Mukerji on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debjit-mukerji-8728a3/Follow Debjit Mukerji on X: https://x.com/debjitmukerji Find out more about NGP Capital here: https://www.ngpcap.com/About the Guest: Parth TrivediParth Trivedi is the CEO and Co-Founder of Skylo, a company dedicated to providing ubiquitous, affordable, and seamless satellite connectivity for all. An aerospace engineer by training, he holds an undergraduate degree from Purdue University, conducted research at MIT, and earned his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is passionate about multidisciplinary engineering and leveraging space technology to solve fundamental human challenges.Follow Parth Trivedi on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parthtrivedi/ Find out more about Skylo Technologies here: https://www.skylo.tech/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Debjit Mukerji sits down with Ariyan Kabir, Co-Founder and CEO of GrayMatter Robotics, to explore the future of autonomous manufacturing and how to build manufacturing resilience. Based in Los Angeles, GrayMatter Robotics is pioneering generalised robotic intelligence designed to handle the 90% of manufacturing tasks that are still performed manually today.Key topics discussed:The Founding Journey: How a natural disaster in Bangladesh and a PhD at the University of Southern California (USC) led to Ariyan’s interest in bridging the gap between AI and the physical world. The Market Opportunity: Why robotics is a “medicine, not a vitamin” for global production and how solving the challenges presented by the projected 3.8 million unfilled manufacturing vacancies by 2033 is a multi-trillion global market opportunity. The Technical Challenge: Delivering "true AI-powered robotics" and overcoming challenges like real-time adaptation to complex materials and the intricate physics of sanding, painting, and finishing.The Human Element: Improving the quality of life for workers by removing them from tedious and hazardous work. Use case versatility: Addressing the rigorous demands of both commercial manufacturing and national security, including applications for fighter jets and submarines.Research to Reality: Insights into the transition from academic research to scaling a market leading startup including fundraising, teambuilding and product development. Chapters:00:00 Building the Foundation of Robotics02:48 The Journey from Research to Entrepreneurship06:01 Market Opportunities and Labor Shortages09:13 The Human Element in Manufacturing11:46 Technological Challenges in Robotics15:06 Data-Driven Robotics and AI18:11 The Future of Humanoids in Robotics31:33 Shifting Inefficiencies in Manufacturing32:31 The Evolution of Grammeter Robotics37:31 Navigating National Security and Defense41:40 The Power of Experience Centers52:47 Insights from the Founder JourneyJoin us for a deep dive into how GrayMatter Robotics is building manufacturing resilience and shaping the next generation of industrial automation.About the Host: Debjit Mukerji Debjit Mukerji is a Partner at NGP Capital, based in Palo Alto, California. A technologist at heart and engineer by training, Debjit partners with founders creating new categories or redefining existing ones with cutting-edge technology to help them navigate the complexities of global scaling. Follow Debjit Mukerji on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debjit-mukerji-8728a3/Follow Debjit Mukerji on X: https://x.com/debjitmukerji Find out more about NGP Capital here: https://www.ngpcap.com/About the Guest: Ariyan Kabir Ariyan Kabir is a Co-Founder & CEO at GrayMatter Robotics, a company focused on enhancing human productivity and improving the quality of life through AI-powered robotics solutions. He is a seasoned robotics and AI researcher with a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California and prior experience as a Postdoctoral Scholar and Research Associate. His expertise spans robotics, algorithms, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and control systems. He is passionate about making robots smart, easy to use, and rapidly deployable for complex operations.Follow Ariyan Kabir on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariyankabir Follow Ariyan Kabir on X: https://x.com/ariyankabir Find out more about GrayMatter Robotics here: https://graymatter-robotics.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske sits down with Hélène Huby, the co-founder and CEO of The Exploration Company. Founded in 2021, the company is on a mission to democratise access to space by developing Nyx, a reusable and in-orbit refillable cargo spacecraft designed to fly to any space station.Hélène shares her remarkable journey from serving as a top executive at Airbus and ArianeGroup—where she led the Orion European Service Module programme—to declining a promotion to start her own venture from scratch with just four people and €50,000. Now, with over €300 million raised and a team of 450, the company is positioned as the European answer to SpaceX and is the first European firm to sign a Space Act agreement with NASA. The conversation explores the strategic development of a global company with European roots, the vital importance of international collaboration, and the unique challenges of scaling a hardware powerhouse in the space industry.What you’ll learn in this episode:The Alternative to SpaceX: Why the global space industry requires competition and diversity beyond a single dominant player to ensure sovereignty and choice.Strategic Regional Excellence: How Hélène’s team leverages specific engineering strengths across Germany (avionics/software), France (re-entry/engines), and Italy (life support/mechanisms).From Corporate to Startup: The risks and mental shift involved in leaving an executive role at a global giant to "write space history" independently.The Power of Collaboration: Insights into the landmark NASA Space Act agreement and the vision for a universal vehicle that serves humanity globally.Hiring for Innovation: How to integrate the expertise of veterans from SpaceX and Airbus with the agile mindset of new talent to avoid recreating old corporate structures.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to DeepTech Unleashed and The Exploration Company01:13 The Vision Behind The Exploration Company04:28 Building a Global Company with European Roots10:28 Competing with SpaceX and the Need for Alternatives17:25 Cultivating a Unique Company Culture20:49 Navigating Regulation and Funding Challenges27:06 Best Practices for Space Startups30:20 The Role of ESA in Supporting Startups34:44 Leadership Style and Personal Insights40:02 Moments of Magic in the Journey42:47 Personal Life and Balancing WorkAbout the Guest: Hélène HubyHélène Huby is the co-founder and CEO of The Exploration Company. A former executive at Airbus and ArianeGroup, she led the Orion European Service Module programme and has been involved in some of the most complex European space programmes, including Ariane and ATV. Under her leadership, The Exploration Company has become one of the fastest-growing space firms in Europe, focused on developing reusable spacecraft that provide universal access to space.Follow Hélène on LinkedIn HEREFind out more about The Exploration Company at: exploration.spaceAbout the Host: Christian NoskeChristian Noske is a Partner at NGP Capital, where he focuses on industrial tech, enterprise software, and deep tech investments. With a wealth of experience in the venture capital landscape, Christian is dedicated to supporting founders who are solving complex technical challenges. Through DeepTech Unleashed, he brings listeners behind the scenes of the world’s most ambitious startups to uncover the human stories behind the hardware and code. Follow Christian Noske on LinkedIn HEREFind out more about NGP Capital at: ngpcap.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Debjit Mukerji sits down with Igor Marinelli, founder and CEO of Tractian. Tractian is a category leader in Physical AI, providing an end-to-end industrial monitoring platform that helps maintenance teams avoid unplanned downtime and operate with greater precision.Igor shares his vision for the future of physical AI and the playbook that has fueled Tractian’s rapid growth and its ability to solve critical “pain” for some of the world’s largest manufacturers.Episode Chapters:02:15 Introduction to DeepTech Unleashed04:33 Origin Story of Tractian08:05 Ignorance as an Innovation Advantage08:43 Decoding the Customer’s Pain—and not Product—Drives Sales12:46 Iterate and Focus for Killer Product Development16:52 Physical AI: Data and the Human Dimension22:24 Managing Data at Scale and the Physical Testing Edge33:04 A Zero-Complacency Culture and Setting Your Own Benchmarks37:55 The Ultrasound Revolution: SmartTrac UG241:59 Empower Great Product Ideas Decisively and Directly (No Layers)46:21 Sales Execution Is About Knowing How to Hire55:18 When Fundraising, Focus on People—not Terms1:01:28 With Great Capital Comes Great ResponsibilityAbout the Host: Debjit Mukerji: Debjit Mukerji is a Partner at NGP Capital, based in Palo Alto, California. A technologist at heart and engineer by training, Debjit partners with founders creating new categories or redefining existing ones with cutting-edge technology to help them navigate the complexities of global scaling. He has been a partner to Tractian since its seed round, supporting the company’s expansion across the US and international markets.Follow Debjit Mukerji https://www.linkedin.com/in/debjit-mukerji-9884502 Find out more about NGP Capital at ngpcap.comAbout the Guest: Igor Marinelli: Igor Marinelli is founder and CEO of Tractian. A mechanical engineer by training, Igor has a deep-rooted passion for the industrial sector, having witnessed the impact of machine failures firsthand through his father’s 35-year career in manufacturing. Under his leadership, Tractian has grown into a leading Physical AI company and one of North America’s fastest-growing tech companies, securing significant investment to help industrial enterprises digitalize their maintenance operations and eliminate unplanned downtime.Follow Igor Marinelli here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/igmarinelli Find out more about Tractian here: tractian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.