DeepTech Unleashed

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 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 Christian Noske sits down with Peter Leek, founder and chief scientific officer of Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC). OQC is a pioneer in the quantum space, having developed three generations of quantum computers that are currently deployed in data centres across the UK, Japan, Spain, and New York City.Peter shares his 20-year journey as a scientist and “dreamer” who turned complex physics research into a commercial reality. The conversation explores the technical breakthroughs that make OQC’s hardware unique, the challenges of navigating the intense “hype cycle” of quantum technology, and the company’s ambitious goal to enable the first useful quantum applications by the end of the decade through its new OQC TITAN system.The discussion dives deep into the philosophy of “bold innovation,” the engineering hurdles of 3D circuit integration, and the evolving leadership dynamics within a high-growth deep tech startup.What you’ll learn in this episode:The Scalability Breakthrough: How OQC uses a simple, innovative approach to 3D circuit integration to overcome the “wiring bottleneck” that limits traditional 2D quantum processors.Hype vs. Reality: Why quantum computing is both the most consequential and over-hyped technology of our time, and how to balance scientific excitement with pragmatic expectations.Bold Innovation: The importance of taking “calculated risks” on technical ideas that experts in the field might initially question.The Logical Era: What it means to move beyond experimental quantum systems into hardware purpose-built for real-world commercial impact.From Founder to CSO: Peter’s personal evolution from a career scientist to a founder, and the importance of building a leadership team with complementary skills.About the Guest: Peter LeekPeter Leek is the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC). A career scientist with over 20 years of experience in quantum computing research, Peter holds a PhD in physics and founded OQC to translate his unique intellectual property into world-changing technology. Under his scientific leadership, OQC has become a global leader in superconducting circuits, deploying scalable quantum systems to data centres and supercomputing centres worldwide.Follow Peter Leek HEREFind out more about Oxford Quantum Circuits at oxfordquantumcircuits.comAbout 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 Find out more about NGP Capital here: ngpcap.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske sits down with Theodor Nielsen, founder and CEO of NIL Technology (NILT). From a 2006 “school project” at the Technical University of Denmark to becoming a global leader in meta-optics, Theodor shares the raw, 19-year journey of building a company that achieved one of the largest European deep tech exits to date.Beyond the breakthrough nanostructures and flat optics, Theodor dives into the “softer side” of leadership. He reveals his framework for high-speed decision-making, how he manages the “constant companion” of CEO doubt by trusting his team, and why he focused on building a “real company” rather than an exit strategy.Key Takeaways:The 70/30 Decision Rule: Why 70% of decisions don’t actually matter—and why speed is more valuable than perfection for the majority of a CEO’s choices.Doubt as a Leadership Tool: How to distinguish between healthy “positive paranoia” and paralyzing doubt, and why sharing your insecurities with your team fosters a more powerful executional force.The “Lab to Fab” Strategy: The strategic pivot from being a technology provider to a manufacturing leader in meta-optics, and why NILT chose to build its own fabs.Building a “Real Company”: Why focusing on unique technology and real value naturally leads to successful acquisitions, even when you aren’t actively looking to sell.Moments of Magic: From the thrill of the first profitable budget to hitting the “impossible” 92% efficiency record for meta-lenses that proved their technology was ready for the world.Chapters: 00:00 – The Journey of NIL Technology: From University to Global Leader10:48 – Decision-Making in Deep Tech Leadership: Speed vs. Accuracy27:00 – Building Trust: Why it's important to trust your team with your doubt30:59 – Navigating the Exit: The story behind the landmark acquisition37:56 – Lessons on Owning Your Vision and Storyline41:15 – Moments of Magic: Breaking efficiency records in the lab45:01 – Future Tech: Climate Change, Health, and Space ExplorationAbout The Guest: Theodor Nielsen is the Founder and CEO of NIL Technology (NILT). A trained engineer from the Technical University of Denmark, he has spent nearly two decades pioneering nano-imprint lithography and meta-optics solutions that are now revolutionising 3D sensing, AR/VR displays, and consumer electronics.Find out more about NIL Technology HEREFollow Theodor Nielsen HERE About The Host:Christian 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 HERETo learn more about NGP Capital’s work with Deep Tech founders, visit ngpcap.com or follow us on LinkedIn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske sits down with Jonas Schneider, founder of Daedalus and one of Europe’s most visionary deep-tech builders. From being the first engineer at OpenAI to now spearheading Europe’s AI-powered manufacturing renaissance, Jonas shares an insider’s perspective on how software, robotics, and human craftsmanship will reshape the continent’s industrial backbone.Jonas unpacks why Europe’s strength in complex, high-precision industrial parts is both its biggest advantage and its biggest bottleneck — and how Daedalus is using AI-driven, asset-light factories to preserve artisan-level quality while massively scaling production. He explains why every high-end industrial part is “a mini-project”, why the real bottleneck is human cognitive load rather than machines, and how software can capture decades of tacit manufacturing knowledge before it’s lost.Together, Christian and Jonas explore:Europe’s unique opportunity to lead in high-complexity manufacturing, not mass productionThe clash — and fusion — between Silicon Valley’s “move fast” culture and German precision craftsmanshipWhy CNC shops often run at only 15–20% machine utilization, and how Daedalus is already doubling thatThe demographic time bomb threatening Europe’s industrial ecosystemHow AI co-pilots, automation, and integrated digital factories unlock new productivityWhat Europe still lacks to build globally dominant deep-tech companies — and how to fix itJonas’s take on AI hype vs. reality, and the long-term technologies he’s personally most excited aboutThis episode is a rare deep dive into the future of European industry from someone who helped build the future of AI.Chapters:00:00 The Challenge of Manufacturing Innovation06:03 Silicon Valley vs. Traditional Manufacturing11:58 The Concept of Asset-Light Manufacturing18:11 Software's Role in Modern Manufacturing23:59 Building Resilience in European Manufacturing27:31 The Hidden Champions of European Manufacturing30:51 Navigating the European Industrial Ecosystem34:28 Bridging the Gap: Risk Appetite in Europe36:41 Integrating Blue Collar and White Collar Workers42:05 Moments of Magic in Innovation48:01 AI: Hype vs. Usefulness51:20 Future Technologies: Dreams of TomorrowFind out more about Daedalus here: www.daedalus.de Follow Jonas Schneider here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonas-schneider  Find out more about NGP Capital here: www.ngpcap.com Follow Christian Noske here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-noske   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How is AI Revolutionising Workplace Safety? We talk to Ciarán O'Mara, CTPO and co-founder of Protex AI, a platform which aims to shift safety from a reactive to a proactive approach using computer vision and machine learning. Ciarán highlights the technical challenges of implementing AI in industrial settings, the importance of building a diverse technical team, and the evolving perceptions of AI in the workplace. He also reflects on the cultural dynamics of hiring in Ireland and the US, and shares success stories that demonstrate the impact of Protex's technology in reducing safety incidents.Topics includeHow Protex AI aims to shift safety from reactive to proactive.Using computer vision to monitor unsafe behaviours.Building AI for industrial clients presents unique challenges.Cultural dynamics play a significant role in hiring and team building.How AI can augment human roles rather than replace them.How Protex AI has reduced safety incidents by 62% within 90 days.How the perception of AI is evolving positively in the workplace.Why a diverse technical team is essential for innovation.The future of AI in industry is promising and full of opportunities.Success stories highlight the real-world impact of technology. Chapters00:00 The Human Element in AI and Safety02:30 Protex AI: Origin and Mission04:37 Innovative Safety Solutions through Technology06:50 Technical Challenges in AI for Industry10:12 The Evolution of Computer Vision12:34 Future of AI in Safety and Operations15:06 Building a Diverse Technical Team17:01 Changing Perceptions of AI in the Workplace19:35 Augmenting Human Roles with AI22:07 Protex AI vs. Traditional Safety Oversight24:16 Cultural Dynamics in Hiring and Team Building29:24 Navigating US Market Challenges30:57 Moments of Magic: Success Stories37:11 The Future of AI in Industry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske speaks with Jan Goetz, CEO and co-founder of IQM, a Finnish company at the cutting edge of the global quantum revolution about the uncertainty principles of deep tech entrepreneurship, building trust with different audiences, and the current state of the quantum industry. Topics covered include: Adopting a founders’ mentality to living with uncertaintyThe current state of possibility in the quantum industry in Europe compared to the US and ChinaThe certainty of how high-potential new tech will always develop in unexpected directions Why ‘sexy ideas’ aren’t enough Why superconducting will be the ‘winning tech’ in quantum‘Creating facts’ through repeating patterns of delivery How changing your language, not your story builds trust across different audiencesHow IQM’s Nordic culture affects how they do business Why Jan rejects the ‘we’ll let you know when it’s ready’ approach to deliveryJan’s prediction for the most exciting technology of the next 10 years Chapters00:00 Navigating Uncertainty in Deep Tech Entrepreneurship09:59 The Current State of the Quantum Industry 19:52 Team Building, Communication & Company Culture29:53 The Future of Quantum and Other Technologies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed (recorded in late 2024), host Christian Noske speaks with Marta Sjögren, co-CEO and co-founder of Paebbl, a deep tech startup focused on turning CO2 into solid, sustainable building materials, about building a world-class team and growth hacking for deep tech startups. Topics covered include:Marta's filters for evaluating climate tech opportunitiesThe ‘humbling experience’ of transitioning from investor to operatorAligning expectations between operators and VCsCreating honest board dynamics How Marta’s hub building model allows for talent optimizationHiring for a growth mindset Testing for culture fit to reduce mismatches in hiringDeep tech growth hacking strategies Chapters00:00 Introduction to Deep Tech Unleashed01:13 Building a World-Class Team02:12 Marta's Journey to Founding Paebbl05:54 Filters for Climate Tech Investment10:11 Transitioning from Investor to Operator13:59 Expectations Between Operators and VCs18:09 Hub Building in Europe21:56 Hiring for Hub Culture26:12 Cultural Cohesion in Diverse Teams32:23 Building Team Culture and Communication44:06 Growth Hacking in Deep Tech50:44 Personal Recharge and Family Support53:34 Moments of Magic in Leadership01:00:07 Future Technologies and Climate Solutions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske talks to Péter Fankhauser, Co-Founder and CEO of ANYbotics about an area of founder life that is as vital as it is challenging: enterprise sales.Founded in 2016, Péter and his fellow founders have turned ANYbotics into a spectacular European DeepTech success story. Trusted by hundreds of industry leaders and recognised as the Next Global Hot Thing at the Digital Economy Awards 2023, ANYbotics connects the physical and digital worlds by teaming up humans and autonomous robots.Topics covered include:How AI is revolutionizing the field of roboticsUnderstanding customer needs on an individual level even when dealing with large companiesShifting from a research to a customer focusWhen to start sellingEnjoying the journey and ‘falling in love with the problem’The importance of storytellingRecognizing the right moment for scalingMagic moments from across Peter’s DeepTech journeyChapters00:00 Introduction to DeepTech Unleashed02:07 The Journey of ANYbotics05:54 AI and Robotics: A Paradigm Shift09:50 Challenges in Enterprise Sales14:07 Building Relationships in B2B Sales17:54 The Importance of Storytelling22:14 Customer-Centric Approach in Robotics26:00 Balancing Life as a Deep Tech Founder29:47 Moments of Magic in the Journey34:05 Future of Robotics and AI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.