In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske talks to Benoit Lemaignan, a key player in Europe’s battery industry who, as CEO and Co-Founder of @Verkor, has raised €2bn to support Verkor’s mission to fast-track low‑carbon battery production. Their discussion centres on the two critical yet contrasting phases every founder must face, crisis and expansion, through the prism of the battery industry. 

Topics include: 

The importance of European strategic autonomy 

The investments Europe needs to make in fusion and hydrogen 

Why Benoit is excited about SMRs and decarbonisation 

What Europe has ‘forgotten’ about manufacturing in the age of outsourcing

The European mindset v the US mindset 

The role of management boards in crisis spotting 

Managing risk through doing things ‘one step at a time’ 

Revisiting traditional concepts of risk 

The urge to push during an expansion phase 

Changing speed during expansion can be as difficult as managing a crisis 

The vision skill set vs the execution skill set

How humility and letting go are important to both phases

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Expansion and Crisis in Startups

02:39 The Vision Behind Vercor

05:42 The Importance of Electrification and Decarbonization

08:58 The European Startup Mindset and Innovation

12:15 Governance and Execution in New Ventures

14:50 Balancing Expansion and Crisis Management

18:49 The Role of Leadership in Crisis and Growth

23:32 Risk Management and Strategic Planning

27:24 Recruitment Challenges and Team Dynamics

30:34 The Rewards of Overcoming Challenges

34:53 Future Trends in Battery Technology and Decarbonization

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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 uncertainty

The current state of possibility in the quantum industry in Europe compared to the US and China

The 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 audiences

How IQM’s Nordic culture affects how they do business 

Why Jan rejects the ‘we’ll let you know when it’s ready’ approach to delivery

Jan’s prediction for the most exciting technology of the next 10 years 

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Uncertainty in Deep Tech Entrepreneurship

09:59 The Current State of the Quantum Industry 

19:52 Team Building, Communication & Company Culture

29:53 The Future of Quantum and Other Technologies

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In this episode of Deep Tech Unleashed, host Christian Noske speaks with Philipp Roesch-Schlanderer, CEO and founder of eGym, a company bringing health and fitness into the digital age about one of the biggest questions deep tech founders face: choosing a business model that delivers real, long-term value to customers and investors. 

Topics covered include: 

What the ‘rock star’ companies of the future will look like 

Why AI makes hardware more important than ever 

Hardware as your ‘moat’ and key to defensibility, even if it isn’t the majority of your revenue

Operational rigor and the dangers of being overly fluid just because you’re growing fast

The real meaning of ‘efficiency’ and ‘accountability’ 

How to know when when you’re creating value rather than just making money

When to work in parallel and when to work sequentially 

Why ‘no’ doesn’t necessarily mean you’re wrong, it might just mean you’re talking to the wrong people

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Deep Tech Unleashed

01:00 The Vision Behind eGym

06:12 Hardware vs. Software: eGym's Approach

10:49 Navigating Complexity in Deep Tech

14:03 Business Models and Value Creation

21:59 Operational Resilience and Investor Relations

28:02 The Importance of Focus in Growth

35:51 AI and the Future of Deep Tech

47:13 Looking Ahead: The Future of Deep Tech

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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 opportunities

The ‘humbling experience’ of transitioning from investor to operator

Aligning expectations between operators and VCs

Creating honest board dynamics 

How Marta’s hub building model allows for talent optimization

Hiring for a growth mindset 

Testing for culture fit to reduce mismatches in hiring

Deep tech growth hacking strategies 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Deep Tech Unleashed

01:13 Building a World-Class Team

02:12 Marta's Journey to Founding Paebbl

05:54 Filters for Climate Tech Investment

10:11 Transitioning from Investor to Operator

13:59 Expectations Between Operators and VCs

18:09 Hub Building in Europe

21:56 Hiring for Hub Culture

26:12 Cultural Cohesion in Diverse Teams

32:23 Building Team Culture and Communication

44:06 Growth Hacking in Deep Tech

50:44 Personal Recharge and Family Support

53:34 Moments of Magic in Leadership

01:00:07 Future Technologies and Climate Solutions

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In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske speaks with Cyrille Kabbara, CEO and founder of Shark Robotics, about building successful partnerships between Deep Tech startups and governments/public bodies.

Topics covered include:

Cyrille’s unique journey from military intelligence to founding a robotics company focused on saving lives

The ‘Chess game’ of selling to governments

Transitioning from being project-based to product-driven

The importance of thinking in terms of Op Ex v Cap Ex

Overcoming the cultural differences between startups and governments

Magic moments from Cyrille’s Deep Tech journey

The potential of AI to revolutionise robotics

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Deep Tech and Shark Robotics

02:12 Cyril's Unique Background and Journey

05:22 The Evolution of Shark Robotics

11:44 The Role of Robotics in Firefighting

13:38 Selling to Governments: Challenges and Strategies

20:14 Navigating the Public Sector Sales Process

23:30 Future Innovations in Robotics

29:21 Personal Insights and Moments of Magic

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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 robotics

Understanding customer needs on an individual level even when dealing with large companies

Shifting from a research to a customer focus

When to start selling

Enjoying the journey and ‘falling in love with the problem’

The importance of storytelling

Recognizing the right moment for scaling

Magic moments from across Peter’s DeepTech journey

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to DeepTech Unleashed

02:07 The Journey of ANYbotics

05:54 AI and Robotics: A Paradigm Shift

09:50 Challenges in Enterprise Sales

14:07 Building Relationships in B2B Sales

17:54 The Importance of Storytelling

22:14 Customer-Centric Approach in Robotics

26:00 Balancing Life as a Deep Tech Founder

29:47 Moments of Magic in the Journey

34:05 Future of Robotics and AI

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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.

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.

00:00 Introduction to Pulsar-0 and Market Opportunity

02:57 Brian Manning's Journey to Entrepreneurship

05:57 Inspiration from SpaceX and the Apollo Era

09:04 The Transition from Automotive to Space Tech

11:52 Identifying the Gaps in GPS Technology

14:47 Commercial vs. Defense Applications of Navigation Systems

17:47 Overcoming Investor Skepticism

21:12 Parallel Validation of Technology and Market Needs

24:06 Building a Strong Founding Team

27:24 The Early Struggles of Fundraising

34:05 The Launch of Pulsar-0 and Its Impact

37:02 Transitioning from Technology Developer to Service Provider

39:50 Future Use Cases and Consumer Impact

46:05 Reflections and Advice for Entrepreneurs

Upal 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 

Brian 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/ 

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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 Togher

01:22 Lios’s Mission and SoundBounce Technology

05:04 Origin Story: From High School Project to Business

11:50 Building the Team and Scaling

14:23 Managing Funding and Capital Efficiency

18:56 Navigating Early Investor and Supplier Challenges

23:04 The Power of the Co-Founder Relationship

26:11 Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Deep Tech

31:13 Best Practices for Entering Risk-Averse Industries

34:35 Moments of Magic and Recognition

39:24 Personal Insights and Life Outside of Work

About the Guest: Rhona Togher

Rhona 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 Noske

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 here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-noske/

Find out more about NGP Capital here: https://www.ngpcap.com/

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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 production

The clash — and fusion — between Silicon Valley’s “move fast” culture and German precision craftsmanship

Why CNC shops often run at only 15–20% machine utilization, and how Daedalus is already doubling that

The demographic time bomb threatening Europe’s industrial ecosystem

How AI co-pilots, automation, and integrated digital factories unlock new productivity

What Europe still lacks to build globally dominant deep-tech companies — and how to fix it

Jonas’s take on AI hype vs. reality, and the long-term technologies he’s personally most excited about

This 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 Innovation

06:03 Silicon Valley vs. Traditional Manufacturing

11:58 The Concept of Asset-Light Manufacturing

18:11 Software's Role in Modern Manufacturing

23:59 Building Resilience in European Manufacturing

27:31 The Hidden Champions of European Manufacturing

30:51 Navigating the European Industrial Ecosystem

34:28 Bridging the Gap: Risk Appetite in Europe

36:41 Integrating Blue Collar and White Collar Workers

42:05 Moments of Magic in Innovation

48:01 AI: Hype vs. Usefulness

51:20 Future Technologies: Dreams of Tomorrow

Find 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  

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In this episode of Deep Tech Unleashed, host Christian Noske speaks with Sven Przywarra, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of LiveEO, a pioneering earth observation company. They discuss the journey of LiveEO from its humble beginnings with just 200 euros to becoming a leader in satellite data analytics. Sven shares insights on the potential of satellite data, the importance of understanding customer needs, and the challenges of scaling in conservative industries. The conversation also touches on the future of satellite technology, the value of data, and the unique approach LiveEO takes in the market.

Topics include:

The simple observation on which LiveEO was founded and the journey from starting with €200 in their bank account to becoming an industry leader 

How rockets may get all the attention but they are chiefly a delivery mechanism for satellites

How Hollywood has done a great job introducing satellites to public consciousness but overhyped what they can currently do 

How earth observation has the potential to change every industry on the planet 

What a Trump tweet revealed about the relative capabilities of government and commercial satellites 

That refining the raw material of data can be more profitable than collecting it and Sven’s 3 steps for creating value out of data 

How the role of AI in refining data is often misunderstood

Chapters:

00:00 The Rise of Satellite Data in Various Industries

02:20 Founding LiveEO: A Journey from Idea to Reality

03:52 Understanding Satellite Data: Types and Applications

06:40 The Evolution of Satellite Data and Its Ecosystem

12:05 Scaling Operations: Merging Satellite and Drone Data

14:26 Navigating Conservative Industries: Challenges and Strategies

18:56 Future Opportunities: Expanding the Reach of Satellite Data

20:13 Building a Global Team: Challenges and Insights

23:03 Cultural Differences in Team Dynamics

25:14 The Unique Approach of LiveEO in the Space Tech Industry

30:08 The Value of Data: Understanding Customer Needs

37:30 Looking Ahead: The Impact of Starship on Satellite Data

39:58 Moments of Magic: Celebrating Milestones in the Journey

42:50 Future Visions: The Excitement of Room Temperature Superconductivity

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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 include

How 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. 

Chapters

00:00 The Human Element in AI and Safety

02:30 Protex AI: Origin and Mission

04:37 Innovative Safety Solutions through Technology

06:50 Technical Challenges in AI for Industry

10:12 The Evolution of Computer Vision

12:34 Future of AI in Safety and Operations

15:06 Building a Diverse Technical Team

17:01 Changing Perceptions of AI in the Workplace

19:35 Augmenting Human Roles with AI

22:07 Protex AI vs. Traditional Safety Oversight

24:16 Cultural Dynamics in Hiring and Team Building

29:24 Navigating US Market Challenges

30:57 Moments of Magic: Success Stories

37:11 The Future of AI in Industry

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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 Approach

03:02 The Journey of a Deep Tech Founder

05:47 The Genesis of Skylo Technologies

09:10 Impactful Use Cases and Real-World Applications

11:52 User Experience as a Differentiator

14:47 The Future of Satellite and Cellular Convergence

26:46 Technical Challenges in Satellite Communication

29:10 Skylo's Unique Positioning and Ecosystem

32:06 The Future of Connectivity in the AI Era

36:29 Investment Insights and Market Opportunities

37:36 Navigating Competition in Space Tech

42:45 Building a Resilient Team and Company Culture

52:21 Future Roadmap for Skylo

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: Parth Trivedi

Parth 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/

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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 Robotics

02:48 The Journey from Research to Entrepreneurship

06:01 Market Opportunities and Labor Shortages

09:13 The Human Element in Manufacturing

11:46 Technological Challenges in Robotics

15:06 Data-Driven Robotics and AI

18:11 The Future of Humanoids in Robotics

31:33 Shifting Inefficiencies in Manufacturing

32:31 The Evolution of Grammeter Robotics

37:31 Navigating National Security and Defense

41:40 The Power of Experience Centers

52:47 Insights from the Founder Journey

Join 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/ 

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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 Company

01:13 The Vision Behind The Exploration Company

04:28 Building a Global Company with European Roots

10:28 Competing with SpaceX and the Need for Alternatives

17:25 Cultivating a Unique Company Culture

20:49 Navigating Regulation and Funding Challenges

27:06 Best Practices for Space Startups

30:20 The Role of ESA in Supporting Startups

34:44 Leadership Style and Personal Insights

40:02 Moments of Magic in the Journey

42:47 Personal Life and Balancing Work

About the Guest: Hélène Huby

Hélène 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 HERE

Find out more about The Exploration Company at: exploration.space

About the Host: Christian Noske

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 on LinkedIn HERE

Find 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 Unleashed

04:33 Origin Story of Tractian

08:05 Ignorance as an Innovation Advantage

08:43 Decoding the Customer’s Pain—and not Product—Drives Sales

12:46 Iterate and Focus for Killer Product Development

16:52 Physical AI: Data and the Human Dimension

22:24 Managing Data at Scale and the Physical Testing Edge

33:04 A Zero-Complacency Culture and Setting Your Own Benchmarks

37:55 The Ultrasound Revolution: SmartTrac UG2

41:59 Empower Great Product Ideas Decisively and Directly (No Layers)

46:21 Sales Execution Is About Knowing How to Hire

55:18 When Fundraising, Focus on People—not Terms

1:01:28 With Great Capital Comes Great Responsibility

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. 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.com

About 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.

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 Leek

Peter 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 HERE

Find out more about Oxford Quantum Circuits at oxfordquantumcircuits.com

About the Host: Christian Noske

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 HERE

Find out more about NGP Capital here: ngpcap.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Title: Revolutionising Semiconductor Metrology with Hamed Sadeghian  

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske sits down with Hamed Sadeghian, the co-founder and CEO of Nearfield Instruments. Based in the Netherlands, Nearfield is a semiconductor metrology powerhouse that is solving one of the industry’s most critical bottlenecks: the ability to inspect microchips at the atomic scale without destroying them.

Hamed shares his unique journey, from founding his first company at age 19 in Iran to leading Nearfield through a massive €135 million Series C round in 2024 to meet the global demand for AI-ready chips. The conversation dives deep into the “reverse origin story” of a technical founder, the philosophy of “customer obsession”, and the reality of scaling a complex hardware startup in a conservative, consolidated industry.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The Metrology Gap: How Nearfield identified a critical need in the industry as Moore’s Law pushed chips to the atomic scale.

• Customer Obsession: Why deep tech success depends on solving a customer’s specific “pain” rather than just promoting great technology.

• Building an Ecosystem: How a small startup can play with industry “gorillas” by leveraging a high-tech supply chain and strategic partnerships.

• Scaling Challenges: Navigating the transition from CTO to CEO and building a global team that takes end-to-end ownership.

• Future Trends: Hamed’s excitement for the transition towards quantum innovations and hybrid silicon-photonics solutions.

Memorable Moments:

• The First “Aha!” Moment: A chief engineer seeing data from a proof-of-concept that no other tool could provide.

• The COVID Sacrifice: Shipping the first systems in the middle of a global pandemic, with engineers spending weeks in quarantine to ensure customer delivery.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction to Nearfield Instruments and Hamed’s Journey

02:49 – The Evolution of Semiconductor Metrology

05:43 – Challenges in the Semiconductor Industry

08:46 – Building a Startup in a Consolidated Market

11:56 – Leveraging Ecosystems for Growth

14:29 – Customer Obsession and Team Dynamics

17:36 – Navigating the Transition from CTO to CEO

19:59 – Moments of Magic in the Journey

22:55 – Future Trends in Technology: Quantum and Beyond

About the Guest: Hamed Sadeghian

Hamed Sadeghian is the co-founder and CEO of Nearfield Instruments. A prolific innovator with over 60 patents, Hamed has built a career at the intersection of precision engineering, optics, and advanced semiconductor equipment. Before founding Nearfield in 2016 as a spin-off from TNO, he led the nano-optomechatronics group at TNO and held a professorship at Eindhoven University of Technology. His entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 19 in Iran, and today he is recognised as a leader in developing atomic-scale process control solutions for the worldwide semiconductor manufacturing industry.

Follow Hamed Sadeghian HERE

Find out more about Nearfield Instruments at nearfieldinstruments.com

About the Host: Christian Noske

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 HERE

Find 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 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 Leader

10:48 – Decision-Making in Deep Tech Leadership: Speed vs. Accuracy

27:00 – Building Trust: Why it's important to trust your team with your doubt

30:59 – Navigating the Exit: The story behind the landmark acquisition

37:56 – Lessons on Owning Your Vision and Storyline

41:15 – Moments of Magic: Breaking efficiency records in the lab

45:01 – Future Tech: Climate Change, Health, and Space Exploration

About 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 HERE

Follow 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 HERE

To 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.

This episode of DeepTech Unleashed, hosted by Christian Noske, Partner at NGP Capital, explores the “new age of nuclear innovation” with Antoine Guyot, co-founder and CEO of Jimmy, a French company that designs and operates micro-nuclear reactors to provide industrial clients with decarbonized process heat at a lower cost than fossil fuels.

While Germany has historically been skeptical of nuclear energy, France is leading a shift toward a new generation of decentralised, micro-nuclear reactors. Antoine shares how Jimmy is decarbonising industrial process heat—a massive, often overlooked source of emissions—by designing and operating micro-reactors that provide low-cost, carbon-free energy directly to industrial sites.

Key topics discussed in this episode include:

The Nuclear Stigma: Why moving toward nuclear systems requires a “jump of faith” for a society that often only sees nuclear through the lens of cinema.

Decarbonising Industry: The challenge of replacing fossil fuels in industrial heating, which Jimmy addresses by providing carbon-free heat at a lower cost than traditional methods.

Nuclear as a Product: Jimmy’s innovative approach to making nuclear technology “simpler” and more accessible for industrial clients by treating it as a standard industrial tool rather than a massive infrastructure project.

Overcoming Deep Tech Challenges: Insights into the “moments of magic” and the hard-won breakthroughs necessary to scale a high-stakes energy startup.

The Future of Engineering: Why Antoine believes the fusion of nuclear physics and artificial intelligence will define the next decade of engineering breakthroughs.

Chapters: 

00:00 The Dawn of Nuclear Innovation

09:54 Navigating Regulatory Challenges

20:05 Market Dynamics and Opportunities

30:14 Building Trust and Education

39:58 The Future of Nuclear and Beyond

About the Guest:

Antoine Guyot is the co-founder and CEO of Jimmy, a French company at the forefront of the new nuclear era. Backed by over €32 million in French government grants and €20 million in VC investment, Jimmy is proving that micro-reactors are a vital tool for achieving a decarbonised future.

Antoine graduated from Ecole Polytechnique, the top engineering school in France. After working in strategic consulting, he became interested in the nuclear field, particularly in how cheap uranium could help decarbonise industrial heat, which is mostly generated using fossil fuels. Jimmy’s mission is to provide industrials with cheap, decarbonised process heat, thus massively helping to decarbonise industries in France and Europe.

About the Host:

Christian Noske is a Partner at NGP Capital, specialising in Deep Tech investments that shape a better future.

To 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.