NewSpaceVision

He helped land a spacecraft on a comet. Now, he decides which space startups get funded.Koen Geurts went from operating one of ESA’s most iconic missions to becoming a Senior Investment Manager at HTGF - one of Germany’s most active early-stage investors.In this episode, we cover:What it’s really like to land on a comet (and bounce multiple times)The transition from space engineer to VCHow HTGF thinks about early-stage space investmentsWhere Europe is falling behind - and where it can winContrarian bets (like propulsion) vs overhyped ideas (like space data centers)Why government contracts are critical for scaling New Space companiesA rare inside look at both engineering and capital within the space ecosystem.Follow Koen & HTGF:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kgeurts?originalSubdomain=dehttps://www.linkedin.com/company/high-tech-gruenderfonds/https://www.htgf.de/en/venture-capital-investor-2/Follow NewSpaceVision:https://de.linkedin.com/company/newspacevisionhttps://twitter.com/newspacevisionhttps://www.instagram.com/newspacevision/https://www.facebook.com/newspacevision/https://www.meetup.com/de-DE/newspace/This podcast is sponsored by LiveEO. For more information on how Earth observation can help your company, contact:info@live-eo.compodcast@newspace.visionpodcast@live-eo.com

Lukas Werling, co-founder and CEO of ISPTech and former DLR propulsion lead, discusses spinning out from research to build non-toxic chemical thrusters for satellite mobility. He covers test-site culture and engine-testing risks. He compares chemical and electric propulsion, explains green propellants and modular thruster designs, and outlines scaling, funding, and Europe’s deep-tech landscape.

Filip Kocian, investor at Expansion focused on space, aerospace and defense, and author on space finance. He unpacks how capital builds European space sovereignty. He discusses what makes space startups investable, the divide between Europe and the US, dual-use defense dynamics, and where the next generation of winners will emerge.

What if you could take the temperature of the entire planet - accurately, continuously, and in high resolution?In this episode, we sit down with Max Gulde, co-founder & CEO of Constellr, whose team is launching a global thermal intelligence layer powered by microsatellites. Their goal: unlock new capabilities across agriculture, defense, urban planning, climate resilience, and beyond.Max shares the unfiltered story behind Constellr’s rise - from ISS payload fiascos and 14 failed grant applications, to two successful satellite launches and major governmental partnerships. Along the way, he breaks down why thermal is the most underrated data source in Earth observation, and why accuracy (not just resolution) is the real game-changer.We also dive into:🌡️ Why temperature is the only continuous environmental variable - and why that unlocks “interpolated” EO data🚀 How Constellr went from a Fraunhofer spin-off to a venture-backed space company🔭 The difference between thermal sensing and traditional optical/radar data🌍 Agriculture, defense, urban heat, industrial monitoring - and the markets thermal will reshape🛰️ What’s coming next: 10+ satellites, meter-level thermal, and a queryable digital twin of the planetMax’s stories are wild, insightful, and often hilarious - so don’t miss it.Follow Max & Constellr:https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-gulde-6563573/https://www.constellr.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/constellr/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxe1n8xrOopkNKsDQqxVnUQhttps://www.instagram.com/constellr__/Follow NewSpaceVision:https://de.linkedin.com/company/newspacevisionhttps://twitter.com/newspacevisionhttps://www.instagram.com/newspacevision/https://www.facebook.com/newspacevision/https://www.meetup.com/de-DE/newspace/This podcast is sponsored by LiveEO. For more information on how Earth observation can help your company, contact:info@live-eo.compodcast@newspace.visionpodcast@live-eo.com

What goes up must come down - but in Europe, nothing comes back from space. That’s the problem Sebastian Klaus, co-founder & CEO of Atmos Space Cargo, set out to solve.After a career that spanned aerospace engineering, special forces missions, and a commercial pilot’s license, Sebastian is now leading a team building reentry capsules with inflatable heat shields - a technology that sounds like sci-fi but is already flying.Atmos aims to return anything from orbit: biomedicine experiments, 3D-printed tissues, semiconductors, quantum materials , even strategic supplies. With a successful first flight under their belt, they’re positioning themselves as Europe’s answer to Dragon and Starship, but with a lighter, modular approach.In this episode, we cover:🛰️ Why Europe’s lack of reusable spacecraft is a strategic weakness🔥 How inflatable heat shields could reshape reentry tech🌍 Civil applications: biomedicine, semiconductors, materials made in orbit⚔️ Dual-use vision: from rapid relief to rapid defense💡 The future: daily launches, in-space industry, and orbital data centersMake sure to follow Sebastian, Atmos, and NewSpaceVision:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-klaus-b7676853/https://atmos-space-cargo.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/atmos-space-cargo/https://www.instagram.com/atmosspacecargo/?hl=enhttps://x.com/atmosspacecargo

Most satellites see the Earth in two dimensions. But what if we could measure not just the surface, but the height and volume of what covers it - forests, crops, even infrastructure? That’s the mission of KappaZeta, an Estonian startup building a 3D Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) constellation that could transform how we monitor our planet.In this episode, we sit down with Martin Jüssi, Space Mission Manager at KappaZeta, who takes us on a journey from tinkering with map editors in video games to leading a groundbreaking space mission. We unpack how KappaZeta is turning Europe’s Sentinel-1 satellites into a new kind of forest-monitoring powerhouse, why 3D data is the missing piece for carbon markets, and how Estonia built one of the most dynamic space ecosystems in Europe.We also dive into:🌲 How 3D SAR can track forest biomass, carbon stock, and timber resources🛰️ Why KappaZeta’s “passive satellites” are a cost-effective way to enhance Sentinel-1⚡ The dual-use potential: from forestry and agriculture to defense and disaster response🇪🇪 How Estonia went from Skype to space startups - and what’s next

Bogdan Gogulan, CEO of NewSpace Capital and former defense executive, dives into the challenges of investing in the space industry. He reveals how he transitioned from corporate finance to venture capital, expressing his surprise at the commercial potential of space, which he likens to telecom privatization. Bogdan emphasizes the 'valley of death' for growth-stage companies and shares his strategy to back category leaders. He also discusses the importance of technical expertise and the interplay between defense demand and sustainable commercial markets.

Check out what GLOBBLE looks like here: https://www.stellar.tc/pages/globbleThe future of mobility isn’t just electric—it’s connected. And as autonomous and software-defined vehicles take over the roads, seamless connectivity will be as essential as the engines themselves. But how do you ensure perfect, uninterrupted internet for cars, trucks, and trains moving across vastly different terrains? Enter Stellar, the startup building a bridge between terrestrial and satellite networks to keep vehicles online—everywhere.In this episode, we sit down with Damien Garot, CEO and co-founder of Stellar, who brings decades of experience from OneWeb, Eutelsat, and Thales Alenia Space (previously Alcatel). Damien breaks down why the car industry is now in an arms race for connectivity, how SpaceX's Starlink advantage is shaking up legacy automakers, and why space-based networks will be a game-changer for autonomous driving, fleet management, and beyond.We also explore:🚀 The real reason big telcos and automakers haven’t cracked vehicle connectivity yet🌍 Why Europe’s automotive giants are at risk of falling behind—and how space tech can help📡 How Stellar’s software stitches together 5G, Wi-Fi, and satellite into a seamless network💡 The rise of software-defined cars and why connectivity is becoming a competitive edgeDamien doesn’t just talk theory—he’s building the infrastructure that will reshape the automotive industry from the ground up.Follow Damien & Stellar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgarot/https://x.com/damiengarothttps://www.stellar.tc/https://www.linkedin.com/company/stellartc/Follow NewSpaceVision:https://de.linkedin.com/company/newspacevisionhttps://twitter.com/newspacevisionhttps://www.instagram.com/newspacevision/https://www.facebook.com/newspacevision/https://www.meetup.com/de-DE/newspace/This podcast is sponsored by LiveEO. For more information on how Earth observation can help your company, contact:info@live-eo.compodcast@newspace.visionpodcast@live-eo.com

Building a space company is hard - but doing so at 21 is just another level. Shoaib Iqbal started Esper Satellite Imagery while still in college, and in just a few years, he’s built one of the most capital-efficient hyperspectral satellite companies out there. In this episode, Shoaib joins us to share what it’s really like to start and scale a satellite business from scratch, talking about the surprising ways hyperspectral imaging is being used today and how Esper differentiates from competitors. Similar to our last guests, he also touches on what happened when their first satellite failed, as well as why cost efficiency is the real game-changer in this field. Follow Shoaib and Esper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shoaib-esper https://www.linkedin.com/company/esper-sats https://www.espersatellites.co Follow NewSpaceVision: https://de.linkedin.com/company/newspacevision https://twitter.com/newspacevision https://www.instagram.com/newspacevision/ https://www.facebook.com/newspacevision/ https://www.meetup.com/de-DE/newspace/ This podcast is sponsored by LiveEO. For more information on how Earth observation can help your company, contact: info@live-eo.com podcast@newspace.vision podcast@live-eo.com

In this insightful discussion, Hans Koenigsmann, former VP of Avionics and Reliability at SpaceX, shares his journey from his engineering roots in Germany to becoming a pivotal figure at SpaceX. He recounts the scrappy beginnings of the company, where innovation thrived amidst chaos. Topics include the critical role of reusability in space travel, managing risks, and the culture of open communication. Hans also reflects on Europe’s position in the changing landscape of the space industry, highlighting the need for urgency in developing reusable launchers.