Rockets & Radars

Proven strategies from space & defence founders who went from zero to millions

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

"'We don't have any other choice - we HAVE to build data centers in space.' This conversation got intense fast." New episode is live! 🎙️

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

Ex-Goldman Sachs trader had a CRAZY idea after visiting SpaceX's Starbase: "What if we built data centers in SPACE?". Now he and his co-founders have raised $20M+ to actually do it. This is the story of @philipjohnston from @Starcloud_Inc1

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

Ex-Space Researcher from DLR sold his motorbike to start his STARTUP, raised millions in under a year, yet you've probably never heard his name🎙️New episode is live!

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

Ex-Space Researcher from DLR sold his motorbike to launch a SPACE STARTUP, then raised MILLIONS in under a year, yet you've probably never heard his name. This is the story of Lukas from ISPTech.

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

Ex-military figured out how to build Europe's FedEx of space from prototype to flight under 12 months. New pod is up and running!

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

Ex-military figured out how to build Europe's FedEx of space from prototype to flight under 12 months. Investors already BET €10M+ on him, yet you've probably never heard his name. This is the story of Sebastian Klaus from @AtmosSpaceCargo

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

One of the most important conversations in European defence tech right now. Ex-Amazon manager who left corporate world to build Europe's biggest robot factory.

New episode is live!🎙️

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

Ex-Amazon manager left corporate world to BUILD EUROPE'S FUTURE DEFENCETECH UNICORN. In 3 years he raised €40M+ and built Europe's biggest robot factory, yet you've probably never heard his name. This is the story of Stefan Roebel from ARX Robotics..

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

This 21-year-old wanted to mine ASTEROIDS. Everyone said it's crazy. Yet he already got selected to send his robots to the MOON. Crazy story you have probably never heard of. New episode is live!

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

Others saw floating ROCKS in space. This Scottish student saw £20 TRILLION worth of ASTEROIDS. Mitch Hunter-Scullion started Europe's first ASTEROID MINING company at 21. Now his robots are heading to the MOON. That's the story of @spaceminingcorp

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

This founder wanted to repair $300M satellites 36,000 KM from Earth. Everyone said IMPOSSIBLE. Yet he already raised tens of millions to do exactly that. Crazy story you have probably never heard of.

New episode is live!🎙️

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

Repairing $300M satellites 36,000 KM from Earth? Everyone said IMPOSSIBLE. Yet Adel raised TENS OF MILLIONS to do exactly that and you probably haven't heard about him yet. This is the story of @Infinite_Orbits

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

One of the most important conversations in European defence tech right now.

Ex-SPECIAL FORCES operator turned founder refused to accept broken military training and now his tech trains 10,000+ NATO soldiers.

New episode is live! 🎙️

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

Ex-SPECIAL FORCES operator turned defencetech founder refused to accept broken military training that could get soldiers killed. Now 10,000+ NATO soldiers train with his tech. This is the story of Kenneth and BlinkTroll.

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

This Ex-FIREFIGHTER started his space startup as a university student, yet ended up with €70M+ in funding and satellites saving forests globally. Crazy story you have probably never heard of. New episode is live!🎙️

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

Ex-FIREFIGHTER turned SPACE entrepreneur built satellites to save forests from BURNING. Raised €70M+ and launched multiple satellites, yet most people don't know his name. This is the story of Thomas Grübler from @OroraTech

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

One of the most inspiring founder stories in European space right now.

18 years at DLR/ESA, then built a space startup ALONE and landed ARAMCO as investor.

New episode is live! 🎙️

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

18 years at DLR, ESA, SES. Started his space startup as a SOLO FOUNDER. Landed €30M+ in funding and ARAMCO as both CUSTOMER and INVESTOR, yet you've probably never heard his name. This is the story of Omar Qaise of @OQTEC

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

YES, Europeans can build WORLD-CLASS defence tech!

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

European engineer asked "Can I work on this in my SPARE TIME?" Now his tech DETECTS DRONES 10KM away and protects Ukrainian lives. This is the remarkable story of @danhermansen

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

Europeans SHOULD dream again.
This story proves WE CAN.

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

Will i am doing concert from the EDGE OF SPACE? This European founder almost made it happen. That's the story of @jmlu77

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

Europeans CAN build moonshots. This story proves it 🇫🇷🇪🇺If you're tired of hearing Europe can't compete in deep tech, this conversation will change your mind.

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

they call him "Europe's Elon Musk", a college DROPOUT who built a €100M rocket company with ZERO engineering background. This is the story of @stan_maximin

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

Europe can also do things 🇪🇺
New pod is up!

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

SPANISH UNDERDOGS: 3 broke PhDs students beat MIT with their tech and built a €10M space startup in a garage from nothing. This is a story of @ienaispace

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

One of the most interesting stories in European space tech right now. New episode is live! 🎙️

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

From NASA intern to €65 MILLION space exit. In LITHUANIA. Yet you've probably never heard his name. This is the story of @VytenisBuzas

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

He built a rocket engine NASA & Lockheed Martin ABANDONED. Today, he and his team raised €23 MILLION to make it the 'Rolls-Royce of Space'. New episode is live! 🎙️

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

He built a rocket engine NASA walked away from. Now, he’s raised €23M to turn it into the Rolls-Royce of Space. That's the story of Adrià & @PangeaAerospace

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

This Ex-OHB Engineer started his startup at a weekend hackathon, yet ended up with a $20M exit years later. Crazy story you have probably never heard of.

New episode is live! 🎙️

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

AIRBUS told him 'NOBODY needs this.' Then became his FIRST major customer. Years later, Marco Witzmann exited for $20 MILLION. This is the story of @vali_space

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

One of the most important conversations in European defence tech right now.

Ex-Apple Engineer who moved out of Silicon Valley to Defend Europe.

New episode is live! 🎙️

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

Ex-APPLE engineer moved out of Silicon Valley to DEFEND Europe. Investors already BET MILLIONS on him, yet you've probably never heard his name. This is the story of @DimitriosKottas

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

New episode is live! 🎙️

People from NASA told him to 'STOP IMMEDIATELY' and start from zero. Today, Luca Rossettini's company is valued at half a BILLION dollars.

That's the story of D-Orbit.

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

"NASA told him "STOP IMMEDIATELY". ESA said "go BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL". Today, Luca Rossettini's company is valued at half a BILLION dollars."

Another @rocketsradars EP is up!

Timestamps:
(00:00) - Introduction to D-Orbit and space logistics
(01:35) - What is D-Orbit: Space taxi
(02:53) - From wanting to be an astronaut to space founder
(05:16) - The accident that got Luca to Silicon Valley
(06:47) - Silicon Valley reality: Investor walks out of meeting
(09:12) - Early struggles: 4:30 AM breakfasts and rebuilding the business plan
(11:33) - NASA internship: Working alongside the future Planet Labs founders
(15:18) - First funding: €300K for 44% - "Buying a lottery ticket"
(18:33) - Creating a new market: "Like selling pens to people using pencils"
(20:23) - Founding team story: How Renato arrived just in time for the pitch
(26:29) - First prototype: Using €300K to build the decommissioning device
(30:52) - Team sacrifice: Employees buying parts with their own money
(33:37) - Hiring philosophy: Testing candidates outside their comfort zone
(40:54) - European vs. US investors: Different approaches to fundraising
(46:39) - Public funding tradeoffs: Speed vs. dilution challenges
(52:34) - First commercial contract: Strategic discount for Planet Labs
(56:09) - The failed SPAC deal: Dodging a bullet when markets crashed
(01:04:05) - Future vision: Orbital manufacturing and space recycling
(01:09:36) - Ultimate advice: "Think big - you want to change the universe"

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

Another episode is up! If you want to know how to get your first customer with only Powerpoint slides, this is the right one for you.

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

Secured first customer with only PowerPoint and $8M funding as a first-time founder. That’s @GlintSolar's story. Another @rocketsradars EP is here!

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro & Glint Solar Overview
01:50 Journey Before Founding
04:07 Finding Co-Founders at Antler
05:25 Founder Alignment & Values
07:23 Satellite Data for Solar
09:36 Space Accelerators
11:23 First Funding & Frugality
15:23 Sell First, Build Second
20:46 Solving Customer Problems
22:31 Close Customer Ties
24:01 Rejection & Grit
27:56 First Customers
30:46 Product & Pricing Evolution
35:36 Early Hires
41:40 Pricing Experiments
45:31 Pitch Evolution
49:14 Global Team
53:32 Future & Quick Fire
57:42 Work-Life Balance

[Rockets & Radars @rocketsradars]

Another episode is up! If you want to know how to land £30m in funding, this is the right one for you.

[Martin Majercin @monsfrost]

Anthony Baker spent decades in the space industry before starting his own startup @satellitevu which raised £30m. I asked him how he did it...