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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