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The Techne Connect
Bryan Mabry, Partner at New North Ventures
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Bryan Mabry, Partner at New North Ventures, joins Behind the Capital to discuss his journey from the U.S. intelligence community and government service into venture capital. Drawing on experience as both an operator and investor, Bryan explains how New North backs early-stage dual-use technologies and why supporting founders goes far beyond simply writing a cheque.
The conversation explores emerging opportunities across autonomy, defence technology, space infrastructure and critical enabling technologies. Bryan also shares practical fundraising advice for technical founders, covering everything from cap table management and team building to common fundraising mistakes and what investors are really looking for when evaluating early-stage companies.
The Techne Connect Podcast 🎧
Thank you for listening to Techne Connect! This podcast takes you inside the companies and conversations shaping the future of engineering.
From space and defence to robotics, AI, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and next-generation mobility, each episode features the founders, engineers and technology leaders building tomorrow's world.
Through candid discussions on innovation, leadership, product development and career journeys, the podcast uncovers the ideas, challenges and breakthroughs driving the world's fastest-moving industries. Whether you're an engineer, founder, investor or simply fascinated by emerging technology.
Techne Connect offers a front-row seat to the people creating what's next.
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Behind the Robot: Brandon Coats, Engineering Leader at Nomagic AI
45:49|What happens when artificial intelligence moves beyond software and into the physical world?In this episode of Behind the Robot, Molly-May Brissett speaks with Brandon Coats, Director of Engineering at NoMagic AI, about the technologies driving the next generation of robotics. From Vision-Language-Action models and AI agents to autonomous systems and the future of industrial automation, Brandon explains why robotics is entering its biggest period of transformation yet.Drawing on decades of experience building engineering teams and deploying advanced robotic systems around the world, Brandon also shares practical career advice, why solving difficult problems accelerates professional growth, and the skills engineers need to thrive in an AI-driven future.
Alex Fink, President & US CEO of Swarmer
43:04|Alex Fink, Founder & CEO of Swarmer, joins Behind the Orbit to explore how autonomous systems are transforming modern defence. Drawing on his experience at the intersection of software, strategy, and national security, Alex explains why the future of warfare will be shaped less by hardware and more by the ability to coordinate autonomous systems at scale.The conversation covers the rise of autonomous operations, the role of software as a strategic advantage, and what it takes to build the infrastructure that enables humans and machines to work together effectively in increasingly complex environments.
Darko Filipi, Vice President of Space Systems at Overview Energy
25:21|In this episode of Behind the Orbit, we speak with Darko Filipi, VP of Space Systems at Overview Energy, a company building the next generation of space-based energy infrastructure.Darko shares his journey from astrophysics and spacecraft engineering to working on some of the most ambitious space systems ever conceived, including CubeSats, human spaceflight systems, and large-scale commercial satellite networks.We explore how space is rapidly evolving from a government-led research domain into a commercial infrastructure layer powering Earth. Darko breaks down Overview Energy’s mission to beam safe, near-infrared energy from space to the grid, and what it takes to engineer systems at kilometre scale under extreme constraints.Along the way, we dive into leadership in high-performance engineering teams, the importance of ownership and execution culture, and why the future of space is less about science fiction and more about industrial-scale systems thinking.
Pietro Guerrieri, Chief Executive Officer at Impulso Space
34:52|In this episode of Behind the Vision, Pietro Guerrieri, Founder & CEO of Impulso Space, shares his remarkable journey from serving as a military pilot in the Italian Air Force to leading one of the space sector's most innovative launch service providers. Pietro reflects on the experiences that shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, the importance of discipline, continuous learning, and the pivotal career decisions that ultimately led him to found Impulso Space.The conversation explores the evolution of the global space industry, the rise of New Space, and the growing need for integrated launch and logistics services. Pietro discusses the challenges of building a company in a rapidly changing market, the sacrifices required to pursue ambitious goals, and his vision for a future where access to space becomes more streamlined, reliable, and commercially driven. He also shares valuable advice for aspiring founders, insights into the skills shaping the future of the sector, and why resilience remains one of the most important qualities for success.
Theophile Lagraulet, Co-Founder & CEO at SpaceLocker
38:31|What if sending a sensor to orbit became as simple as booking a flight? In this episode of Behind the Vision, Theophile Lagraulet, Co-Founder and CEO of SpaceLocker, shares how his team is reimagining the future of space missions by building the infrastructure layer that could transform access to orbit.From launching their first mission within just two years of founding the company to operating spacecraft and creating a marketplace for orbital hosting, Theophile explains why the future of space isn't just about rockets it's about accessibility, speed, and scalable infrastructure. Packed with insights on entrepreneurship, engineering, innovation, and the evolution of the space economy, this is a must-listen for anyone fascinated by the next chapter of the space industry.
Christian Eberhardt, Founder & CTO at ARIS Robotics
28:55|In this episode of Behind the Robot, we speak with Christian Eberhardt, CTO and Founder of ARIS Robotics, a company building intelligent systems for waste sorting and recycling infrastructure.Christian shares his unconventional journey from sailing across the Atlantic and teaching navigation on tall ships, to studying robotics and co-founding a startup straight out of university. He reflects on the role of hands-on experience, the importance of saying “yes” to opportunity, and why robotics is as much about resilience and iteration as it is about engineering.We dive deep into the future of waste management, from AI-powered sorting systems to national recycling schemes and the untapped global potential of automation in the waste industry. Christian also explores how Denmark is leading parts of the circular economy and where robotics, AI, and human decision-making intersect.
Kevin Lausten, CEO at Morpheus Space
38:46|In this episode of Behind the Vision, we speak with Kevin Lausten, CEO of Morpheus Space, about the future of space mobility, satellite propulsion, and sustainable orbital operations.Kevin shares his journey into the space industry, discusses how agile startups are reshaping aerospace innovation, and explains why responsible satellite operations will be critical to the future of the commercial space economy.
The Techne Connect Special: Ampaire, Behind the Vision with Kevin Noertker
45:46|<iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/2y4aovgoJAk0shYbJKKrNg/video?utm_source=generator&si=eb8ef74433aa4600" width="624" height="351" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe>In this episode of Behind the Vision, Kevin Nortker, Co-Founder and CEO of Ampaire, discusses how hybrid-electric propulsion is transforming the aviation industry and why practical electrification is the key to sustainable flight. He shares his journey from working on stealth technology and space robotics to leading one of the world’s most advanced electrified aircraft companies.The conversation explores the challenges of battery technology, charging infrastructure, aircraft certification, and why Ampaire believes hybrid-electric systems are the most scalable solution for aviation today. Kevin also shares insights into entrepreneurship, start-up culture, leadership, and what it takes to build meaningful innovation in aerospace.