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The Techne Connect
Ethan Barajas, Co-Founder & CEO at Icarus Robotics
Ethan Barajas, Co-Founder and CEO of Icarus Robotics, shares how an internship at NASA transformed his career ambitions and inspired him to tackle one of space's biggest challenges: labour. Rather than sending more astronauts to perform repetitive maintenance tasks, Ethan is building robotic systems capable of operating autonomously in orbit, unlocking the future of commercial space infrastructure. From securing customer validation before writing a single line of code to preparing for a NASA deployment, he explains how listening to customers has shaped every stage of Icarus Robotics' journey.
The conversation also explores the entrepreneurial mindset required to build a deep-tech company, why commercial space is entering a new era of infrastructure investment, and how robotics will become the workforce that enables humanity's expansion beyond Earth. Ethan shares lessons on resilience, purpose, leadership and why solving meaningful problems, not chasing technology for technology's sake, is what ultimately drives lasting innovation.
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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Kris Moell, Founder and CEO of Frost Unmanned
33:36|In this episode of Connect To Visionaries, we speak with Kris Moell, Founder & CEO of Frost Unmanned, to explore an entrepreneurial journey that spans aviation, international operations and defence technology. From flying aircraft parts across the US and working in Indonesia to building a next-generation defence company in Sweden, Kris shares how his career evolved through curiosity, resilience and a willingness to embrace new challenges.The conversation explores how first-hand experiences in Ukraine reshaped his mission, why simplicity and automation will define the future of defence technology, and the leadership lessons he's learned while scaling a fast-growing startup. This episode offers valuable insights for engineers, founders and defence professionals interested in innovation, autonomous systems, military technology and building companies with purpose.
Jackson Moses, Founder & Managing Partner at Silent Ventures
39:57|Jackson Moses, Founder and Managing Partner of Silent Ventures, joins Connect to Venture Capital to discuss why defence technology is entering a new era of investment. Drawing on his experience as both a founder and investor, he explains how Silent Ventures identifies exceptional operators building the next generation of defence, aerospace and national security companies, and why manufacturing, hardware and industrial capability will define the future of innovation.The conversation also provides practical advice for founders preparing to raise capital. Jackson shares what venture capital firms truly look for beyond technical expertise, why founders must obsess over solving real problems before seeking investment, and how confidence, preparation and resilience separate the companies that secure funding from those that don't.
Joakim Sjöblom, Co-Founder & CEO at Swebal
40:30|In this episode of Connect to Visionaries, we speak with Joakim Sjöblom, Co-Founder & CEO of SWEBAL, about the urgent need to strengthen Europe's defence manufacturing capabilities. Drawing on his experience building and exiting a successful fintech business, Joakim explains why he turned his focus to defence and the importance of creating resilient, sovereign supply chains.Together, they explore the manufacturing bottlenecks facing the European defence sector, the impact of NATO expansion, and why collaboration with established defence primes is essential to increasing production capacity. It's an insightful conversation on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the strategic thinking required to build the future of European defence.
Jackie Teran, Vice President of Software Engineering at Forerunner
30:35|In this episode of Connect to Orbit, Joe Reed is joined by Jackie Teran, VP of Engineering at Forerunner, to explore the leadership principles shaping the future of GovTech. Jackie shares her unconventional journey into engineering, the importance of adaptability in a rapidly evolving industry, and why maintaining a growth mindset is essential for both individuals and organisations.The conversation also dives into geospatial intelligence, AI, customer-focused product development, and the technology helping governments build more resilient communities. From engineering culture to the future of digital infrastructure, Jackie offers valuable insights for anyone passionate about innovation, leadership, and creating meaningful impact through technology.
Kenneth Skorpen, CEO of BlinkTroll Robotics
40:05|In this episode of Connect to Defence Innovation, we sit down with Kenneth Skorpen, Co-Founder & CEO of BlinkTroll Robotics, to discuss how robotics and emerging technologies are transforming the future of defence. Together, they explore the challenges of developing innovative solutions for a rapidly evolving operational landscape and what it takes to deliver technology that makes a tangible impact.From the realities of building a defence technology company to the role of autonomy, innovation, and collaboration in strengthening military capability, Kenneth shares valuable insights into the future of defence robotics and the opportunities shaping the next generation of defence solutions.
Joshua Heebner, Co-Founder & Head of Growth, Bandelier Technologies
38:18|In this episode of Connect to Visionaries, Joe Reed sits down with Josh Hiebner, Co-Founder and Head of Growth at Bandelier Technologies, to explore the intersection of quantum technology, defence innovation, and entrepreneurship.Josh shares his journey from serving in Special Forces to building a defence-native quantum company, discussing the urgency behind emerging technologies, the challenges of commercialising frontier innovation, and why mission-driven teams are essential to shaping the future of modern warfare.
Felix Motzki, CTO of Reflex Aerospace
45:31|In this episode of Behind the Orbit, Joe Reed sits down with Felix Motzki, CTO of Reflex Aerospace, to discuss his unconventional journey into the space industry, from biomedical engineering and ultrasound imaging to leading one of Europe’s fastest-growing satellite companies. Felix shares the lessons learned from scaling teams through IPOs, navigating challenging leadership decisions, and helping build spacecraft designed for missions that standard satellite platforms cannot support.The conversation explores the evolution of Europe’s space sector, the rise of NewSpace companies, the importance of technical expertise and ownership in engineering careers, and how Reflex Aerospace is redefining satellite development through highly customised, payload-centric spacecraft. Felix also shares his outlook on the future of the industry, upcoming missions, and what it takes to build a world-class engineering culture.
Sanal Kamal, Founder & CEO of Photon-IV
27:30|In this episode of Behind the Vision, Tom Sloan speaks with Sanal Kamal, Founder & CEO of Photon-IV, about the future of global connectivity and the growing convergence between satellite and terrestrial networks. Sanal shares how his journey from engineering roles in defence and photonics led him to uncover a critical gap in how modern systems stay connected.The conversation explores how space is rapidly becoming core infrastructure for industries like telecoms, defence, and autonomous systems. Sanal explains why the next generation of networks will rely on seamless handovers between satellites and cell towers, and how Photon-IV is building the orchestration layer to make that possible in an increasingly complex, contested, and connected world.