In this episode of TECHNE Connect to Orbit: Visionaries, we speak with Steven Shepherd, Co-Founder and CEO of Axon Space.

Steven shares his journey from aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan, to working on advanced satellite programmes at Lockheed Martin, before founding Axon Space to develop the next generation of very low Earth orbit satellite technology.

Very low Earth orbit, or VLEO, operates between approximately 150 and 250 kilometres above Earth and offers significant advantages for applications such as high-resolution imaging, missile defence, AI infrastructure and telecommunications.

However, operating in this environment comes with unique challenges, including atmospheric drag and atomic oxygen exposure. Steven explains how Axon Space is developing air-breathing propulsion technology that uses the atmosphere itself as fuel, enabling longer-duration missions in this challenging orbital environment.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why VLEO could become a key part of the future space ecosystem
• The engineering challenges of sustaining satellites at lower altitudes
• How air-breathing propulsion could unlock new satellite capabilities
• Steven’s experience working on advanced technology programmes at Lockheed Martin
• The decision to leave a successful aerospace career and build a company
• Lessons learned from fundraising, hiring teams and navigating entrepreneurship
• Why domain expertise and deep technical knowledge matter when building hard tech companies

A conversation about innovation, entrepreneurship and the technologies shaping the next era of space exploration.

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gerry Vannuffelen left a global head of robotics role at one of the world's largest automation OEMs to found Mantis Robotics, betting that robots could work alongside people without cages, fences, or dedicated specialists to deploy them.

In this episode, he unpacks the technology behind that bet: a "nervous system" for robotics that gives any robot the reflexes to operate safely in the real world, not just the lab.Gerry talks candidly about the jump from corporate comfort back into startup uncertainty, why most robotics ventures fail by chasing technology instead of a real problem, and why the humanoid hype cycle matters less than people think. It's a conversation about physical AI, safety certification, and what it actually takes to keep choosing entrepreneurship.

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Connect to Visionaries, we speak with Mitchell Fogelson, Co-Founder and CEO of Beyond Reach Labs, about the future of large-scale infrastructure in space.

Mitchell shares his journey from mechanical engineering and robotics research through iRobot, robotics innovation in Japan, and a NASA-funded PhD at Carnegie Mellon University, which led to the creation of Beyond Reach Labs.

The company is developing deployable solar arrays designed to scale from the size of a dining table to the size of a football field in orbit, helping power the growing space services industry.

We explore:

• Why scalable space infrastructure is becoming critical as commercial space expands

• The engineering challenges behind building large deployable structures in orbit

• How Beyond Reach Labs is moving from research concepts into real-world space applications

• Mitchell’s experience building a deep-tech startup through Y Combinator

• The lessons learned from entrepreneurship, failure and finding the right team

• Why the future of space will require interdisciplinary engineers and builders

A conversation about engineering ambition, entrepreneurship and the infrastructure needed to unlock the next era of space exploration.

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.