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.

In this episode of TECHNE Connect to Flight, Tom Sloan sits down with Phillip Gomez, VP of Product and Defense Systems at MagLev Aero, to explore his journey through aerospace and defence. Phillip shares how early experience at startup AVX Aircraft, followed by seven years at Bell, shaped his technical expertise, leadership approach and understanding of the full aircraft development lifecycle.

The conversation also explores the changing aerospace landscape, from the rise of new defence players and the challenges facing the eVTOL market to the role of hybrid propulsion and emerging technologies. Phillip discusses MagLev Aero’s mission to develop breakthrough propulsion systems using magnetic levitation and electromagnetic control, the company’s plans for the next 12–24 months, and the skills it is looking for as it scales.

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 TECHNE Connect, Joe Reed sits down with Leo Pauly, CEO & Co-Founder of Plasma Orbital, to discuss building the next generation of intelligent satellite systems.

Leo shares his journey from electronics engineering and AI & robotics research into entrepreneurship, including the experiences that led him to create Plasma Orbital.

Plasma Orbital is developing smart satellite networks with onboard AI capabilities designed to provide real-time satellite surveillance, beginning with maritime domain awareness.

The conversation covers:

• Why current satellite imagery solutions struggle with real-time intelligence
• How AI-enabled satellites could transform maritime surveillance
• Building a new category within the space industry
• The challenges of founding a deep-tech company
• Lessons learned from previous startup attempts
• The future of the space economy and orbital infrastructure
• The skills engineers need to help shape the next era of space technology

Leo also shares his perspective on why the future of space will not be a standalone industry, but an extension of industries already operating on Earth, creating new opportunities across defence, communications, manufacturing and beyond.

A conversation about entrepreneurship, AI, satellites and building the infrastructure that will define the next generation of space.

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 TECHNE Connect to Health Tech, we speak with Abhi, VP of Engineering at Bunker Hill Health.

Abhi shares his journey from studying computer vision and robotics at Stanford to building AI-powered healthcare technology. With a background shaped by both engineering and healthcare, Abhi discusses how his experiences led him to Bunker Hill Health and the mission of helping healthcare organisations bring ideas from concept to clinical impact.

Bunker Hill Health is building CareBricks, a platform designed to help health systems use their data, workflows and AI capabilities to turn ideas into practical solutions that improve patient care.

In this episode, we explore:

• Abhi’s journey from computer vision research to healthcare technology
• Why healthcare needs to move beyond a scarcity mindset
• How AI is changing what is possible within healthcare delivery
• Why fundamentals and adaptability are critical skills for engineers
• The challenges of bringing healthcare ideas from research into real-world use
• How CareBricks enables health systems to build and deploy AI-powered workflows
• The importance of ownership, initiative and technical excellence when building health tech teams
• Why now is one of the most exciting times to build in healthcare

A conversation about AI, engineering leadership and the future of healthcare 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.

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

In this episode of TECHNE Connect to Visionaries, Joe Reed speaks with Brent Klavon, Chief Strategy Officer at ANRA Technologies, about the evolution of autonomous systems, the future of airspace and what it takes to scale drone and robotics technology safely.

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.

Building the Infrastructure for the Next Era of Space with Symphony Space

In this episode of Connect to Visionaries, Joe Reed speaks with Merry Walker, Co-Founder of Symphony Space.

Merry discusses her journey from engineering and energy systems, through a career in diplomacy focused on emerging technologies, to founding a company focused on simplifying access to space.

Symphony Space is building solutions designed to make space more accessible by reducing the complexity, cost and barriers involved in deploying technologies into orbit.

The conversation explores how the space industry is evolving from exploration into a broader operating environment, with new opportunities across orbital infrastructure, in-space services, research, manufacturing and commercial applications.

Merry shares the lessons behind taking a deep tech idea from concept to company, including understanding customer pain points, building around real market needs and creating scalable solutions for a growing space economy.

They also discuss the future of space infrastructure, the importance of automation and robotics, and the skills needed for the next generation of engineers, entrepreneurs and leaders entering the industry.

A conversation about the people, technology and infrastructure shaping the future of commercial space.

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.