In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske sits down with Hélène Huby, the co-founder and CEO of The Exploration Company. Founded in 2021, the company is on a mission to democratise access to space by developing Nyx, a reusable and in-orbit refillable cargo spacecraft designed to fly to any space station.

Hélène shares her remarkable journey from serving as a top executive at Airbus and ArianeGroup—where she led the Orion European Service Module programme—to declining a promotion to start her own venture from scratch with just four people and €50,000. Now, with over €300 million raised and a team of 450, the company is positioned as the European answer to SpaceX and is the first European firm to sign a Space Act agreement with NASA. The conversation explores the strategic development of a global company with European roots, the vital importance of international collaboration, and the unique challenges of scaling a hardware powerhouse in the space industry.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The Alternative to SpaceX: Why the global space industry requires competition and diversity beyond a single dominant player to ensure sovereignty and choice.
• Strategic Regional Excellence: How Hélène’s team leverages specific engineering strengths across Germany (avionics/software), France (re-entry/engines), and Italy (life support/mechanisms).
• From Corporate to Startup: The risks and mental shift involved in leaving an executive role at a global giant to "write space history" independently.
• The Power of Collaboration: Insights into the landmark NASA Space Act agreement and the vision for a universal vehicle that serves humanity globally.
• Hiring for Innovation: How to integrate the expertise of veterans from SpaceX and Airbus with the agile mindset of new talent to avoid recreating old corporate structures.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to DeepTech Unleashed and The Exploration Company

01:13 The Vision Behind The Exploration Company

04:28 Building a Global Company with European Roots

10:28 Competing with SpaceX and the Need for Alternatives

17:25 Cultivating a Unique Company Culture

20:49 Navigating Regulation and Funding Challenges

27:06 Best Practices for Space Startups

30:20 The Role of ESA in Supporting Startups

34:44 Leadership Style and Personal Insights

40:02 Moments of Magic in the Journey

42:47 Personal Life and Balancing Work

About the Guest: Hélène Huby

Hélène Huby is the co-founder and CEO of The Exploration Company. A former executive at Airbus and ArianeGroup, she led the Orion European Service Module programme and has been involved in some of the most complex European space programmes, including Ariane and ATV. Under her leadership, The Exploration Company has become one of the fastest-growing space firms in Europe, focused on developing reusable spacecraft that provide universal access to space.

Follow Hélène on LinkedIn HERE

Find out more about The Exploration Company at: exploration.space

About the Host: Christian Noske

Christian Noske is a Partner at NGP Capital, where he focuses on industrial tech, enterprise software, and deep tech investments. With a wealth of experience in the venture capital landscape, Christian is dedicated to supporting founders who are solving complex technical challenges. Through DeepTech Unleashed, he brings listeners behind the scenes of the world’s most ambitious startups to uncover the human stories behind the hardware and code.

Follow Christian Noske on LinkedIn HERE

Find out more about NGP Capital at: ngpcap.com

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In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Debjit Mukerji sits down with Igor Marinelli, founder and CEO of Tractian. Tractian is a category leader in Physical AI, providing an end-to-end industrial monitoring platform that helps maintenance teams avoid unplanned downtime and operate with greater precision.

Igor shares his vision for the future of physical AI and the playbook that has fueled Tractian’s rapid growth and its ability to solve critical “pain” for some of the world’s largest manufacturers.

Episode Chapters:

02:15 Introduction to DeepTech Unleashed

04:33 Origin Story of Tractian

08:05 Ignorance as an Innovation Advantage

08:43 Decoding the Customer’s Pain—and not Product—Drives Sales

12:46 Iterate and Focus for Killer Product Development

16:52 Physical AI: Data and the Human Dimension

22:24 Managing Data at Scale and the Physical Testing Edge

33:04 A Zero-Complacency Culture and Setting Your Own Benchmarks

37:55 The Ultrasound Revolution: SmartTrac UG2

41:59 Empower Great Product Ideas Decisively and Directly (No Layers)

46:21 Sales Execution Is About Knowing How to Hire

55:18 When Fundraising, Focus on People—not Terms

1:01:28 With Great Capital Comes Great Responsibility

About the Host: Debjit Mukerji:

Debjit Mukerji is a Partner at NGP Capital, based in Palo Alto, California. A technologist at heart and engineer by training, Debjit partners with founders creating new categories or redefining existing ones with cutting-edge technology to help them navigate the complexities of global scaling. He has been a partner to Tractian since its seed round, supporting the company’s expansion across the US and international markets.

Follow Debjit Mukerji https://www.linkedin.com/in/debjit-mukerji-9884502

Find out more about NGP Capital at ngpcap.com

About the Guest: Igor Marinelli:

Igor Marinelli is founder and CEO of Tractian. A mechanical engineer by training, Igor has a deep-rooted passion for the industrial sector, having witnessed the impact of machine failures firsthand through his father’s 35-year career in manufacturing. Under his leadership, Tractian has grown into a leading Physical AI company and one of North America’s fastest-growing tech companies, securing significant investment to help industrial enterprises digitalize their maintenance operations and eliminate unplanned downtime.

Follow Igor Marinelli here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/igmarinelli

Find out more about Tractian here: tractian.com

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