Space Angels

In order to solve a problem you have to know what it is. Most people assume they know, and most people are wrong. I really enjoyed recording this episode of VHTB with Seyka Mejeur of AdAstra Talent Advisors Talent Advisors and Justus Kilian of Space Capital where we dived into a crucial question for space startups: Technical skills or people skills - which matters more? Some key insights from our discussion: The highest performing companies excel at both technical performance AND people development (4.2x more likely to outperform peers according to McKinsey) Most "training problems" are actually communication and expectation-setting challenges Early-stage investors look for founders who can not only build great tech but also attract and inspire great talent What I found fascinating was how this pattern shows up across hiring, investing, and training - the need to balance technical excellence with human factors is universal. Check out the full episode using the link in the comments below! #Leadership #SpaceStartups #VentureCapital #TalentDevelopment

Join Space Capital's Chad Anderson and Justus Kilian as they provide a short review of startup activity and investment?trends in the space economy, current market dynamics, and deep dives into the most relevant themes from Q4 2024.

The Q4 Space IQ by Space Capital is now available in a new interactive format! Here’s what shaped the space capital markets this quarter: ? $9.5 billion raised by 99 space companies in Q4. Total investment rebounded 30% Y/Y, despite SpaceX not raising any new capital, indicating that 2023 may have been the bottom. ? Notably, 2024 also ranks as the third-highest year for Emerging Industries investment (ie, space stations, SSA, energy generation, etc), reflecting growing interest from founders and investors in building for a post-Starship world. ? Applications rebounded in a big way, largely driven by AI, up triple digits Y/Y and ending the death spiral of the last three years. 2024 saw the highest annual investments in GEOINT Applications (also surpassed GPS in annual round share for the first time in this category), largely being driven by AI integrations. ? We expect 2025 to continue these trends and be a groundbreaking year for the space economy, particularly because of deregulation and pro-growth policies, geopolitics-fueled defense spending, Starship, AI advances, and a shake up among incumbents.

Big News: Announcing the launch of a new podcast: A VC, a Headhunter, and a Trainer Walk into a Bar (VHTB) Starting January 15, this weekly podcast will take you behind the scenes of the space start-up ecosystem, exploring the intersections of talent, culture, and finance. Hosted by Justus Kilian of Space Capital, Matt Gjertsen of Better Every Day Studios, Seyka Mejeur & Brian Mejeur of AdAstra Talent Advisors, VHTB brings stories and insights from their work with some of the most innovative and impactful companies shaping the space economy. What makes this podcast particularly unique? The hosts bring deep familiarity with SpaceX and its transformative impact. Space Capital has been a long-time investor in SpaceX, backing multiple founders who spun out of the company, including Impulse Space. Brian was a propulsion engineer at SpaceX for five years, while Matt led talent development during his five years there, creating engineering leadership programs inspired by his work. Seyka’s work with AdAstra continues to shape thriving teams in Space and Clean Tech, empowering leaders to turn bold ideas into reality. Mark your calendars, and get ready to tune in weekly. This is a podcast you won’t want to miss: https://lnkd.in/erzM_N4h

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!! BOOK GIVEAWAY !! Win a SIGNED copy of “The Space Economy: Capitalize on the Greatest Business Opportunity of our Lifetime” by Chad Anderson by posting a review: How to enter: 1. Leave a review of “The Space Economy” on Goodreads or Amazon. 2. DM us a screenshot of your review. 3. Follow our page to check if you win. ?? Contest ends October 31. *This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, LinkedIn.

Don’t miss out on key insights from the team at Space Capital about Q2 2024 activity in the space economy.