Luc Piguet is the co-founder and CEO of ClearSpace, a pioneering company developing technology to capture and remove satellites from orbit, making space more sustainable.In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Luc shares the journey from a research project at EPFL to winning an €86 million ESA mission, making ClearSpace the first European company to attempt satellite removal from orbit.Get intro to Luc: https://brdg.app/s/l5odpn-----------------------------------------------Timestamps(00:00) The Need for Space Debris Management(03:10) ClearSpace: A Vision for the Future(06:03) Challenges in the Space Industry(08:58) Public Interest and Policy Changes(11:55) The Origins of ClearSpace(15:05) Building a Business Model for Space Cleanup(17:58) The Role of ESA and Initial Funding(28:13) The Sacrifices of Startup Life30:10) Navigating the Challenges of Fundraising(32:12) Strategic Timing and Market Readiness(34:35) Collaborative Innovation in Space Missions(36:30) Building a Competent Team(39:58) Securing the ESA Contract(41:01) Funding Strategies and Investor Relations(44:00) The Journey to Series A Funding(46:14) The European Space Landscape(49:21) Future Aspirations for ClearSpace(52:31) Rapid Fire Insights and Challenges for Founders-----------------------------------------------In this episode, we discuss:1. Space Sustainability: Why servicing capabilities are crucial for sustainable space operations2. Clear Space Origins: From EPFL research project to winning an 86 million euro ESA mission3. Team Building: Creating a weekend "Space Club" to attract top engineering talent before having funding4. Funding Journey: From ESA BIC support to raising 26 million euros in Series A5. Personal Sacrifices: Moving from lakeside apartment to two-bedroom flat with family of six6. ESA Contract Success: Securing major mission through strategic partnerships7. Market Timing: Anticipating policy changes around 2025-20268. Technical Innovation: Developing new approaches while working within ESA standards9. European Space Industry: Challenges and opportunities for deep-tech companies10. Future Vision: Plans to increase mission frequency from yearly to monthly launches

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