Betting on Space, featuring Chad Anderson of Space Capital

Tough Tech Today with Meyen and Miller

In one sentence: The space economy is booming in more ways than one.
Space-based assets are changing the way industries operate on Earth. Chad Anderson – Founder and Managing Partner at Space Capital – is one of those individuals who has a deep perspective on the what it is like backing the entrepreneurs who are launching the newest breed of space companies.
An investor by profession and explorer by passion, Anderson relates to us how “the economy of the future” will be built on global positioning systems, geospatial intelligence, and communications.
To paraphrase the title of a book by Ashlee Vance, the heavens have gone on sale. Anderson’s evangelism is perhaps not only warranted, but perhaps fully validated, as exhibited by his and his team’s early investments in mature startups such as Planet and LeoLabs and younger companies such as Quantum Exchange and Lunar Outpost. (Note that Lunar Outpost is Tough Tech Today co-host Forrest Meyen’s company, which we covered in episode 9 with the founder and CEO, Justin Cyrus.)
We also learn about Anderson’s unique experiences concocting whiskey and mezcal in pursuit of adventure and cultural discovery.
P.S. Tough Tech Today is now open to patron support, so we have launched a pay-if-you-can membership so you can help us bring Tough Tech Today to more folks!
🧠Relevant Links:
Episode homepage: https://www.toughtechtoday.com/betting-on-space/
Chad Anderson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadson/
Space Capital homepage: https://www.spacecapital.com
👏Credit Roll:
Producers: Jonathan 'JMill' Miller and Forrest Meyen
Guest: Chad Anderson
Hosts: JMill and Forrest Meyen
Editing: JMill
Transcript: Alan Yan and JMill
Blog Author: JMill
Art Design: JMill
🔖Topic Timecodes:

• [0:51] Chad Anderson’s bio and story
• [07:21] Recent transformations in the space market
• [10:55] Space Capital’s first investment
• [14:37] Identified the most promising seed stage startups
• [17:22] How time horizons affect investing in early-stage space startups
• [23:05] How awareness about space is affecting companies and markets
• [27:30] More applications for space, namely satellite communications
• [31:02] Space Capital's investment in Rendered.ai
• [37:59] Toughest technology challenges to solve in space
• [45:17] Geopolitical subtext to commercial space pursuits
• [52:44] Chad’s side projects

📖Transcript:
Transcript is viewable here: https://otter.ai/u/1LGDcrnMBxtkqjzd9QvvfS5Toq4

Luvut

1. Betting on Space, featuring Chad Anderson of Space Capital (00:00:00)

2. Chad Anderson’s bio and story (00:00:51)

3. Recent transformations in the space market (00:07:21)

4. Space Capital’s first investment (00:10:55)

5. Identified the most promising seed stage startups (00:14:37)

6. How time horizons affect investing in early-stage space startups (00:17:22)

7. How awareness about space is affecting companies and markets (00:23:05)

8. More applications for space, namely satellite communications (00:27:30)

9. Space Capital's investment in Rendered.ai (00:31:02)

10. Toughest technology challenges to solve in space (00:37:59)

11. Geopolitical subtext to commercial space pursuits (00:45:17)

12. Chad’s side projects (00:52:44)