0Today the space sector is full of old and new organisational forms, with many experiments in organisation, venture funding, strategy, and operations. One recurring theme is the problem of how early stage, complex technology ventures find funding to accelerate product development while still maintaining the integrity of their activities. The other theme is how funders engage and control such entrepreneurial firms, whether through governance/board seats, replacement of entrepreneurs, and similar. We treat this as a particular kind of business process, ripe for challenge beyond the standard venture funding models.

In this episode, starting from examples of novel funding solutions observed in defence, security, intelligence, and related industries, we explore the distinctive conditions of space and alternative venture funding models that are unlikely in more standard commercial settings.

Host:

Marc Ventresca, Associate Professor of Strategic Management, University of Oxford

Panel:

Nick Appleyard, Head of Downstream Business Applications, ESA

Hélène Huby, Chairman, The Karman Project

Chris Blackerby, Group COO and Director, Japan, Astroscale.