Tech Leader Talk

Do you want to learn about a Space Tech Ignitor program that helps space tech startups get tailored guidance, expert connections, and access to investors and customers? That's what I'm discussing today with my guests, Casey DeRaad and Arial DeHerrera.   
As they discuss during this episode, Casey brings the vision, industry experience, and funding knowledge to NewSpace Nexus. Arial turns that vision into action by managing the details and helping companies tell their stories.
Casey and Arial talk about the NewSpace Ignitor program and the secret behind the Ignitor's great results. In the last four years, NewSpace Ignitor has supported 63 startups that have raised over $350 million in total funding and contracts.
Specifically, Casey brings decades of experience from AFRL, NASA, and industry partnerships, while Arial explains how an unexpected call pulled her from a potential career in medicine into space tech.
Casey and Arial share their beliefs that space tech startups don't fail only because of their technology. Often, the harder problem is reaching the right customer, telling a clear story, and surviving uncertain funding cycles.
Casey describes the NewSpace Ignitor as "a startup helping startups." Through the program, companies receive tailored support based on their specific needs, from customer connections and demonstration equipment to workforce resources and space qualification.
Arial explains the three strengths of the program:
1.    Connecting suppliers to buyers
2.    Providing access to a broad expert network
3.    Offering tailored navigation based on each company's actual challenges
I'm sure you will enjoy this conversation and get some insights on what it takes to grow a successful space tech startup.
Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast:
- Growing a space tech startup
- Success is not just based on the technology
- A customized approach to growing tech startups
- Concept to Product to Sales
- The story behind the NewSpace Ignitor program
Resources:
NewSpace Nexus website: https://www.newspacenexus.org/
Learn more about NewSpace Nexus activities: https://www.newspacenexus.org/join-us/
Connect with Casey, Arial, and NewSpace Nexus:
Casey – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-anglada-deraad-3201a715/
Arial – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arial-deherrera-3597b819a/
Thanks for listening!
Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Would you like to learn how to build the right team for your technology company? That's what I'm discussing on this episode with my guest, Mike Krupit.
Mike is the founder and CEO of Trajectify, which provides leadership and business growth support. Prior to founding Trajectify, Mike worked with eight Silicon Valley Startups where he learned valuable business leadership lessons.
On this episode, Mike talks about building a "not-to-do list" and outsourcing or automating tasks you don't enjoy or could be handled more efficiently by someone else. He also shares his thoughts on how you should delegate authority, not just tasks.
Mike discusses why your business culture comes from core values and hiring decisions.  He recommends defining the behaviors your values require, then using those values throughout the hiring and recognition process.
Mike also gives his thoughts on the four accountabilities of an effective CEO:
1. The organization's vision
2. Putting the right people in the right seats
3. Financial and legal sustainability
4. Being the company's outside face and voice 
Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast:
- Startup challenges and insights
- Company culture comes from core values and hiring decisions
- How to delegate authority
- The importance of building a "not-to-do list"
- Four accountabilities of an effective CEO
Connect with Mike Krupit:
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkrupit/
Website:  https://www.trajectify.com/
Thanks for listening!
Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Would you like to learn how to create a User Experience (UX) that accelerates time-to-market and reduces cost? 
That's exactly what I'm discussing today with Matt Genovese.  Matt is the founder and CEO of Planorama, which is a User Experience design firm that focuses on making complex and technical software – simple and intuitive to use.
Matt and the team at Planorama follow the mantra, "Time to market, accelerated by design."
During our discussion, Matt shares information about how he and his team get involved early in the product design process so the UX requirements and documentation are defined at the beginning - and play an important role in the entire design process.
Matt also explains the importance of User Stories in the overall UX design process to save time and money.  He also mentions a free User Story Generator tool offered by Planorama.  There's a link to this tool in the show notes.
I know you will find value in this interview and get some insights for improving your company's User Experience design process.
"Design is all about requirements. UX defines the solid visual requirements for a product. So, the investment in a good UX design saves money on the development activities." – Matt Genovese
Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast:
- A first step to improve your UX
- How a good UX design improves your business
- What are User Stories and why are they important to the design process
- When to start UX design in the product design process
- The importance of UX design to software companies
Connect with Matt Genovese:
Contact Matt:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgenovese/
Thanks for listening!
Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Episode 200!  I'm excited to publish the 200th episode of the Tech Leader Talk podcast. I've talked with some amazing people and learned something from every guest.  I hope you enjoy this episode and learn from the information I share.
Are you protecting your company's critical inventions that create a competitive advantage, attract investors, and increase valuation?    
This interview is part of the Space Tech Innovation event where Space Tech Leaders share the latest trends and key insights to grow any tech company.  The event is Free – you can register at https://SpaceTechInnovation.com to see all the videos, edited transcripts, and an executive summary of each interview.
Today's interview is going to be different.  I've turned the tables and I am the person being interviewed.  Shelli Brunswick (a previous guest on the podcast) has generously agreed to interview me today.  Shelli is the former Chief Operating Officer of Space Foundation and a fantastic interviewer for her own podcast.
Today, I will be talking with Shelli about my insights from interviewing eight space tech leaders as part of the Space Tech Innovation event.  I've been working with tech companies for more than 25 years, but I still discovered new things from my discussions with the space tech leaders.
I will also be sharing my own knowledge and experience about how tech companies (space tech and non-space tech) can protect their most valuable inventions to create patent portfolios that provide a competitive advantage, attract investors, and increase company valuation.
I think you will enjoy this conversation with me and get some valuable tips and insights that can help you in your own business activities.
"Two of the biggest mistakes I see space tech companies make regarding their inventions are 1) not having a system to identify all inventions created by their team, and 2) not understanding patent filing deadlines." – Steve Sponseller (Patent Strategist at Strategic IP Solutions, LLC)
Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast:
- Why space tech companies must protect their inventions
- Insights from talking with eight space tech experts for the Space Tech Innovation event
- Biggest mistakes when protecting inventions
- The motivation behind Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code
- Why collaboration among space tech companies is critical
Resources:
Space Tech White Paper:  https://stevesponseller.com/spacetech/
Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code:  https://stevesponseller.com/book
Connect with Steve Sponseller:
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevesponseller/
Website:  https://stevesponseller.com
Thanks for listening!
Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Do you want to know how an experienced space tech CTO solves space's toughest problems?  Keep listening because that's what I'm discussing with today's guest, Al Tadros.
Al is a Space Technology Innovator and the CTO of Redwire Space.  In this role, he is focused on making strategic investments that support Redwire's customers, advance technology development, and maintain a collaborative technical culture.  Al has three decades of experience in space systems engineering, including satellite and space systems for exploration, national security, and commercial missions.
On today's episode, Al talks about his passion for solving tough problems, which led him to pursue engineering in the space industry.  During our discussion, he shares information on designing space-based power systems, roll-out solar arrays, and orbital data centers.
Al shares his insights on redundancy and risk strategies when developing systems that operate in space.  He also discusses challenges when dealing with space industry innovation.
Al provides his thoughts on the evolution of power systems for space missions and how those power systems may change in the future.  He also talks about challenges when scaling up power generation for orbital data centers, lunar systems, and other systems.
Whether you're an engineer, a tech leader, or just curious about the future of space, this episode will provide inspiration and practical insights from an industry leader.
Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast:
- Techniques for solving hard problems
- Scaling up power systems for space
- Designing with redundant systems
- High-efficiency, roll-out solar arrays (ROSA)
- Requirements and challenges for orbital data centers
Resources:
Orbital Data Centers white paper:  https://rdw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/RDW26-053-ODC-Power-Thermal-Study-White-Paper-R11-Digital.pdf
Video: Deployment of Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CFejld5r_I
Connect with Al Tadros:
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-tadros-986a583/
Website:  https://rdw.com/
Thanks for listening!
Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.