#48 - Delian Asparouhov

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Dec 12, 2023

Delian Asparouhov, co-founder and Chairman of Varda Space Industries, talks about microgravity manufacturing, space industrialization, and future business models in space. The podcast also covers the role of media in shaping public perception of technology and the qualities Delian looks for in founders. The chapter on building a company discusses the importance of culture and cementing its trajectory, while the 'obsession with speed' chapter reflects on impatience and desire for accomplishment.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Innovation, Hiring the Right People, and the Hollywood Model of Startups

02:09 • 16min

Exploring Viable Business Models in the Space Industry

18:17 • 18min

Incubation and Studio Models in Venture Firms

36:40 • 11min

The Role of Media in Shaping Public Perception of Technology

47:49 • 3min

Inspiration from Books and Media in the Space Industry

50:39 • 2min

Building a Company: Laying Cement

52:39 • 20min

The Speaker's Obsession with Speed

01:12:54 • 3min

Delian Asparouhov is the co-founder, President and Chairman of Varda Space Industries, a company building spacecraft to manufacture materials in microgravity that are difficult or impossible to produce on Earth— starting with pharmaceuticals. He’s also a Partner at Founders Fund.

Previously, he was a principal at Khosla Ventures, head of growth at Teespring, and founder of a healthcare company called Nightingale. Delian is Bulgarian, attended MIT, and likes to ski and play soccer.

0:00 - Intro 3:14 - How Does Innovation Happen? 6:23 - Varda and the No Science Allowed Rule 7:52 - A Primer on Solid State Microgravity Manufacturing 18:25 - Space Industrialization, Trading Posts, and the Chinese and Portuguese Navies 21:13 - Economic Incentives and Future Business Models in Space 24:24 - SpaceX and The Costs of Mass to Orbit 27:45 - Demand for Space Manufacturing and Varda at Scale 33:44 - Manufacturing, Servicing, Machining, and Future Markets for Space 36:42 - Incubating Companies 40:33 - When Would Varda Have Been Started Otherwise? 42:19 - The Hollywood Model of Startups 45:20 - Future of Incubations 47:47 - Media’s Role in Technology 50:39 - What Media Inspired Varda’s Founding? 52:38 - Talent, Culture, and Cementing Company Trajectory 53:57 - Narratives and Talent Recruitment 55:28 - Traits Delian Looks for in Founders 57:38 - The ‘Why Now’ When Investing 1:00:08 - Bring Non-Consensus and Right 1:02:53 - Is Varda Consensus Yet? 1:03:24 - Identifying Non-Consensus Opportunities 1:05:12 - Lessons from Founding and Investing 1:07:40 - What Skill Do You Wish You’d Developed Earlier? 1:10:11 - Immigrant Mentality 1:11:24 - Less Obvious Reasons for Success 1:12:55 - On Speed 1:14:23 - What Should More People Be Thinking About?

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