How I Invest with David Weisburd

E160: How a SpaceX Rocket Engineer Became a Top Deep Tech VC

5 snips
May 2, 2025
Jamie Gull, GP/Founder of Wave Function Ventures and former SpaceX engineer, shares insights from his transition into deep tech investing. He discusses SpaceX's high-responsibility culture and how fast iteration trumps careful planning in hardware startups. Jamie explains the importance of technical knowledge for deep tech founders and the myth that these ventures require excessive capital. With stories of investing in companies like Boom Supersonic, he emphasizes the evolving landscape of deep tech and the traits that make category-defining founders stand out.
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ANECDOTE

SpaceX's Responsible Engineer Culture

  • At SpaceX, a responsible engineer owns their design from start to finish through production and launch.
  • If delays or issues arise, the engineer must personally intervene to resolve them quickly.
INSIGHT

Technical CEOs Accelerate Deep Tech Startups

  • Deep tech CEOs must understand the technical problem deeply to navigate business and customer needs swiftly.
  • Non-technical CEOs slow early-stage startups due to the back-and-forth needed with technical leads.
ADVICE

Founder Technicality and Speed Matter

  • Look for founders who are technical and can iterate quickly like a responsible engineer.
  • Avoid slow, waterfall design processes that stall discovery and product-market fit.
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