Relentless #38 - Olaf Hichwa, Co-Founder & CTO of Neros
Aug 19, 2025
Olaf Hichwa, co-founder and CTO of Neros, discusses his passion for drone technology focused on American defense applications. He details the critical role of FPV drones in the Ukraine conflict and the challenges of reducing reliance on Chinese supply chains. Hichwa shares their journey from hobbyists to innovators, navigating supply chain hurdles and emphasizing user feedback in development. He highlights the need for localized production and the potential of consumer-grade components for revolutionary advancements in defense technology.
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Obsessive De‑Chinaing Of Drone Stack
- NEROS obsessively removed Chinese components from their drone down to the chip level.
- Olaf calls de-China-ing their largest technical accomplishment and aims for fully American-made drones.
Basement Builds Exposed Chinese Supply Chain
- Olaf and Soren built 30 racing drones in a parents' basement before pivoting to defense.
- They discovered every single part was originally made in China, sparking the push to rebuild supply chains.
First Trip To Ukraine Changed Direction
- Their first trip to Ukraine was surreal: carrying 30 drones in a suitcase to Kyiv.
- Seeing grassroots manufacturing and warfighter dedication convinced them to enter defense manufacturing.