Space Tech Summit 2021

Jess Johnson is Program Manager of the Small Satellite Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The Small Satellite Center provides MIT researchers with resources to grow the next generation of astro engineers and entrepreneurs, facilitate cutting edge research, and transition technologies out to industry and government. Prior to joining MIT, Jess worked for SpaceX designing the Starlink constellation, for the MITRE Corporation investigating capabilities of burgeoning commercial and government satellite constellations, and for MIT Lincoln Laboratory performing systems engineering on future constellation concepts and imaging of space assets.

Charles Miller is co-founder and CEO of Lynk. He is a serial space entrepreneur with 30 years’ experience in the space industry. Lynk’s groundbreaking and patented technology allows people to affordably connect to anyone, anywhere, with just the mobile phone in their pocket. One of Charles’ previous startups is NanoRacks, which has delivered more than 700 payloads to space and is the current world leader in nanosatellite launches. Charles served as NASA’s Senior Advisor for Commercial Space from 2009-2012 where he advised NASA leadership on commercial public private partnerships.

Dr Thomas Clayson is CTO of Magdrive, a UK based startup developing the next generation of spacecraft propulsion. Magdrive is a UK startup, based in Oxfordshire, developing the next generation of spacecraft propulsion. The Magdrive plasma thruster provides both a high thrust and high efficiency (specific impulse), enabling satellites to perform a full complement of manoeuvres with a tenth of the propellant of a chemical system.

Joel is SkyWatch’s Chief Technology Officer. His team focuses on making earth observation data open and accessible for everyone. Previously, as Head of Data at Kik Interactive, Joel directed data engineering and data sciences at petabyte scale. Prior to that, Joel managed analytics and big data teams at BlackBerry, helping the company grow from 3 million to 80 million subscribers. Joel holds several data related patents on location AI and contextual analytics. Outside of work, Joel is an active member of the local community as a coach in minor baseball and hockey.

Jörn Spurmann is the Chief Commercial Officer of Rocket Factory Augsburg AG and managing director of RFA Azores and RFA Portugal. As Rocket Factory's first employee he operationalized the company mid of 2018. Mr. Spurmann has a proven track record as head of sales, program and business unit manager in the space domain. Throughout his senior leadership roles, he has gained excellent knowledge of the institutional and commercial space business.

An expert in the fields of nanosatellites and algorithms with over two decades of experience, Raz has managed multiple satellite programs, integrating various satellites and sub-systems on Israeli satellites. Before opening NSLComm, Raz established the nanosatellite department of Israel Aerospace Industries, a global leader in developing aerospace technology. There, he was responsible for the initiation of multiple nanosatellite programs. Raz was also the CEO of INSA, the Israeli Nano Satellite Association.

Justus is a Partner at Space Capital and the Founder of Space Talent. He has built a career financing and scaling businesses that address humanity’s most pressing challenges. Justus' career in venture began with Acumen where he managed their first returnable capital fund and delivered value-add services for portfolio companies across East Africa and South Asia. Prior to that, Justus worked at Merrill Lynch where he managed $6 billion in assets on behalf of institutional clients specializing in private market investments. Justus holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Will is a General Partner with RRE Ventures and also serves as the firm's Chief Operating Officer. During his 21 year career as an investor, Will has served on the boards of more than 20 companies. He has been a leader in the transformation of the geospatial sector, most notably as Chairman of BlackSky (NYSE: BKSY) and as lead investor Director of Spire (NYSE: SPIR). He is also a Director of Nanit, Paperless Post, Pattern, Pilot Fiber, Ursa, and Wave and a former Director of BuzzFeed (NASDAQ: BZFD). Will is also Chairman of the Dockery Farms Foundation, which he founded. From 2003 to 2018, Will served as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School where he taught a popular course on venture capital. Will holds an M.B.A .from Harvard University, an M.S. from the London School of Economics, and a B.A. with Honors from Stanford University.

Matt O’Connell is an Operating Partner with DCVC (Data Collective Venture Capital)(Palo Alto). He sits on the Boards of two portfolio companies, Capella and Fortem.

Prior to joining DCVC, Matt was a Managing Partner at Seraphim, a London based venture capital firm focused exclusively on space. From October 2015 to July 2016, he was CEO of OneWeb.

Matt founded GeoEye (NASDAQ: GEOY), a leading global provider of satellite and aerial imagery and digital mapping information, in 2003. GeoEye grew from 60 employees producing $9 million of revenue per year, with an equity value of zero and enterprise value of $33 million, to 760 employees producing $360 million, with an enterprise value $1.3 billion and an equity value of approximately $850 million. In January 2013, he concluded its sale to DigitalGlobe.

Matt has been recognized as a thought leader in the satellite, digital mapping and intelligence industries. He has served on many Government and industry advisory panels.

Michael is a General Partner with Starbridge Venture Capital, an early-stage venture fund focused on the emerging space sector. Michael has spent the past 20 years investing in and helping build Internet and space sector businesses ranging from being the CFO of Masten Space Systems in 2004 to a telecom consultancy in 2008, and CTO at a general seed-stage fund in 2014.