The Techne Connect

Techne Studios

The Techne Connect Podcast. Behind the tech. Ahead of the curve. From racetracks to rocket labs, battlefield tech to battery breakthroughs; we dive into the world’s most exciting industries to uncover the real stories behind innovation. Each week, we talk to the engineers, thinkers, and trailblazers building the future of mobility, defense, energy, space, data, and more. No fluff, just bold ideas, raw insights, and the kind of inspiration that fuels the next generation of tech talent. Speak to us today to hear about opportunities we may have in the industries our guests are shaping. 🎧 Hit follow or subscribe. Don’t miss what’s next! 📸 See more on Instagram: @techne_talent 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: Techne Talent This is where ambition meets invention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Brad King, CEO at Orbion Space Technology

    20H AGO

    Brad King, CEO at Orbion Space Technology

    In this episode we sit down with Brad King, CEO and Co-Founder of Orbion Space Technology, to discuss the role of propulsion in the next phase of the space economy. Brad shares his journey from aerospace engineering into leadership, and explains how Orbion was built around a growing market need for reliable, fuel-efficient propulsion systems for satellites. He breaks down how in-space mobility supports orbit raising, station keeping, collision avoidance, and deorbiting, and why those capabilities are becoming more important as the space sector scales. The conversation also covers the growth of New Space, the impact of lower launch costs, the importance of manufacturing capacity and reliability, and why systems-level engineering is becoming a critical skill across the industry. Thank you for listening to The Techne Connect Podcast - where we go behind the tech and ahead of the curve. But we don’t just share stories, we help build them. At Techne Talent, we connect ambitious people with opportunities across the very industries we feature. If you’re inspired by what you hear, speak to us today about where your skills could take you. 👉 Don’t miss an episode: Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 📸 For behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram: @techne_talent 💼 Explore opportunities and connect with us on LinkedIn: Techne Talent Inspire your future. Plug into what’s next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  2. Ben Gliwa, VP of Engineering & Asset Management at Bulk Infrastructure

    2D AGO

    Ben Gliwa, VP of Engineering & Asset Management at Bulk Infrastructure

    In this episode we speak with Ben Gliwa, Vice President of Engineering and Asset Management at Bulk Infrastructure. Ben shares his journey from mechanical engineering in Australia to leading operations and engineering teams across Europe, including roles at AWS and Equinix. He explains how his background in utilities shaped his approach to managing large-scale, mission-critical infrastructure. The conversation explores how the data centre sector is evolving, driven by AI, higher compute density, and rapid deployment demands. Ben breaks down the shift from traditional air-cooled environments to complex liquid cooling systems, and why mechanical, electrical, and controls engineering are becoming more critical than ever. Thank you for listening to The Techne Connect Podcast - where we go behind the tech and ahead of the curve. But we don’t just share stories, we help build them. At Techne Talent, we connect ambitious people with opportunities across the very industries we feature. If you’re inspired by what you hear, speak to us today about where your skills could take you. 👉 Don’t miss an episode: Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 📸 For behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram: @techne_talent 💼 Explore opportunities and connect with us on LinkedIn: Techne Talent Inspire your future. Plug into what’s next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min
  3. David Liu, Director of Engineering, Robotics at AeroVironment

    6D AGO

    David Liu, Director of Engineering, Robotics at AeroVironment

    In this episode we speak with David Liu, Director of Engineering at AeroVironment, about his journey from Northrop Grumman to Facebook and Meta, before moving into defence robotics at AV. David shares how his experience across aerospace, big tech, connectivity, smart glasses, and advanced aircraft systems shaped his approach to engineering leadership. He explains how lessons from Silicon Valley, including fast iteration, early integration, openness, ownership, and managing technical debt, are now helping shape modern defence technology. The conversation explores the future of robotic systems, from one operator managing multiple platforms to heterogeneous autonomous systems working together on shared missions. David also discusses the importance of AI efficiency, battery technology, material science, manufacturing, and why strong engineering culture is key to building reliable systems at scale. Thank you for listening to The Techne Connect Podcast - where we go behind the tech and ahead of the curve. But we don’t just share stories, we help build them. At Techne Talent, we connect ambitious people with opportunities across the very industries we feature. If you’re inspired by what you hear, speak to us today about where your skills could take you. 👉 Don’t miss an episode: Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 📸 For behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram: @techne_talent 💼 Explore opportunities and connect with us on LinkedIn: Techne Talent Inspire your future. Plug into what’s next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
  4. Deepak Jayaraj, VP of Hardware & Manufacturing at Four Growers

    APR 27

    Deepak Jayaraj, VP of Hardware & Manufacturing at Four Growers

    In this episode we speak with Deepak Jayaraj, VP of Hardware at Four Growers, a robotics company focused on autonomous harvesting in greenhouse environments. Deepak shares his journey from control systems and space robotics in India to scaling real-world products across medical devices and agriculture. He explains what it takes to move from a working prototype to a reliable product deployed in the field, and why most robotics companies underestimate that gap. The conversation explores the challenges of building hardware that operates in unpredictable environments, how AI is shaping hardware development, and why systems thinking is critical for engineers working in robotics. Deepak also reflects on scaling under pressure during COVID, building manufacturing infrastructure from scratch, and what it takes to deliver products that create real value for customers. Thank you for listening to The Techne Connect Podcast - where we go behind the tech and ahead of the curve. But we don’t just share stories, we help build them. At Techne Talent, we connect ambitious people with opportunities across the very industries we feature. If you’re inspired by what you hear, speak to us today about where your skills could take you. 👉 Don’t miss an episode: Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 📸 For behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram: @techne_talent 💼 Explore opportunities and connect with us on LinkedIn: Techne Talent Inspire your future. Plug into what’s next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  5. Xu She, Senior Director of Engineering at Lunar Energy

    APR 26

    Xu She, Senior Director of Engineering at Lunar Energy

    In this episode of Behind the Power, we speak with Xu She, Senior Director of Engineering at Lunar Energy. Xu shares his journey from studying electronics in China to building a career in the US across renewable energy, electrification, and energy storage. He reflects on the moves that shaped his career, from research and large corporates to joining a high growth startup environment. The conversation explores the role of residential energy storage in the future of the grid, why renewable energy and storage are becoming mission critical, and how customer experience is becoming as important as hardware performance. Xu also explains why system thinking is one of the most valuable engineering skills, and why startups offer such a steep learning curve for those willing to take on the challenge. Thank you for listening to The Techne Connect Podcast - where we go behind the tech and ahead of the curve. But we don’t just share stories, we help build them. At Techne Talent, we connect ambitious people with opportunities across the very industries we feature. If you’re inspired by what you hear, speak to us today about where your skills could take you. 👉 Don’t miss an episode: Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 📸 For behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram: @techne_talent 💼 Explore opportunities and connect with us on LinkedIn: Techne Talent Inspire your future. Plug into what’s next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
  6. Woodie Neiss, General Managing Partner at D3VC.ai

    APR 23

    Woodie Neiss, General Managing Partner at D3VC.ai

    In this episode of Behind the Capital we sit down with Woodie Neiss, Managing Partner at D3VC, to explore how venture capital is evolving in a data-driven world. Woodie shares his journey from Wall Street to startup founder, through to shaping investment crowdfunding legislation in the US and building a venture fund powered by proprietary data and algorithms. He explains how D3VC identifies high-potential companies by tracking signals across thousands of startups, combining AI-driven insights with human judgement. The conversation dives into how community-backed fundraising is reshaping early-stage investment, why investor sentiment matters, and how founders can position themselves for success before raising capital. Woody also highlights common mistakes founders make, from poor communication to unrealistic valuations, and explains what investors look for beyond the pitch deck. Thank you for listening to The Techne Connect Podcast - where we go behind the tech and ahead of the curve. But we don’t just share stories, we help build them. At Techne Talent, we connect ambitious people with opportunities across the very industries we feature. If you’re inspired by what you hear, speak to us today about where your skills could take you. 👉 Don’t miss an episode: Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 📸 For behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram: @techne_talent 💼 Explore opportunities and connect with us on LinkedIn: Techne Talent Inspire your future. Plug into what’s next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min
  7. Marie-Elisabeth Makohl, CEO & Founder of SEAL Robotics

    APR 22

    Marie-Elisabeth Makohl, CEO & Founder of SEAL Robotics

    We speak with Marie-Elisabeth Makohl, Co-Founder and CEO of SEAL Robotics, to explore how automation is starting to reshape one of the most overlooked parts of global logistics. Marie-Elisabeth shares how a container voyage across the North Atlantic and North Sea led her to build a robotics company focused on container securing, a process still handled manually across ports worldwide. She explains the safety risks, labour pressures, and operational delays tied to this work, and why ports are ready for change. The conversation also covers her path from computer science and robotics at the Technical University of Munich into entrepreneurship, the realities of building a startup in heavy industry, and why product market fit matters more than hype. They discuss fundraising, leadership, multidisciplinary engineering, and the importance of building robotics that fit the real environment, not just the lab. Thank you for listening to The Techne Connect Podcast - where we go behind the tech and ahead of the curve. But we don’t just share stories, we help build them. At Techne Talent, we connect ambitious people with opportunities across the very industries we feature. If you’re inspired by what you hear, speak to us today about where your skills could take you. 👉 Don’t miss an episode: Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 📸 For behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram: @techne_talent 💼 Explore opportunities and connect with us on LinkedIn: Techne Talent Inspire your future. Plug into what’s next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min

About

The Techne Connect Podcast. Behind the tech. Ahead of the curve. From racetracks to rocket labs, battlefield tech to battery breakthroughs; we dive into the world’s most exciting industries to uncover the real stories behind innovation. Each week, we talk to the engineers, thinkers, and trailblazers building the future of mobility, defense, energy, space, data, and more. No fluff, just bold ideas, raw insights, and the kind of inspiration that fuels the next generation of tech talent. Speak to us today to hear about opportunities we may have in the industries our guests are shaping. 🎧 Hit follow or subscribe. Don’t miss what’s next! 📸 See more on Instagram: @techne_talent 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: Techne Talent This is where ambition meets invention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.