Randall Sosnick

On this week's episode of Lobster Talks, we had the privilege of speaking with Daniel Driscoll, former military officer and co-founder of Elodin (YC W24). Elodin is building the "Unreal Engine for aerospace," a flight software development platform that promises to accelerate innovation and make space exploration more accessible. Key takeaways from our conversation with Dan: -From battlefield to launchpad: Dan's unique journey from serving in Iraq to leading a cutting-edge space tech startup. -The "Unreal Engine" analogy: How Elodin is changing the game for aerospace software development. -Disrupting the status quo: Why agile software practices are essential for the future of space. -Advice for founders: Dan's insights on identifying and solving problems in established industries. This episode is a must-listen! Check out the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eHp_WWGc #aerospace #softwaredevelopment #startups #innovation #spaceexploration #podcast #lobstertalks

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In the earliest stages, startups have to balance two needs: capital to build now, and the focus to create the product that will bring their vision to life. We experienced this journey at Prewitt Ridge, and I had the opportunity to share parts of our story last week at AIAA ASCEND, and I wanted to share some of the highlights here, as well as the video clip captured by my teammate York Zhang! Steve Massey and I incorporated Prewitt Ridge in Dec 2019 and hit the ground running in 2020. Building on our experience as engineers working at SpaceX and Slingshot Aerospace, we set out to take a picks-and-shovels approach to build digital engineering software tooling for engineers like us, who are working at the companies out there using the picks and shovels, here on Earth and soon in space. We quickly found that there were a host of resources available to us. We received initial funding through the SBIR/STTR program, an initiative from the US government to provide early-stage technology funding for small businesses. With two STTR awards and a great university partner at UNM, we began to execute on our product vision. Simultaneously, we received phenomenal support from the Techstars Space Accelerator program. This accelerator helped us focus on the tradeoffs of bootstrapped growth through SBIR/STTR vs traditional fundraising. SBIR/STTR are fantastic sources of capital, providing a partnership that helps small businesses build through non-dilutive funding. But it’s important to remember that these opportunities are focused on specific topics and non-recurring. As a business, it's important to be disciplined on aligning the SBIR/STTR opportunities with your core product features and strategies to ensure they don't impede your teams execution. We made the decision to balance both SBIR/STTR with growth via venture capital. We successfully raised a round of funding, led by Squadra Ventures with participation from Stage Venture Partners, Aurelia Foundry, Wonder Ventures, Haystack, Acequia Capital, Techstars and GC&H We’ve had a wonderful experience working with the VC community, highlighted by the hands-on approach and national security expertise of Squadra Ventures. Going forward, we’ll continue to consider both types of funding. These resources have provided numerous connections to government and industry leaders, and in turn they have helped to focus our tool offering and capabilities. Our journey shows the importance of another balance that startups must strike: reducing risk and optimizing opportunities. Thanks to Techstars, AIAA ASCEND and all of the panelists for a great conversation! If you’re interested in discussing solutions for digital engineering, get in touch! #startups #aerospace #AIAAASCEND

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Who doesn't love chatting about the frontier of Space?! Loved getting this insiders look from Epsilon3 CEO Laura Crabtree (ex-SpaceX, Northrop Grumman) as the industry reshapes into a lightening fast startup ecosystem for us to marvel. Small teams are lowering the cost to access space. Homegrown automation software is dramatically reducing team size -- as Laura puts it: "You won’t see 50 people in a control room for launch…you’ll see 5 controlling 50 different assets and a couple of 100 assets that are mostly operating on their own." Personally i'm keeping a close eye on the new interconnectedness between space and the broader economy will spark a flywheel of innovation. 🎙️ Listen in to our discussion (link in comments) as we release today -- 5YF#16: Space command reimagined, automating mission control, new deep tech hubs, interstellar missions, and the future of space operations w/ Epsilon3 CEO Laura Crabtree To infinity!

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Proud to be an entrepreneur! 🌟 A startup isn’t just how it looks from the outside. It’s about passion, endurance, sacrifice, teamwork, culture, and the willpower to create something unique. At Soaron, I’ve truly experienced what entrepreneurship means. I’ve learned how startups operate, how to build and manage a team, how to make critical decisions, and most importantly, how to fight for your passion. Today marks my 1-year journey with Soaron, and I’m incredibly happy to have had the opportunity to #buildSoaron. 🚀 This is a shoutout to all the entrepreneurs out there, whether you’re running your own startup or supporting one. Keep grinding, and you’ll be fortunate enough to see the results. 💪 #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #KeepGrinding #TeamSoaron

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Flying feels routine after decades, but here’s what keeps it meaningful. For me, flying an airplane is kind of like driving a car. It’s a tool to get to and from work, especially in fighter aviation where the mission is paramount. The real enjoyment, though, comes from how flying closes the gap between places and helps create memorable experiences. After decades of flying, it’s still something I enjoy. Over time, even the most extraordinary skills can start to feel routine. But what matters is how those skills open up freedom and opportunities. Flying may feel like second nature now, but the value isn’t in the act itself, it’s in the experiences, connections, and memories it allows me to create. That’s what keeps it meaningful, no matter how many times I’ve done it.

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"We’re now completely sold out in the US until mid-2027"- Topher Haddad and remaining tasking availability is dwindling globally: https://albedo.com/reserve What is Albedo doing again?? We build and operate satellites that co-collect 10 cm/pixel visible imagery with 2 m/pixel thermal (LWIR) imagery. Native GSDs. ^ resolution comparable to that of imagery collected by planes, but we're doing it from space 🙃 We couldn’t be more excited about our initial customers and are stoked to see who all snags the rest of our remaining capacity. Be among the first commercial end users EVER to have access to this unprecedented dataset. Cheers! https://lnkd.in/gtBuW68c

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If you want to dive deeper into leadership and problem-solving, click here https://lnkd.in/gddJcghQ, and I'll send you an exclusive interview where we talk about how fighter pilot strategies apply to leadership. It’s full of insights and real stories that could make a big difference in how you lead under pressure! - When you're facing a potential aircraft mishap, the decision to eject or stay with the plane is intense. It's in moments like these that you have to rely completely on your training and instincts. Staying calm under pressure is crucial, and leadership plays a huge role in making those quick, life-or-death decisions. Sometimes continuing to fly the plane, if you're still able, can actually prevent the situation from getting worse. It’s a lesson in persistence and keeping your cool when everything seems like it’s falling apart. Leadership in high-pressure situations is about using what you’ve learned, trusting your gut, and making the best call in the moment. #misshap #aviation #fighterjet #fighterpilot #aviationvideos #viral

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Here is a little tip for deep tech startups. Update your pitchbook and CrunchBase company profiles once in a while. It only takes a couple minutes, and the number of people we've had reaching out wanting to invest cause they saw us there has been kind of crazy. Since we closed a round couple months back we've had someone reach out at least once if not twice a week wanting to throw in a couple mil (in our most recent round we only raised few hundred grand). Super flexible on terms too. Doesn't mean you should take it unless you have a good reason, but if you're building deep tech where lot of the time there isn't much public it's nice to feel like a normal startup and getting to be super picky on finding the perfect fit while still moving fast.

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On this exact day, 45 years ago ⏳ 🗓 👇 ▶ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧 The Gossamer Albatross was a human-powered aircraft designed by aeronautical engineer Paul MacCready. It made history by flying across the English Channel powered solely by human energy, specifically through the pedaling efforts of cyclist, pilot, software engineer, and self-taught glider Bryan Allen. ▶ 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗜𝗧 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡 This remarkable feat occurred on June 12, 1979. The Gossamer Albatross took off from Folkestone, England, and landed at Cap Gris-Nez, France, covering a distance of 22 miles (35.8 kilometers). ▶ 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗜𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 It demonstrated the incredible potential of engineering and it embodied the recurring human dream of reaching the skies. This milestone in aviation history paved the way for further advancements in aerospace technology. ▶ 𝗠𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗧 Reflecting on the Gossamer Albatross's engineering achievement and the pioneering spirit it represents, it's inspiring to see how far we've come over these years of innovative evolution. The recent milestone of SpaceX launching and landing its Starship, reaching an altitude of about 211 kilometers before a smooth descent, exemplifies the ongoing advancements in aerospace technology. This remarkable feat not only showcases what engineering can accomplish but also highlights the potential for innovation in aircraft design, materials, configurations, and systems. As we celebrate past achievements, it’s exciting to envision the future possibilities for human flight on Earth and in space. I look forward to seeing continued innovation and breakthroughs in this field, driven by the same spirit of exploration and ingenuity that powered the Gossamer Albatross. These accomplishments serve as an inspiration to push the boundaries of engineering even further. And now let me know: What do you dream about for the future of flight? Share your thoughts with me. 👇 BTW, the image in this post was generated by AI, using Midjourney. #AviationHistory #Innovation #GossamerAlbatross #Technology #Engineering

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DUAL USE That's what I've been up to at Tesseract Ventures for our brave men and women in the #AirForce! READ THIS. WATCH THIS. Maximizing Airbase Efficiency with Real-Time Asset Tracking Military Airbase operations demand precision and responsiveness. Tesseract’s PRISM and ECHO systems bring unparalleled accuracy and efficiency to asset management, allowing seamless equipment tracking, maintenance monitoring, and personnel coordination. Our advanced digital twin technology provides real-time situational awareness across the entire base, ensuring mission-critical resources are always at the ready. Outcomes and Benefits: - Real-Time Tracking: Instantly locate essential equipment to expedite resource deployment and reduce downtime. - Maintenance Monitoring: Ensure operational readiness by tracking equipment conditions and maintenance needs to prevent delays. - Personnel Coordination: Improve personnel management by tracking locations and offering remote access to vital equipment. - Direct Communication: Issue real-time task orders and updates directly to troops for enhanced responsiveness. - Enhanced Situational Awareness: Our digital twin provides comprehensive, on-demand visibility of base operations from any location. Tesseract empowers airbases to achieve unmatched safety, readiness, and operational efficiency. #AirbaseManagement #RealTimeTracking #TesseractVentures #MissionReady #Airforce #Military #USSOCOM #Veterans #SBIR #DigitalTwin #Inventors #AmericanIngenuity Kansas Department of Commerce

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𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐄𝐓𝐋𝐘, 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐂𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐒.   𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐫, 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬. 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬. But with a gentle nudge Mr. Zane Leake, Signature’s VP of Sales, was kind enough to offer an abbreviated update on their current ongoing expansion – something I only learned about a few months ago. Without giving up too much, he shared that the expansion’s purpose is all about efficiency – a means by which to enhance and bolster their ability to serve customers and grow their available service capacity. Just how much efficiency gain? Again with a little prodding, Mr. Leake said they are anticipating a 30 to 40% gain – quite impressive and not without a lot of careful planning.   As for when the project is set to complete and become operational, Mr. Leake happily projected a third-quarter completion.   Signature Plating has quietly risen from a modest Texas-based plating enterprise to an aviation powerhouse plating and coatings provider – serving clients worldwide. Their customer base has steadily grown right along with their reputation – and now it appears a significant facility expansion is the next plateau in their evolution.   More to follow here as the year unfolds. In the meantime, be sure and visit Signature at this year’s NBAA/BACE in Las Vegas when more details will likely be disclosed.   𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡. https://lnkd.in/d8RWEnsG

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I’m excited to share that I’ve decided to document my journey as I build FinchTech AI into a successful startup. I’ll be sharing what I’ve done so far, my weekly goals, the challenges I face, and the successes I achieve along the way; the good, the bad, and the ugly. So far, I’ve built my initial website from scratch, established the FinchTech AI brand, and begun developing the MVP for my first AI tool, CalculAI. This tool is designed to assist engineers in selecting the best materials and manufacturing processes. It’s already functional, with a conversational interface that can handle basic material selection tasks, though there’s still work to do. What I’ve Accomplished: • Trained and integrated a RandomForestClassifier model for material recommendations. • Built a conversational interface for user interaction. • Improved the AI’s ability to handle different scenarios and make better recommendations. This Week’s Focus: • Enhancing the AI’s decision-making with a decision tree structure. • Improving scenario recognition to make the AI more intuitive. • Implementing a hybrid approach to better guide users through complex decision-making. • Start the build of website 2.0. Long-Term Goals: My vision is to launch CalculAI as a valuable tool for the engineering industry, secure funding to expand my team, and develop additional AI tools to address other engineering challenges. Challenges: With no technical background in software development and experience as a project manager in the engineering industry, I’ve self-taught myself web design and AI development. The journey has been filled with obstacles; many times I’ve wanted to quit, but each day I pushed a little further. Today, I’m proud to say I have a working AI tool, even if it’s just the bare minimum right now (Plan to show a demo later this week) 🚀 . I’m inviting you all to join me on this journey. If you have advice, I’m all ears, and if you have questions, I’m happy to answer. Let’s connect, share insights, and support each other as we navigate the startup world. #AI #Startup #Engineering #MachineLearning #TechInnovation #Entrepreneurship #ProductDevelopment #Resilience #Leadership #Innovation

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The journey at Hylio has been nothing short of extraordinary. For the past 10 years, I’ve worked tirelessly to build a future of agriculture that’s smarter, more efficient, and truly transformative for farmers. We are excited to announce our upcoming potential equity crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine, which will provide an opportunity for early supporters to participate in Hylio’s next growth phase. https://lnkd.in/dWtUZWTF While this is a significant step for us, it also represents exciting progress for the agricultural and drone technology industries as a whole. To mark this milestone, we’re hosting a special celebration on November 1st in Austin, after Austin Tech Week It’s going to be an exciting night filled with big ideas, bold plans, and a look into the future of what’s possible with Hylio leading the charge. If you’re curious about what we’re building, feel free to reach out to me. I truly believe that this is one of those ‘right place, right time’ moments—and I feel blessed to have an opportunity to be involved in something that’s poised to reshape the future. You can also reserve your shares early through StartEngine to secure your place in this incredible journey. The future of agriculture is unfolding now, and we’d love for you to join us and help shape it. ATX Tech Week: https://lnkd.in/dNeHs_ZS 📅 Event Date: November 1st 6:00PM 📍 Location: Omni Hotel, Austin TX Hylio Fundraising Afterparty: (RSVP Below) https://lu.ma/o5sx1ea5 📅 Event Date: November 1st 9:30PM 📍 Location: Parlor & Yard, Austin, TX Hylio StartEngine: Reserve your shares today!  https://lnkd.in/dWtUZWTF NO MONEY OR OTHER CONSIDERATION IS BEING SOLICITED, AND IF SENT IN RESPONSE, WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. NO OFFER TO BUY THE SECURITIES CAN BE ACCEPTED AND NO PART OF THE PURCHASE PRICE CAN BE RECEIVED UNTIL THE OFFERING STATEMENT IS FILED AND ONLY THROUGH AN INTERMEDIARY’S PLATFORM. AN INDICATION OF INTEREST INVOLVES NO OBLIGATION OR COMMITMENT OF ANY KIND. "RESERVING" SECURITIES IS SIMPLY AN INDICATION OF INTEREST. Arthur Erickson Nikhil Dixit Nick Nawratil Capital Factory

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Want to know how flying can shatter self-imposed limits? I'm passionate about teaching and using aviation to inspire others. When someone realizes they can actually fly an airplane, it's a light bulb moment that challenges their self-limiting beliefs and opens up new possibilities. Seeing that transformation is amazing. Mentorship is a big part of this, and I love helping others realize and surpass their perceived limitations through hands-on experiences. Leadership is key in this journey. Guiding someone to break through their boundaries and achieve something they thought was impossible requires strong leadership skills. It’s about inspiring confidence and showing them that they are capable of more than they ever imagined. Very soon, I'll be sharing my leadership skills with you. If you're ready to push past your limits and unlock new potential, stay tuned to my socials! #aviation #leadership #motivational #mindsetmotivation #motivationalclips 

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Getting into personal aviation? It's like unlocking a whole new world! Think about it: with your own plane, you're breaking free from the confines of traditional travel. Whether it's zipping off for a weekend getaway or hopping between business meetings without the hassle of commercial flights, personal aviation opens up a world of possibilities. Also, time is our most valuable resource and taing advantage of opportunities through aviation allows you to make more impactful memroeis and connections. #personalaircraft #aircraft #airforce #aviation #aviationlovers #aviationgeek

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Progress Update on CalculAI: Delays, Challenges, and Pushing Forward 🚀 As much as I hoped to release the beta MVP of CalculAI this week, I’ve faced a few more hurdles—unless a miracle happens! Being self-taught and new to startups, I’m learning a lot on the fly. While using Jupyter Notebook and other tools to test and build the core functions went smoothly, building the user interface has thrown up some unexpected challenges. I’ve been dealing with missing code, incorrect page routing, visual issues, and missing functionality—all of which have caused delays. But the good news is: I’m getting closer to release! For those asking, what’s a beta MVP? 💡 The Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is a product that provides a small but valuable feature set to early users. The beta MVP may offer similar features but will have some rough edges. The dynamic chat function will already bring immense value, but other parts of the tool are still in early stages and will greatly benefit from your feedback. The vision for CalculAI is big—it’s not just about transforming material selection. I want to revolutionise the supply chain and even the design process for engineers. Taking it one day at a time, I know I’ll get ever closer to this goal. If you’re curious and want to learn more, feel free to message me or drop a comment—I’m more than happy to answer your questions. And if you’re interested in getting involved and building something that will one day redefine engineering processes, I’d love to connect! #AI #StartupJourney #MVP #TechDevelopment #Innovation #SupplyChain #MaterialSelection #DesignEngineering #EngineeringTools #CalculAI #Entrepreneurship #MachineLearning #ProductDevelopment #Startup #Investor

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An incredible deep dive from Nathan M. into the cultural and structural issues that are plaguing Boeing and how they got to where they are today. This article should be turned into a business school case study it's that good. And many of these issues aren't unique to Boeing. The focus on financial engineering over actual engineering is an issue at play in many scaled aerospace and defense companies. A definite must-read! https://lnkd.in/gkdpF2tM

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Want to know what the California Air Resources Board had to say about #ACFR implementation last night? Cloverleaf AI monitors these hearings distills insights, so your team can stay focused on doing their job. Reach out for a free customized summary! #cleanfleet #Advancedcleanfleet #Fleetelectrification #EVfleet #Hydrogenfleet

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