The Lobster Talks Podcast by Lobster Capital

Join us for an intriguing discussion with Stef from Reditus Space as we explore the potential of zero gravity manufacturing. Learn how Reditus Space aims to revolutionize production by using reusable satellites to create unique and superior materials in space. Discover the challenges and exciting opportunities this new frontier presents, from pharmaceuticals to semiconductors, and even the possibility of organ manufacturing. Dive deep into the fascinating world of space factories, the impact of AI, reusability in space travel, and the future of space exploration. 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Meet Stef 00:34 Zero G Manufacturing 01:43 Challenges and Opportunities 05:38 Returning from Space 08:37 Future of Space Manufacturing 16:07 The Journey of Reditus Space 18:23 Upcoming Mission 20:38 Risk Mitigation 21:20 Economics 22:45 Reusability 25:43 Reentry 31:13 Future of Space Manufacturing 35:29 Human Presence in Space 37:50 Book Rec

In this episode of The Lobster Talks, we delve into the current state of the tech investment landscape, highlighting how fear and uncertainty in the market, partly driven by political factors like Trump's tariffs, influence investor behavior. Gabriel discusses the unique ecosystem of Y Combinator (YC) and its resilience during tumultuous times, noting that the best startups tend to thrive even when broader market conditions are bearish. The conversation also touches on the importance of investing during down cycles, the impact of AI on accelerating business processes, and the significance of founder passion and personal connection to their problem space. Gabriel also offers insights into the role of content creation and personal branding for founders, emphasizing how these elements can serve as powerful tools for customer acquisition and value creation. 00:00 Intro 00:51 Current Funding Landscape and Market Uncertainty 01:55 The Resilience of YC Startups 07:32 The Importance of Founder Passion and Connection 17:53 The Role of Pivots in Startup Success 22:55 Evaluating AI Investments and Technical Moats 28:56 The Power of Content and Personal Branding 33:41 Conclusion

In this episode of Lobster Talks, I sit down with Ashi and Reza, the unstoppable founders of Spaceium—a YC-backed startup building orbital gas stations. 🚀 They share the raw and incredible story of how they went from nearly homeless right before YC to raising $6.3M, signing $86.5M in commercial contracts, and securing $1B+ in LOIs—all before launching their first mission to space. We cover: How they pitched an insanely hard idea and actually built it The truth about LOIs and how they converted them into binding contracts YC’s impact on hardware companies How they managed product, sales, and investor traction simultaneously—while not sleeping 🧠💥 Whether you're a founder, investor, or just obsessed with space, this episode is a masterclass in grit, hardtech, and startup survival. 00:00 Introduction to Spaceium 00:25 Meet the Founders: Ashi and Reza 00:44 Spaceium's Revolutionary Space Stations 01:56 Challenges and Innovations in Space Refueling 04:02 The Dual Mission: Refueling and Repairing 05:13 Competing with SpaceX? 06:24 From Homeless to YC Success 08:59 The Power of LOIs and Contracts 11:42 The YC Experience and Building Hardware 20:00 Building Hardware in the US 20:45 Managing Customer Expectations 22:40 From LOIs to Binding Contracts 24:06 Setting Timelines for Startups 26:38 Pricing Strategies for Unbuilt Products 29:11 Upcoming Missions and Exciting Developments 30:58 Challenges and Rewards of Building Hard Tech 32:55 Book Recommendations and Final Thoughts 36:21 Where to Follow and Contact Us

In this episode of Lobster Talks, Gabriel dives deep into the groundbreaking Y Combinator Winter 2025 Demo Day. Discover how the latest YC batch shattered revenue records, including a startup already pulling in $50 million in profits and another hitting $2 million in revenue at demo day. They discuss why the quality bar is rising, the explosion of AI-powered startups, and whether the AI wave has peaked or is just getting started. Plus, get insights on what metrics truly matter beyond vanity revenue, navigating technical debt in the era of AI-generated code, and the strategic decisions founders face regarding fundraising and acquisitions. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at the future of startup investing.

00:00 - 00:50 Intro 00:50 - 01:23 What's StarCloud? 1:23 - 02:05 Why GPUs in Space? 02:05 - 03:35 Abundant Energy 03:35 - 05:50 Why No One Did It Before 05:50 - 07:30 Starship Economics 07:30 - 08:50 Philip’s Background 08:50 - 10:00 Can Anyone Start a Space Company? 10:00 - 12:30 Building in Space 12:30 - 13:20 Does Space Solar Affect Earth? 13:20 - 17:00 Raising an $11M Seed Round 17:00 - 19:00 Spending Habits 19:00 - 20:00 Hiring at StarCloud 20:00 - 21:00 Relocating 21:00 - 24:15 Hard vs. Easy Startups 24:15 - 25:35 Skepticism & Critics 25:35 - 27:00 The Rebrand 27:00 - 29:25 Next Steps 29:25 - 30:25 Book Recommendations 30:25 - 30:56 Closing Thought In this episode of The Lobster Talks, we sit down with Philip Johnston, Founder & CEO of Starcloud (formerly Lumen Orbit). He’s on a groundbreaking mission to build massive GPU data centers in outer space—tapping into abundant solar energy, sidestepping Earth’s power constraints, and completely rethinking what’s possible for cloud computing. Listen in as we explore: • How Starcloud plans to harness orbital launch cost drops (thanks, Starship!) • Why running GPUs in space could transform data processing • The challenges and breakthroughs of launching a next-gen satellite • Raising a massive seed round—oversubscribed by top VCs If you’re curious about the frontier of hardware, AI, and space tech, don’t miss this deep dive into the future of data centers… in orbit! Enjoying the show? Give us a like, subscribe for more founder spotlights, and stay tuned for the next episode of The Lobster Talks by Lobster Capital!

Join us on the Lobster Talks Podcast as host Gabrielle sits down with Michel Tricot, co-founder and CEO of Airbyte—the open-source data integration platform that skyrocketed to a billion-dollar valuation in record time. Michel reveals Airbyte’s origin story (including scrapping their first product in the midst of COVID), how they built a thriving open-source community, and their unique approach to monetization. Get ready for insights on scaling without burning cash, harnessing AI to automate the mundane, and the power of “making something people need. ” Don’t miss this episode if you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or tech enthusiast looking to understand Airbyte’s meteoric rise and the future of data infrastructure!

In this episode of The Lobster Talks, I’m joined by entrepreneur-turned-investor Johannes Hatt. After founding and exiting multiple companies—including a SaaS startup scaled to 300 employees and 30M ARR—Johannes has invested in over 80 early-stage startups and over 10 venture funds. Now, he’s jumping back into the CEO seat! We Discuss • His journey from founding companies to investing in startups and funds • How he analyzes opportunities—both as an angel and as an LP • Why Europe’s startup ecosystem has potential (despite U.S. dominance) • The “checklist” he uses before writing any check • His return to building and operating a startup Johannes also shares practical insights on aligning incentives, navigating illiquidity, and scouting for that elusive 100x return. If you found this conversation helpful, like this video, subscribe to the channel, and let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments! Timestamps 0:00 Introduction & Johannes’s Background 2:13 From Founder to Angel Investor to LP 8:47 How He Picks Funds & Why Differentiated Deal Flow Matters 14:10 Europe vs. U.S.: The Opportunity Gap 20:56 Rules for Investing (And When to Break Them) 24:32 Why Johannes Is Returning as CEO 27:45 Key Takeaways & Wrap-Up Thanks for tuning in, and we’ll see you next time on The Lobster Talks!

In this episode of The Lobster Talks, I chat with Varsha—co-founder of Offstream, a YC-backed startup helping big infrastructure projects (solar farms, data centers, and more) secure crucial carbon-compliance certifications. Varsha shares how her consulting background and direct experience with manual, PDF-heavy compliance processes inspired her to build a smarter, AI-driven solution—something she likens to “Vanta for Carbon Compliance.” Key Topics We Cover • Why Carbon Compliance Matters – How certifications unlock massive revenue opportunities for developers building solar facilities, renewable fuels, data centers, and more. • Building Offstream – How Varsha’s firsthand frustration with manual reporting led to the idea for Offstream and eventually landed them in Y Combinator’s Summer 24 batch. • The Power of AI in Compliance – Where AI can streamline complex data extraction and predictive recommendations, transforming what was once a major bottleneck. • Balancing Big Ambitions & Personal Growth – Varsha’s views on mentorship, coaching, and staying motivated by celebrating “the gain” while striving for big goals. • Life after YC – Why Offstream chose Denver over the Bay Area, current product milestones, and what’s next on their roadmap. If you’re a founder exploring hard-to-automate niches, or just curious about how AI is reshaping climate tech, this episode is for you. Timestamps 0:00 Introduction & How Gabriel Met Varsha 3:18 The Spark Behind Offstream (Vanta for Carbon Compliance) 6:35 Navigating YC & Key Takeaways 10:42 The Role of AI in Streamlining Carbon Credits 14:50 Personal Mentors, Coaching & Founders’ Mentality 20:11 Real-Time Data & AI Agents in Sustainability Projects 24:18 Denver Headquarters & Future of Offstream 28:40 Pricing Challenges & Industry Partnerships 32:00 Recommended Reading: The Gap and the Gain + Lean In 34:22 Where to Connect & Final Thoughts Enjoy the conversation? Like, Subscribe, and turn on Notifications so you don’t miss any future episodes of The Lobster Talks! And if you’re on a podcast platform, drop us a 5-star rating. Connect with Offstream: Website: https://useoffstream.com/ LinkedIn: Varsha’s Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varsha-ramesh/ Thanks for watching! Feel free to leave questions or comments below.

In this episode of The Lobster Talks, we’re joined by Wayne Crosby, a true startup veteran with a remarkable full-circle journey: • 2007: Wayne became a Y Combinator founder in one of the earliest cohorts, quickly landing a Google acquisition that evolved into Google Slides. • A Decade at Google: He stayed on to help grow G Suite, diving into AI and shaping how millions of users collaborate online. • Startup #2 & Another Exit: After co-founding a second company with Google’s former CHRO, he returned to YC as a Visiting Group Partner to coach a new generation of founders. • Today: Wayne is back to building as founder/CEO of Orgorg.com, a toolset for seamless team management and productivity, integrating AI under the hood. We talk early YC days, Google’s culture of innovation, what it’s really like behind the scenes as a YC Partner, and why Wayne ultimately returned to his roots as a builder. If you’re curious about AI’s impact on future jobs, or just want insider knowledge on startup growth, this is a must-listen. Key Discussion Points • The magic (and myths) of the very first YC cohorts • Lessons from building Google Slides and leading teams inside Big Tech • Why AI is more than just a buzzword—and how Wayne is weaving it into Orgorg.com • Life as a YC Visiting Group Partner—what founders should really know • Embracing your inner builder: how Wayne found his true passion in startup creation Enjoy the episode? Subscribe, give us a 5-star rating, and share your favorite part in the comments! Timestamps 0:00 Welcome & Wayne’s Background 4:17 Early YC Days (2007) 9:32 Google Acquisition & Lessons Learned 14:45 AI at Google & Future of Work 22:10 From Founder to Visiting YC Group Partner 28:55 Building Orgorg.com & Founder Insights 38:16 Balancing Family & Startup Life 43:00 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Thanks for tuning in to The Lobster Talks!

In this episode of The Lobster Talks Podcast, Laurie joins me once again to dissect Y Combinator’s brand-new Request for Startups—released just three months after their last one! We explore what’s behind YC’s accelerated timeline, the massive surge of AI innovation, and why now might be the best (and most challenging) time to build or invest in cutting-edge tech. From hardware breakthroughs and AI-powered agents to the “DocuSign 2.0” and data centers of the future, YC’s RFS signals a shift into deeper, more technical territory. We dig into how founders can stand out, the importance of iterating fast, and what investors should consider in this fast-moving AI landscape. Topics Covered • Why YC introduced a new RFS so soon and what it means for AI startups • The rise of AI agents and how they’re transforming business operations • Hardware vs. software innovation—and the traction investors want to see • Evaluating top-tier technical founders when speed is everything • Why YC remains the go-to launchpad for AI-driven companies Enjoy the conversation, and if you find it valuable: Subscribe to the channel for more insights on AI and startup investing.Like & Share this video with fellow founders and investors.Leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform—it really helps! Thanks for tuning in, and we’ll catch you on the next episode of The Lobster Talks!