Episode 3: Satellite Autonomy with Nate Hamet

In this episode, we hear from Nate Hamet, the co-founder and CEO of Quindar. Quindar is an aerospace startup redefining spacecraft operations with a SaaS offering that manages satellite uptime like servers in a data center. Nate started his career testing and launching billion-dollar government satellites at Lockheed Martin and later joined OneWeb as an early engineer focusing on broadband satellites. At OneWeb, Nate met his five other co-founders who helped build the software to operate the world's first mega satellite constellation.

Key Takeaways

• Learn about the product challenges that arise from managing satellite constellations that must maintain orbit and make regular contact with the ground in spite of temperamental connectivity and antiquated hardware.

• Hear how Quindar has tackled the jobs of dozens of highly paid engineers and astrodynamics experts in one multi-module product

• Understand Quindar's approach of treating satellites as flying servers, abstracting the complexity of different satellite types and operating systems, similar to traditional IT management, but in a cutting edge discipline.

• Find out how a team of six cofounders jointly built conviction for the same product solving the same problems and achieved product-market-fit

• Learn how Quindar decided to start with commercial sales instead of government ones

• Hear how Nate balances using AI for autonomy while protecting safety, and his views on Starlink

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In this episode, we cover:

• Introduction (01:02)

• Quindar's Mission (03:19)

• Satellite Industry Persistent Challenges (04:30)

• Quindar's Approach (06:07)

• Operational Challenges of Flying a Constellation (07:17)

• Why Satellites Require Constant Intervention (09:30)

• Challenges in Maintaining Contact With Earth (12:32)

• How the Industry Dealt with Challenges Pre-Quindar (18:15)

• Rise of Mega Constellations (19:59)

• Quindar's Co-founder Dynamics and Building Joint Conviction (25:27)

• Deciding Which Modules Matter Most and Continuous Learning (31:36)

• Getting Access to Hard to Reach Early Adopters (35:20)

• Hardest Parts of Building Quindar and Heterogenous Systems (39:10)

• Hiring Outside the Industry For Competitive Advantage (44:29)

• Deciding to Start with Commercial, Not Government (45:10)

• Quindar’s Take on Starlink’s Autonomous Constellation (48:27)

• Quindar and Generative AI (51:30)

• Getting in Touch With Nate and Quindar (54:40)

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You can connect with Nate Hamet through the following platforms:

• X: https://x.com/NateHamet

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhamet/

• Website: https://www.quindar.space/

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You can connect with Adam through the following platforms:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-judelson/

• Substack: https://www.emergentproduct.com

• X: https://twitter.com/Ajuggles

• Website: www.firstprinciples.la

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For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast or becoming a guest, email adam@firstprinciples.la.

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