Building A European Global Champion with Hélène Huby

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske sits down with Hélène Huby, the co-founder and CEO of The Exploration Company. Founded in 2021, the company is on a mission to democratise access to space by developing Nyx, a reusable and in-orbit refillable cargo spacecraft designed to fly to any space station.Hélène shares her remarkable journey from serving as a top executive at Airbus and ArianeGroup—where she led the Orion European Service Module programme—to declining a promotion to start her own venture from scratch with just four people and €50,000. Now, with over €300 million raised and a team of 450, the company is positioned as the European answer to SpaceX and is the first European firm to sign a Space Act agreement with NASA. The conversation explores the strategic development of a global company with European roots, the vital importance of international collaboration, and the unique challenges of scaling a hardware powerhouse in the space industry.What you’ll learn in this episode:The Alternative to SpaceX: Why the global space industry requires competition and diversity beyond a single dominant player to ensure sovereignty and choice.Strategic Regional Excellence: How Hélène’s team leverages specific engineering strengths across Germany (avionics/software), France (re-entry/engines), and Italy (life support/mechanisms).From Corporate to Startup: The risks and mental shift involved in leaving an executive role at a global giant to "write space history" independently.The Power of Collaboration: Insights into the landmark NASA Space Act agreement and the vision for a universal vehicle that serves humanity globally.Hiring for Innovation: How to integrate the expertise of veterans from SpaceX and Airbus with the agile mindset of new talent to avoid recreating old corporate structures.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to DeepTech Unleashed and The Exploration Company01:13 The Vision Behind The Exploration Company04:28 Building a Global Company with European Roots10:28 Competing with SpaceX and the Need for Alternatives17:25 Cultivating a Unique Company Culture20:49 Navigating Regulation and Funding Challenges27:06 Best Practices for Space Startups30:20 The Role of ESA in Supporting Startups34:44 Leadership Style and Personal Insights40:02 Moments of Magic in the Journey42:47 Personal Life and Balancing WorkAbout the Guest: Hélène HubyHélène Huby is the co-founder and CEO of The Exploration Company. A former executive at Airbus and ArianeGroup, she led the Orion European Service Module programme and has been involved in some of the most complex European space programmes, including Ariane and ATV. Under her leadership, The Exploration Company has become one of the fastest-growing space firms in Europe, focused on developing reusable spacecraft that provide universal access to space.Follow Hélène on LinkedIn HEREFind out more about The Exploration Company at: exploration.spaceAbout the Host: Christian NoskeChristian Noske is a Partner at NGP Capital, where he focuses on industrial tech, enterprise software, and deep tech investments. With a wealth of experience in the venture capital landscape, Christian is dedicated to supporting founders who are solving complex technical challenges. Through DeepTech Unleashed, he brings listeners behind the scenes of the world’s most ambitious startups to uncover the human stories behind the hardware and code. Follow Christian Noske on LinkedIn HEREFind out more about NGP Capital at: ngpcap.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.