Deep Tech Catalyst

The Scenarionist

Deep Tech Catalyst is the podcast by The Scenarionist on Deep Tech venture capital and entrepreneurship. Host Nicola Marchese talks with founders, VCs, CVCs, and industry leaders from around the world about how breakthrough companies are built, funded, and scaled. From semiconductors and AI infrastructure to energy, critical minerals, robotics, and biotech, explore where technology, capital, and industry meet.

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Avg 24 min
English

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Yesterday · 33 min
Niron Magnetics: What It Takes to Bring New Magnets to Industrial Scale
Developing a breakthrough material is one challenge. Turning it into a product customers can adopt, manufacturing it at industrial scale, and finding the capital to support that transition are entirely different ones. In this episode of Deep Tech Catalyst, Tom Grainger, Interim CFO and VP of Commercial & Corporate Development at Niron Magnetics, joins Nicola Marchese to explore how the company is bringing its rare-earth-free iron nitride magnets from laboratory research toward industrial production. --- Join 3,000+ deep tech founders, investors, and operators at thescenarionist.com for our newsletter, the full episode, and additional Strategic Insights. --- The conversation examines how to translate new materials into solutions customers can actually use, why application engineering matters in B2B adoption, and how to develop a sales pipeline alongside pilot manufacturing. Tom also discusses the decisions behind selecting scalable industrial processes, determining which production steps to keep in-house, financing the transition from pilot to factory, and choosing early markets without limiting future commercial opportunities. --- Host: Nicola Marchese, Founder @ The Scenarionist Guest: Tom Grainger, Interim CFO & VP of Commercial & Corporate Development @ Niron Magnetics --- Follow Deep Tech Catalyst on Spotify for more conversations with the founders, investors, and operators building the next generation of deep tech companies. --- #DeepTech #NironMagnetics #AdvancedMaterials #Manufacturing #VentureCapital #IndustrialScaleUp --- Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice.
November 6 · 26 min
Venturing into Physical AI
E14 Fund Managing Partner Calvin Chin joins Deep Tech Catalyst to explore how Physical AI ventures move from scientific breakthroughs to commercial opportunities, covering market validation, fundraising strategy, execution speed, and competitive defensibility. --- Join 3,000+ Deep Tech founders, investors, and operators! Subscribe free to The Scenarionist newsletter 👉 https://thescenarionist.com --- The conversation explores the emerging opportunities in Physical AI and robotics, the transition from scientific research to venture creation, and the differences between a scientist's mindset and a founder's mindset. It explores technology-first commercialization, early customer validation, and how startups can align business milestones with fundraising requirements. The discussion also covers the natural limits of execution speed, learning velocity as a competitive advantage, the importance of reversible and irreversible decisions, strategic capital allocation, and hiring strategies for early-stage deep tech companies. --- Host: Nicola Marchese, Founder @ The Scenarionist Guest: Calvin Chin, Managing Partner @ E14 Fund --- #DeepTech #PhysicalAI #VentureCapital #Robotics #DeepTechStartups #Commercialization #Fundraising #Startups #HardTech #AI --- Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice.
October 30 · 20 min
Venturing into Road Innovation
HG Ventures Managing Director Ginger Rothrock joins Deep Tech Catalyst to explore the business of road innovation, from advanced materials and construction robotics to the procurement systems, field validation, and industrial partnerships that determine how new technologies reach the market. --- Join 3,000+ Deep Tech founders, investors, and operators! Subscribe free to The Scenarionist newsletter 👉 https://thescenarionist.com --- The conversation examines who buys and approves road technologies, why lowest-bid procurement can constrain innovation, and how startups can leverage test tracks, pilot projects, and industry partnerships to establish credibility. It also covers task-level construction automation, realistic commercialization timelines, early validation milestones for materials and software, and the role of patient capital, strategic storytelling, and value-based business models in scaling industrial technologies. --- Host: Nicola Marchese, Founder @ The Scenarionist Guest: Ginger Rothrock, Managing Director @ HG Ventures --- #DeepTech #VentureCapital #ConstructionTech #RoadInnovation #Infrastructure #ConstructionRobotics #Startups #HardTech --- Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice.
October 23 · 21 min
Building the Minimum Viable Factory
Mojave Energy Systems CEO Philip Farese on building the minimum viable factory and scaling a Deep Tech hardware company, from coordinating technology, manufacturing, and sales to balancing outsourcing with in-house production and financing industrial growth. --- Join 3,000+ Deep Tech founders, investors, and operators! Subscribe to our newsletter 👉 https://thescenarionist.com --- We discuss how founders validate technology and customer needs in parallel, build early teams, balance customization with standardization in B2B sales, navigate manufacturing decisions, align the cost of capital with risk, and meet changing investor expectations from Seed to Series B. --- Host: Nicola Marchese, founder @ The Scenarionist Guest: Philip Farese, CEO @ Mojave Energy Systems --- #DeepTech #VentureCapital #HardwareStartups #Manufacturing #Industrialization #ClimateTech #HVAC #Startups #Founders --- Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice.
October 16 · 21 min
Building Ahead of the Grid
IONATE founder and CEO Matthew Williams on building a Deep Tech company ahead of evolving power grid needs, from validating market demand and financing hardware development to choosing investors and preparing for commercial scale. --- Join 3,000+ Deep Tech founders, investors, and operators! Subscribe to our newsletter 👉 https://thescenarionist.com/welcome --- We discuss how founders anticipate emerging customer needs, navigate utility purchasing decisions, fund hardware milestones from Seed to Series A, select the right investors, build engineering teams, and prepare for broader commercial deployment. --- Host: Nicola Marchese, founder @ The Scenarionist Guest: Matthew Williams, founder and CEO @ IONATE --- #DeepTech #VentureCapital #EnergyGrid #GridTechnology #EnergyTransition #HardwareStartups #Startups --- Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice.
October 9 · 25 min
What the Lab Can't Tell You About Scale
pH7 Technologies founder and CEO Mohammad Doostmohammadi on what it takes to move a Deep Tech company from laboratory validation toward commercialization, from techno-economic modeling and market validation to capital strategy and industrial scale-up. --- Join 3,000+ Deep Tech founders, investors, and operators! Subscribe to our newsletter 👉 https://thescenarionist.com⁠ --- We discuss how founders test whether the economics work, validate customer demand before scaling, rethink the technology when assumptions break, position themselves within existing industrial value chains, and combine equity with non-dilutive funding to finance growth. --- Host: Nicola Marchese, founder @ The Scenarionist Guest: Mohammad Doostmohammadi, founder and CEO @ pH7 Technologies --- #DeepTech #VentureCapital #CriticalMinerals #AdvancedMaterials #Startups #Industrialization #Mining --- Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice.
August 14 · 1 min
1,000 Days. 130 Episodes. And It’s Just Getting Started. Deep Tech Catalyst is preparing for its next chapter.
Dear friends, A few days ago, Deep Tech Catalyst marked an important milestone: 1,000 days since I released the very first one. 1,000 days. 130 episodes. More than 2,500 minutes of conversations, ideas, and lessons from across the Deep Tech ecosystem. To mark this milestone, I wrote a more personal post about how Deep Tech Catalyst started, what I learned along the way, how the ecosystem has changed since 2023, and where we are heading next. I also share some behind-the-scenes reflections, the questions that originally pushed me to start this project, and why I believe it is now time for the podcast to evolve. ✍️ Read the full post here: https://www.thescenarionist.com/p/1000-days-130-episodes-deeptech-catalyst Deep Tech Catalyst will take a short break for a few weeks while I work on its next chapter. In the meantime, The Scenarionist will continue at full speed with new Deep Tech Briefings, strategic deep dives, case studies, and analyses every week. 👉 You can subscribe to our newsletter here: thescenarionist.com/welcome And if you have questions, thoughts, or curiosities, leave them in the comments below. This is not a goodbye. Just a short pause before the next chapter. Talk soon, Nicola ---------- #Founders #Startups #DeepTech #VentureCapital #HardTech #TheScenarionist ---------- Disclaimer: This content is provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. Given the complexity and potential impact of these terms, it is crucial to consult with an attorney. Legal expertise is invaluable in navigating these technical aspects and ensuring that the terms are in your best interests before finalizing any agreements.
July 31 · 25 min
Advanced Materials for Photonics: Market Validation, Foundry Strategy, and Scale. A chat with Tobias Egle, Senior Associate at Fine Structure Ventures
Host: Nicola Marchese Guest: Tobias Egle, Senior Associate at Fine Structure Ventures ---------- 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter: ⁠thescenarionist.com/welcome⁠ ---------- #Founders #Startups #AdvancedMaterials #Semiconductors #DeepTech #VentureCapital #AI ---------- Disclaimer: This content is provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. Given the complexity and potential impact of these terms, it is crucial to consult with an attorney. Legal expertise is invaluable in navigating these technical aspects and ensuring that the terms are in your best interests before finalizing any agreements.
July 24 · 32 min
Venturing into Industrial Cybersecurity: AI, Adoption, and Scale. A chat with Vincent Berk, Partner at Apprentis Ventures
Host: Nicola Marchese Guest: Vincent Berk, Partner at Apprentis Ventures ---------- 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter: thescenarionist.com/welcome ---------- #PhysicalAI #Founders #Startups #Cybersecurity #AI#DeepTech #VentureCapital #B2BSoftware ---------- Disclaimer: This content is provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. Given the complexity and potential impact of these terms, it is crucial to consult with an attorney. Legal expertise is invaluable in navigating these technical aspects and ensuring that the terms are in your best interests before finalizing any agreements.
July 17 · 27 min
Deep Tech for Manufacturing: From Prototype to International Markets. A chat with Sabrina Sasaki Partner at Monozukuri Ventures
Host: Nicola Marchese Guest: Sabrina Sasaki, Partner at Monozukuri Ventures ---------- 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thescenarionist.com⁠⁠ ---------- #PhysicalAI #DeepTech #Founders #IndustrialAutomation #Robotics #HardwareStartups #VentureCapital #DeepTechInvesting #Manufacturing #Innovation #Commercialization #Startups ---------- Disclaimer: This content is provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. Given the complexity and potential impact of these terms, it is crucial to consult with an attorney. Legal expertise is invaluable in navigating these technical aspects and ensuring that the terms are in your best interests before finalizing any agreements.
July 3 · 30 min
Semiconductors from Lab to Market: The Movidius Journey. A chat with Sean Mitchell, Co-Founder and Former CEO of Movidius
Host: Nicola Marchese Guest: Sean Mitchell, Co-Founder and Former CEO of Movidius 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter for more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thescenarionist.com⁠ ---------- #Chiplets #Semiconductors #AICompute #DeepTech #DeepTechStartups #VentureCapital #VentureBuilding #Entrepreneurship #Startups #HardTech #Strategy #VCs #TheScenarionist ---------- Disclaimer: This content is provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. Given the complexity and potential impact of these terms, it is crucial to consult with an attorney. Legal expertise is invaluable in navigating these technical aspects and ensuring that the terms are in your best interests before finalizing any agreements.
June 26 · 30 min
Venturing into Advanced Packaging: VC Insights for Deep Tech Startups. A chat with Isaac Sigron, Managing Director at Koch Disruptive Technologies
Host: Nicola Marchese Guest: Isaac Sigron, Managing Director at Koch Disruptive Technologies 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter for more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thescenarionist.com ---------- #AdvancedPackaging #Chiplets #Semiconductors #AICompute #DeepTech #DeepTechStartups #VentureCapital #VentureBuilding #AIInfrastructure #SemiconductorStartups #DataCenterInfrastructure #HardTech #StartupStrategy #DeepTechVC #TheScenarionist ---------- Disclaimer: This content is provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. Given the complexity and potential impact of these terms, it is crucial to consult with an attorney. Legal expertise is invaluable in navigating these technical aspects and ensuring that the terms are in your best interests before finalizing any agreements.
June 19 · 29 min
Advanced Materials from Lab to Commercialization: Strategy, Sales, and Adoption. A chat with Steve van Zutphen, exited founder (Magpie Polymers)
Host: Nicola Marchese Guest: Steve van Zutphen, exited founder (Magpie Polymers) 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter for more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thescenarionist.com ---------- #DeepTech #AdvancedMaterials #SpecialtyChemicals #VentureBuilding #ScaleUp #CustomerDiscovery #ValueBasedPricing #CapitalAllocation #ExitStrategy #StartupAcquisition #FounderJourney #TheScenarionist #DeepTechCatalyst ---------- Disclaimer: This content is provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. Given the complexity and potential impact of these terms, it is crucial to consult with an attorney. Legal expertise is invaluable in navigating these technical aspects and ensuring that the terms are in your best interests before finalizing any agreements.
June 12 · 25 min
Venturing into Batteries: Challenges, Manufacturing, and Scale. A chat with Anil Achyuta, Partner @ Energy Impact Partners
Host: Nicola Marchese Guest: Anil Achyuta, Partner @ Energy Impact Partners 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter for more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thescenarionist.com ---------- #Battery #EnergyStorage #GridStorage #ElectricVehicles #EVBatteries #BatteryManufacturing #Gigafactory #DeepTech #DeepTechStartups #VentureCapital #HardTech #Industrial #AdvancedManufacturing #Materials #LithiumIon #OEMQualification #ScaleUp #Startups #Energy #Robotics ---------- Disclaimer: This content is provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. Given the complexity and potential impact of these terms, it is crucial to consult with an attorney. Legal expertise is invaluable in navigating these technical aspects and ensuring that the terms are in your best interests before finalizing any agreements.
June 5 · 29 min
From Molecule to Exit: The Sirrus Journey. A chat with Jeff Uhrig, former CEO of Sirrus (acquired by Nippon Shokubai)
Host: Nicola Marchese Guest: Jeff Uhrig, former CEO of Sirrus (acquired by Nippon Shokubai) 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter for more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thescenarionist.com ---------- #DeepTech #AdvancedMaterials #SpecialtyChemicals #VentureBuilding #ScaleUp #CustomerDiscovery #ValueBasedPricing #CapitalAllocation #ExitStrategy #StartupAcquisition #FounderJourney #TheScenarionist #DeepTechCatalyst ---------- Disclaimer: This content is provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. Given the complexity and potential impact of these terms, it is crucial to consult with an attorney. Legal expertise is invaluable in navigating these technical aspects and ensuring that the terms are in your best interests before finalizing any agreements.
May 29 · 30 min
From Orbit to Venture Scale: Satellites, Startups, and Capital Efficiency. A chat with Alan Yu, Senior Associate @ Space Capital
Host: Nicola Marchese Guest: Alan Yu, Senior Associate @ Space Capital 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter for more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thescenarionist.com ---------- #DeepTech #SpaceTech #SpaceEconomy #SatelliteEconomy #Satellites #SatelliteData #GeospatialIntelligence #SpaceInfrastructure #NewSpace #VentureCapital #StartupStrategy #VentureBuilding #HardTech #CapitalEfficiency #FounderLessons #SpaceStartups #DeepTechStartups #SpaceLogistics #OrbitalInfrastructure #DataInfrastructure #AIInfrastructure #TheScenarionist #DeepTechCatalyst ---------- Disclaimer: This content is provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. Given the complexity and potential impact of these terms, it is crucial to consult with an attorney. Legal expertise is invaluable in navigating these technical aspects and ensuring that the terms are in your best interests before finalizing any agreements.
May 22 · 20 min
Quantum Computing from Lab to Commercialization: The D-Wave Journey. A chat with Haig Farris, co-Founder of D-Wave
Host: Nicola Marchese Guest: Haig Farris, co-Founder of D-Wave #DeepTech #Startups #Founders #Quantum #QuantumComputing #VentureCapital 👉 Discover Help Me Build: https://www.thescenarionist.com/p/introducing-help-me-build 👉 Don’t miss our curated pieces and special editions. Subscribe to our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thescenarionist.com ---------- Disclaimer: This content is provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. Given the complexity and potential impact of these terms, it is crucial to consult with an attorney. Legal expertise is invaluable in navigating these technical aspects and ensuring that the terms are in your best interests before finalizing any agreements.
May 19 · 4 min
Introducing Help Me Build – A new open Q&A space for founders building Deep Tech companies.
Host: Nicola Marchese #DeepTech #Startups #Founders #VentureCapital 👉 Discover Help Me Build: https://www.thescenarionist.com/p/introducing-help-me-build 👉 Don’t miss our curated pieces and special editions. Subscribe to our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thescenarionist.com ---------- Disclaimer: This content is provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. Given the complexity and potential impact of these terms, it is crucial to consult with an attorney. Legal expertise is invaluable in navigating these technical aspects and ensuring that the terms are in your best interests before finalizing any agreements.
May 8 · 24 min
Deep Tech Scale-Up Design: Pilots, Operations, and Strategy. A chat with Roman Wolff, Industry Expert in Manufacturing Scale-Up.
Host: Nicola Marchese Guest: Roman Wolff, Industry Expert in Manufacturing Scale-Up #DeepTech #Startups #Founders 👉 Don’t miss our curated pieces and special editions. Subscribe to our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thescenarionist.com ---------- Disclaimer: This content is provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. Given the complexity and potential impact of these terms, it is crucial to consult with an attorney. Legal expertise is invaluable in navigating these technical aspects and ensuring that the terms are in your best interests before finalizing any agreements.
May 1 · 32 min
From Lab to Exit: The NBD Nano Journey. A chat with Miguel Galvez, Co-Founder and Former CEO @ NBD Nano (acquired by Henkel)
Host: Nicola Marchese Guest: Miguel Galvez, Co-Founder and Former CEO @ NBD Nano (acquired by Henkel) #DeepTech #Startups #Founders 👉 Don’t miss our curated pieces and special editions. Subscribe to our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thescenarionist.com ---------- Disclaimer: This content is provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. Given the complexity and potential impact of these terms, it is crucial to consult with an attorney. Legal expertise is invaluable in navigating these technical aspects and ensuring that the terms are in your best interests before finalizing any agreements.

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