Space has historically been the domain of governments – as that has changed and it’s becoming a more private sector-based commercial endeavour, something else has been changing too, and that is that whereas before space was a matter of launching things up where they will do something for a while, then they come back down. What’s emerging now is the prospect of an entire economy in space, for space – where things don’t always need to come back down to earth for maintenance, or refuelling, for example, and can continue to operate outside earth.

My guest today is Timur Davis, director at Munich Re Ventures, where much of his focus is trained beyond the atmosphere, in startups who want to operate in orbit.

We talk about how the unit’s thesis of investing in the picks and shovels of space – the enabling technologies that allow for the space economy to operate effectively – things like traffic management and servicing in orbit.  We also talk about the changing business models – how the pendulum has swung back to startups searching for government-based revenues for their stability – as well why mid-stage space startups have trouble getting funded, the development of in-space regulations and norms, how much of space is wide open in terms of the competitive landscape, and much more.