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!

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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!