In this episode of The Lobster Talks, we delve into the current state of the tech investment landscape, highlighting how fear and uncertainty in the market, partly driven by political factors like Trump's tariffs, influence investor behavior. Gabriel discusses the unique ecosystem of Y Combinator (YC) and its resilience during tumultuous times, noting that the best startups tend to thrive even when broader market conditions are bearish. The conversation also touches on the importance of investing during down cycles, the impact of AI on accelerating business processes, and the significance of founder passion and personal connection to their problem space. Gabriel also offers insights into the role of content creation and personal branding for founders, emphasizing how these elements can serve as powerful tools for customer acquisition and value creation.

00:00 Intro

00:51 Current Funding Landscape and Market Uncertainty

01:55 The Resilience of YC Startups

07:32 The Importance of Founder Passion and Connection

17:53 The Role of Pivots in Startup Success

22:55 Evaluating AI Investments and Technical Moats

28:56 The Power of Content and Personal Branding

33:41 Conclusion

In this episode of Lobster Talks, I sit down with Ashi and Reza, the unstoppable founders of Spaceium—a YC-backed startup building orbital gas stations. 🚀

They share the raw and incredible story of how they went from nearly homeless right before YC to raising $6.3M, signing $86.5M in commercial contracts, and securing $1B+ in LOIs—all before launching their first mission to space.

We cover:

How they pitched an insanely hard idea and actually built it

The truth about LOIs and how they converted them into binding contracts

YC’s impact on hardware companies

How they managed product, sales, and investor traction simultaneously—while not sleeping 🧠💥

Whether you're a founder, investor, or just obsessed with space, this episode is a masterclass in grit, hardtech, and startup survival.

00:00 Introduction to Spaceium

00:25 Meet the Founders: Ashi and Reza

00:44 Spaceium's Revolutionary Space Stations

01:56 Challenges and Innovations in Space Refueling

04:02 The Dual Mission: Refueling and Repairing

05:13 Competing with SpaceX?

06:24 From Homeless to YC Success

08:59 The Power of LOIs and Contracts

11:42 The YC Experience and Building Hardware

20:00 Building Hardware in the US

20:45 Managing Customer Expectations

22:40 From LOIs to Binding Contracts

24:06 Setting Timelines for Startups

26:38 Pricing Strategies for Unbuilt Products

29:11 Upcoming Missions and Exciting Developments

30:58 Challenges and Rewards of Building Hard Tech

32:55 Book Recommendations and Final Thoughts

36:21 Where to Follow and Contact Us

In this episode of Lobster Talks, Gabriel dives deep into the groundbreaking Y Combinator Winter 2025 Demo Day. Discover how the latest YC batch shattered revenue records, including a startup already pulling in $50 million in profits and another hitting $2 million in revenue at demo day. They discuss why the quality bar is rising, the explosion of AI-powered startups, and whether the AI wave has peaked or is just getting started. Plus, get insights on what metrics truly matter beyond vanity revenue, navigating technical debt in the era of AI-generated code, and the strategic decisions founders face regarding fundraising and acquisitions. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at the future of startup investing.