Highlight Hour: Space Showcase

Join us for an inspiring Highlight Hour as we showcase the journeys of six small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who have successfully ventured into the space sector. Featuring a diverse array of businesses, including some traditionally outside of the space industry, this session promises to offer unique perspectives and compelling stories. From innovative startups to established companies, each SME will share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in entering and thriving within the space sector. Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired by the resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of these SMEs as they chart their course among the stars.

Speaker Information

Joel Freedman, Head of Innovation Services, Satellite Applications Catapult - Joel is Head of Innovation Services at the Satellite Applications Catapult.  He has spent the last 11 years working in the space sector across government, industry, and academia worldwide. He specialises in the application of design thinking and systems innovation approaches to explore how cutting-edge technologies can be applied to solve complex social, environmental, and industrial challenges.  Alongside product and service development, he has extensive experience in the creation of innovation ecosystems, having worked on the creation and evolution of the UK Space Ecosystem (UKSE) with UKSA, and ESA’s Business In Space Growth Network (BSGN).

Joel currently leads on shaping and delivering the Catapult’s range of business innovation and support services, working closely with other national programme leads and support organisations to collaboratively ensure that innovators anywhere in the UK have the support required accelerate new ideas to market across a wide range of in-space and space enabled sectors.

Mark Stokes, CEO, Magdrive - Mark Stokes is the cofounder and CEO of Magdrive. He’s a startup veteran of robotics and aerospace, where he’s turned maths into code and prototypes into products. Mark leads Magdrive’s commercial and strategic activity with a highly technical background in mechanical and software engineering for machine learning, as well as leading teams for product development.

Neil Buchanan, CEO, Lodestar - Neil is the CEO and Co-Founder of Lodestar, a VC-backed space-tech startup developing a "first responder" service for the new space age. With a background in leading deep-tech projects, he has built the UK's most advanced Hyperloop pod, supersonic rockets, and pioneered research into 3D printing metal off-earth to construct shielding to protect spacecraft from hypervelocity debris impacts. He was identified by Payload as one of 30 pioneers in the global space industry under the age of 30, leading the London-based Lodestar team in its mission to champion European dynamism with next-gen tools for the space domain.

Rosie Hull, Senior Business Development Associate, Skyrora Ltd. - Skyrora aim to support the UK's increasing need for a sovereign launch capability by providing suborbital and orbital launch services. In the last three years of her role, Rosie has focused on fostering and managing relationships with clients, collaborators, and partners. She collaborates closely with Skyrora's engineering team, ensuring alignment with their work and identifying optimal opportunities for the team's success.

Sara Alao, CEO, Stars Edge Ltd - Sara Alao is the founder and current CEO of Stars Edge Ltd, a company doing Novel Propulsion Systems that are Air Breathing Very Low Earth Orbit and Throttleable for general satellite use. The company provides new operability, low cost and emissions to the satellite industry. Sara has a background and Masters in Space Engineering and is currently a PhD Candidate in Aerospace Engineering. She has worked with Rolls Royce on Hybrid Electric Engines for Aircraft and Space Sustainability with the ESA Clean Space office. Current research interests lay in aerospace sustainability and propulsion. Experience in volunteering in STEM and Space Outreach in the UK and EU.