Journey of an Aerospace Engineer into Venture Capital

Those Space People

In this podcast episode, Nithish Kumar, an aerospace engineer working with the VC firm Speciale Invest, shares his diverse experiences ranging from space education and outreach to entrepreneurship. Nithish recounts his proud yet failed passion project, ALINEA, which aimed to be a startup pitching platform inspired by Shark Tank, and how it marked a transformative period in his life during the COVID-19 pandemic. He delves into his transition from being deeply fascinated with space to exploring the business side of technology, leading to his current role at Speciale Invest. Nithish discusses the value of resilience, the transition from engineering to business, and how his early passion for space and podcasting played a pivotal role in defining his career trajectory.

Chapters

• (00:00) - Welcome to Those Space People: Meet Nithish Kumar
• (00:37) - The Story of ALINEA: A Failed Passion Project
• (04:21) - From ALINEA's Lessons to Space Tech Investment
• (05:12) - An Aerospace Engineer in the VC World
• (08:53) - The Power of Networking in Venture Capital
• (11:27) - A Journey Through Space Education and Outreach
• (19:31) - The Unbounded Podcast: A Gateway to Space Tech Insights
• (25:16) - The Resilience Required in Venture Capital