The Geopolitics of Space
The hosts:
Nick Gosen, KOMPAS VC
Paul Eisenberg, Extantia
What is this Ripple about?
Space went from commercial story to strategic asset in under a decade. We debate whether Europe needs sovereign capability, where dual use ends and weaponisation begins, and which European space companies are actually venture investable under that lens
Why this topic timely or urgent in 2026
The geopolitical instability is causing awareness that nations and strategic blocks require sovereign intelligence assets. The space race is heating up and resources in space will only be accessible to the nations that build sovereign space capabilities.
Key questions or challenges being explored
Should every serious economy have a sovereign space programme, or is trusted access from allies enough?
Where is the line between dual use and weaponisation, and who draws it: LPs, founders, or regulators?
What happens to European space economics if US access (Starlink, SpaceX launch) becomes politically conditional
The key tension or debate at the heart of this discussion
Sovereign capabilities vs relying on allied nations under increased geopolitical instability
Who would get the most value from attending this Ripple?
Deep tech investors, founders addressing these challenges, regulators and policymakers or people with a general interest in the new space race