From the devastation of the 1995 Kobe earthquake to revolutionising space sustainability and safety, Nobu Okada’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Witnessing the tragic impact of the disaster—where over 6,000 lives were lost and his own family was displaced - ignited Nobu’s drive to make a difference. After a diverse career in government finance, IT consulting and start-ups, he founded Astroscale to address the critical issue of space debris orbiting Earth. In this episode, we dive into Nobu’s inspiring entrepreneurial path, exploring how he transformed his childhood dream into a groundbreaking venture, raised hundreds of millions in funding, and took Astroscale public this year.

GO TO Highlights from this episode (Scroll-to points)
(02:19) - Growing up in Japan and developing a love for science
(03:34) - Space Camp
(05:34) - Life at University and a devastating earthquake
(07:31) - Entrepreneurial culture in the US
(10:46) - Reigniting a passion for space – the birth of Astroscale
(12:44) - Space junk – why we should care
(15:41) - First mover advantage – a help or a hindrance
(19:32) - Self funding and raising capital
(23:21) - All eyes on Astroscale’s first launch
(25:27) - When failure leads to progress
(28:23) - The UK a centre of excellence for space
(31:02) - Recruiting a global diverse team – the challenges and benefits.
(37:03) - Quick fire questions – From proudest moment to aspirational advice