Episode 31

full
Published on:

28th Jan 2026

What is founder mode – and what happens when founders step into it?

What Happens When Founders Go Into “Founder Mode”?

Founder mode, a concept popularized by Brian Chesky and Paul Graham, describes how founders can take a highly selective, hands-on approach to solving the critical problems that employees or managers alone cannot tackle. In this episode, Justus Kilian of Space Capital is joined by Matt Gjertsen of Better Every Day Studios and Brian Mejeur of AdAstra Talent Advisors to analyze what founder mode really means, how it differs from micromanagement, and why it is particularly important in space startups.

The team outlines when and where founder involvement is most valuable, how managers can adopt a similar “owner mode,” and the risks of over-involvement. They discuss examples from SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and Nvidia, and show how founder mode can empower teams, remove bureaucratic barriers, and accelerate high-stakes problem solving. Whether you are a founder, manager, or aspiring space startup leader, this episode gives a practical framework for selectively taking ownership to achieve critical milestones.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] Introduction: What founder mode is and why it matters

[02:19] How Leaders Solve Problems Employees Can’t

[04:25] Owner mode: how managers can exercise selective ownership

[08:04] Micromanagement vs. empowering involvement

[10:51] Selective engagement: choosing the right problems to dive into

[12:48] Risks of over-involvement and potential distractions

[14:49] Why founder mode is especially critical in space technology

Episode Takeaways

  1. Founder mode lets leaders solve high-impact problems that employees or managers alone cannot.
  2. Selective involvement prevents micromanagement while empowering teams.
  3. Deep technical knowledge and intimate understanding of the business are essential for effectiveness.
  4. Over-involvement or misalignment can be disempowering; prioritization is key.
  5. Owner/founder mode can extend beyond founders to managers who take responsibility for outcomes.
  6. High-stakes industries like space tech benefit most from these approaches.
  7. Teams feel empowered when leaders remove barriers and provide immediate authority for action.

Subscribe to VHTB for more insights on the talent, culture, and finance sides of space startups.

Resources & Links:

  1. Space Capital
  2. Better Every Day Studios
  3. AdAstra Talent Advisors
  4. VHTB Podcast Channel
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About the Podcast

A VC, a Headhunter, and a Trainer Walk into a Bar
VHTB is your guide to the talent, culture, and capital forces shaping the hard tech startup ecosystem. Each episode, hosts Justus Kilian of Space Capital, Seyka, and Brian Mejeur of AdAstra Talent Advisors, and Matt Gjertsen of Better Every Day Studios bring stories and lessons from the front lines of building and backing some of the most innovative companies on the planet.

About your hosts

Brian Mejeur

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Founder, CTO/COO, Advisor | Space, Clean Tech & Defense Talent Expert | Ex-SpaceX Engineer | Husband | Dad

Brian is one of the founders of AdAstra Talent Advisors where he functions as CTO and COO while partnering with leading early stage startups in Space, Defense, and Clean Tech.

Having spanned 7 years at SpaceX, a stint at an early stage startup, and holding BS & MS degrees in Aerospace Engineering, Brian’s experience in the trenches as an engineer and in operations allows him to relate first hand to the talent and hiring needs of AdAstra's clients.

Seyka Mejeur

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Founder, CEO, Advisor | Space, Clean Tech & Defense Talent Expert | Pilot | Wife | Mom
(titles not in order of importance)

Relentlessly resourceful and unusually optimistic, Seyka is deeply involved with world-changing startups. As a founder and CEO of AdAstra Talent Advisors, she builds thriving teams in NewSpace, Clean Tech, and Defense - empowering innovation that future generations depend on.

With a passion for relationships and a belief in the power of empowered teams, she helps visionary leaders turn bold ideas into reality.

Justus Kilian

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Justus is a Partner at Space Capital, a seed-stage venture firm investing in space-based infrastructure and their applications. Portfolio companies include SpaceX, Impulse Space, Varda, and Xona. He is active on multiple portfolio company boards and manages the firm’s recruiting platform, Space Talent. Before his current roles, Justus worked at Acumen, a $250M early-stage venture firm investing across East Africa and South Asia supporting over 50 companies through growth, turnaround, and exit.

Matthew Gjertsen

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Matt Gjertsen is the founder of Better Every Day Studios, a leadership development company that focuses on turning great engineers into great managers. Prior to starting his own company, Matt spent five years as the head of Training & Development at SpaceX, and 10 years training future military leaders as an Instructor Pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He and his team are on a mission to help train better managers that build better companies, to create a better world.