Episode 30

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Published on:

14th Jan 2026

Why do startup employees leave vs. stay after big milestones?

What happens to space startup teams after big milestones?

Big milestones in space startups, whether a Dragon 2 launch, a major funding round, or an IPO, often bring excitement, celebration, and sometimes turnover. After all the long hours and high stakes, some employees naturally take a step back, pivot, or even leave entirely. But is this a problem to solve, or a natural part of how talent flows in mission-driven startups?

In this episode, Matt Gjertsen of Better Every Day Studios is joined by Brian Mejeur of AdAstra Talent Advisors and Justus Kilian of Space Capital to dig into what happens to teams after major milestones. They discuss how founders can retain key people, structure incentives around achievements, and even leverage departures to build stronger alumni networks. Whether you are a founder, manager, or aspiring startup talent, this conversation explains how to turn milestone-driven transitions into opportunities instead of surprises.

Episode Highlights

[00:00] Introduction & talent movement after major milestones

[01:35] Why employees often leave or stay after hitting big goals

[04:42] Reloading the mission: keeping teams motivated through next big goals

[07:48] Retaining Top Talent Through Purpose

[10:40] Understanding personal motivations to prevent unexpected departures

[11:52] Leveraging alumni networks and healthy turnover for long-term company growth

[15:26] Creating open conversations about career plans and talent flow

Episode Takeaways

  1. Talent movement after milestones is natural, not always a sign of failure.
  2. Aligning equity and incentives with milestones can improve retention.
  3. Clear mission and next-step goals keep employees motivated through big achievements.
  4. Open communication and manager-level engagement help anticipate transitions.
  5. Alumni networks turn departures into opportunities for referrals and industry growth.
  6. Structuring transitions thoughtfully prevents operational disruption and preserves culture.

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.