Torsten Reil is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Helsing, a new type of defence company providing artificial intelligence to protect our democracies. Torsten has raised over $825M from the likes of Prima Materia, Elad Gil, Accel and General Catalyst. Previously Torsten founded NaturalMotion, one of the UK's most successful games and technology start-ups. Torsten was named as one of MIT's Top 100 Innovators and is a member of the Munich Security Conference Innovation Board.
Timestamps:
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00:00) Intro
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00:53) How NaturalMotion Influenced Helsing
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04:38) Hiring The Exceptional People
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07:35) Structuring & Managing Small Teams Effectively
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12:19) What is Helsing Speed?
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17:44) On the Annexation of Crimea by Russia
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21:03) How Trump’s Stances Impact European Funding Needs?
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23:49) How Helsing Chooses Who to Sell To
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28:30) Navigating the Transience of Right and Wrong
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30:54) Why Was Now the Right Time to Shift Focus to Drones?
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35:15) Does Compliance Hinder Government Drone Procurement?
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38:43) What Happens If Defense Faces a 'Tesla Moment'?
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39:46) Are Russia and Iran’s Capabilities Underestimated?
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41:20) How Will AI & Autonomy Shape the Future of Warfare
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46:40) Is Public Perception of Defense Spending Changing?
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49:05) Is Defense a Standalone Category or a Broader Strategy?
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51:31) Program of Record
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57:24) Why Is Ambition a Bigger Problem Than Capital in Europe?
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01:00:45) What Role Does US Capital Play for European Companies?
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01:02:35) Is Europe Becoming Increasingly Uncompetitive?
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01:05:39) What Will Happen To Russia-Ukraine & China-Taiwan
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01:07:47) Relationship to Money
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01:08:37) Quick-Fire Round
