Uploaded April 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Astor Perkins’ All Things Deep Tech & Survival, April 27, 2022.
So much of today’s climate action rhetoric is around reaching net-zero. But what does that mean and is that enough?
Even if somehow we are able to reach net-zero emissions, this does not necessarily mean that the CO2 levels in the atmosphere will fall. Switching over to electric vehicles alone isn’t going to remove what’s already there in the atmosphere. We have to proactively remove carbon and other non-CO2 greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Both on the emission side and the carbon removal side, we need massive global scale solutions and we frankly don’t have time.
In other words, even if we reach net-zero emissions, global temperatures are expected to remain steady for several centuries, meaning that the climate change-related natural disasters from severe wildfires, drought, and hurricanes are going to continue and the economic and socio-political impacts will be felt for generations to come.
At Astor Perkins, we back mavericks solving some of the hardest problems facing humanity on Earth and in space.
But what we look at especially is if a solution can scale globally and become the #1 or #2 dominant market leader in a new industry. It’s all about scalability.
GA Drilling
GA Drilling recognizes that scaling solar and wind will not be enough to meet the growing demand for electricity and heating. One of the most ubiquitous assets that cover 70% of the globe is geothermal. Yet, today’s conventional drilling is not able to cost-effectively tap into that energy source right under our ground.
GA Drilling is making it possible to scale clean energy in a cheaper, reliable, and scalable way that will help us to be energy independent.
Solar Foods
We recognize that no matter how much people understand the benefits of a plant-based diet, people around the world cannot get enough protein. YouTube is full of them gorging on meat.
Almost seemingly out of science fiction, Solar Foods is able to make pure protein out of thin air. No animals. No land. Not even cells in labs.
They use electricity to produce hydrogen which is combined with carbon dioxide, water, vitamins, and minerals to feed and grow microbial biomass that becomes edible protein powder. This, in turn, is used as a protein ingredient in food production to satiate our appetite for protein.
And the best part is that this solution is scalable whether they are regions affected by drought, flooding or other extreme natural disasters.
Aliro Quantum
Solving existential threats will also require new forms of computation such as quantum computing. Yet, there are so many different approaches to quantum computing and many are struggling to surpass hundreds of qubits. For quantum computers to be functional and revolutionary, the number of qubits will need to scale to millions. That’s where Aliro Quantum comes into the picture. Agnostic of the underlying hardware stack, they are working to create quantum networks much like distributed computing or grid computing in such a way as to make scaling to millions of qubits possible regardless of quantum computing modals.
Voyager Space & Nanoracks
Human survival in space is paramount in order for us to explore deep space.
We read about the latest SpaceX launches or the private space crew on Axiom 1. Truly, the space economy is growing into a $1 trillion market right in front of our eyes.
In the next few years, we will see a robust private space station market. Voyager Space and their company Nanoracks will share their plans to replace the aging Int’l Space Station with their privately operated Starlab space station.
Potential Motors
Solving the hardest problems facing humanity on Earth and in space will require AI, robotics, and automation. Specific to the area of transportation, these companies are trying to solve the scaling issue in electric and autonomous vehicles.
Instead of focusing solely on passenger cars on roads, they are investing in offroad autonomous vehicles to reach a critical scale. From offroading for recreation to farming machinery to rovers on the moon, Potential Motors, Hyundai Motor, and Boston Dynamics are working on smart, autonomous, and safe offroad vehicles and robots, at scale.
Astor Perkins
At Astor Perkins, we conduct due diligence on deep scientific and technical startups to isolate winners solving the hardest problems facing humanity on Earth and in space. We are not interested in novel science projects but rather revolutionary and globally scalable solutions that can usher in the new mega industries of today and tomorrow.
With 4 potential exits on the near horizon and many more investments to be announced, Astor Perkins is excited to feature these brave mavericks who are trailblazing to bring global scale in their respective fields.
Welcome to Astor Perkins All Things Deep Tech & Survival!
astorperkins.com
Astor Perkins’ All Things Deep Tech & Survival, April 27, 2022.
So much of today’s climate action rhetoric is around reaching net-zero. But what does that mean and is that enough?
Even if somehow we are able to reach net-zero emissions, this does not necessarily mean that the CO2 levels in the atmosphere will fall. Switching over to electric vehicles alone isn’t going to remove what’s already there in the atmosphere. We have to proactively remove carbon and other non-CO2 greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Both on the emission side and the carbon removal side, we need massive global scale solutions and we frankly don’t have time.
In other words, even if we reach net-zero emissions, global temperatures are expected to remain steady for several centuries, meaning that the climate change-related natural disasters from severe wildfires, drought, and hurricanes are going to continue and the economic and socio-political impacts will be felt for generations to come.
At Astor Perkins, we back mavericks solving some of the hardest problems facing humanity on Earth and in space.
But what we look at especially is if a solution can scale globally and become the #1 or #2 dominant market leader in a new industry. It’s all about scalability.
GA Drilling
GA Drilling recognizes that scaling solar and wind will not be enough to meet the growing demand for electricity and heating. One of the most ubiquitous assets that cover 70% of the globe is geothermal. Yet, today’s conventional drilling is not able to cost-effectively tap into that energy source right under our ground.
GA Drilling is making it possible to scale clean energy in a cheaper, reliable, and scalable way that will help us to be energy independent.
Solar Foods
We recognize that no matter how much people understand the benefits of a plant-based diet, people around the world cannot get enough protein. YouTube is full of them gorging on meat.
Almost seemingly out of science fiction, Solar Foods is able to make pure protein out of thin air. No animals. No land. Not even cells in labs.
They use electricity to produce hydrogen which is combined with carbon dioxide, water, vitamins, and minerals to feed and grow microbial biomass that becomes edible protein powder. This, in turn, is used as a protein ingredient in food production to satiate our appetite for protein.
And the best part is that this solution is scalable whether they are regions affected by drought, flooding or other extreme natural disasters.
Aliro Quantum
Solving existential threats will also require new forms of computation such as quantum computing. Yet, there are so many different approaches to quantum computing and many are struggling to surpass hundreds of qubits. For quantum computers to be functional and revolutionary, the number of qubits will need to scale to millions. That’s where Aliro Quantum comes into the picture. Agnostic of the underlying hardware stack, they are working to create quantum networks much like distributed computing or grid computing in such a way as to make scaling to millions of qubits possible regardless of quantum computing modals.
Voyager Space & Nanoracks
Human survival in space is paramount in order for us to explore deep space.
We read about the latest SpaceX launches or the private space crew on Axiom 1. Truly, the space economy is growing into a $1 trillion market right in front of our eyes.
In the next few years, we will see a robust private space station market. Voyager Space and their company Nanoracks will share their plans to replace the aging Int’l Space Station with their privately operated Starlab space station.
Potential Motors
Solving the hardest problems facing humanity on Earth and in space will require AI, robotics, and automation. Specific to the area of transportation, these companies are trying to solve the scaling issue in electric and autonomous vehicles.
Instead of focusing solely on passenger cars on roads, they are investing in offroad autonomous vehicles to reach a critical scale. From offroading for recreation to farming machinery to rovers on the moon, Potential Motors, Hyundai Motor, and Boston Dynamics are working on smart, autonomous, and safe offroad vehicles and robots, at scale.
Astor Perkins
At Astor Perkins, we conduct due diligence on deep scientific and technical startups to isolate winners solving the hardest problems facing humanity on Earth and in space. We are not interested in novel science projects but rather revolutionary and globally scalable solutions that can usher in the new mega industries of today and tomorrow.
With 4 potential exits on the near horizon and many more investments to be announced, Astor Perkins is excited to feature these brave mavericks who are trailblazing to bring global scale in their respective fields.
Welcome to Astor Perkins All Things Deep Tech & Survival!
astorperkins.com
