Torsten Reil is co-founder of Helsing, a defense AI company valued in the billions. He shares lessons learned from transitioning from gaming founder to building defense infrastructure.
“But I had to learn that, that is just a very small part of building a prime. It's like one eighth, maybe, or something. It's product market fit. Then you have to do all the rest.”
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More from Torsten Reil
PredictionNot checkable as stated
Torsten Reil: Foreign allies will eventually lack capability to protect Europe
“Over time there just won't be, I think the capability even of partners and as it looks to also not the willingness to do so.”
Torsten ReilDec 11, 2024▶ 21:47Torsten Reil, Helsing Founder: Raising $828M to Build the Defence Champion of Europe | E1237 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Insight
Torsten Reil: Founder ambition matters more than regulatory or tax policy
“I actually think none of this stuff really matters that much. I think what really matters is founder quality and founder ambition. So I think for a country to be successful, they should attract the most aggressive founders. And everything else is a lot less im…”
Torsten ReilDec 11, 2024▶ 1:04:32Torsten Reil, Helsing Founder: Raising $828M to Build the Defence Champion of Europe | E1237 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
PredictionNot checkable as stated
Torsten Reil: A Russian threat to NATO's eastern flank is extremely plausible
“I think the threat is extremely plausible in the next few years.”
Torsten ReilDec 11, 2024▶ 1:06:12Torsten Reil, Helsing Founder: Raising $828M to Build the Defence Champion of Europe | E1237 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
PredictionNot checkable as stated
Torsten Reil: A China-Taiwan conflict will occur much sooner than 10 years
“I, again, I think it's plausible that there will be a conflict. When? It's hard to tell. I don't think it's 10 years away if it happens. It's probably quite a lot sooner than that.”
Torsten ReilDec 11, 2024▶ 1:06:27Torsten Reil, Helsing Founder: Raising $828M to Build the Defence Champion of Europe | E1237 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Insight
Torsten Reil: Exceptional teams work best without process, stand-ups, or deadline forecasts
“I used to think that, that you needed to make sure that there was always a degree of process when teams work together on something and including something new. I have now learned that it's possible with exceptional people to let's, let's just let them get on w…”
Torsten ReilDec 11, 2024▶ 1:11:32Torsten Reil, Helsing Founder: Raising $828M to Build the Defence Champion of Europe | E1237 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Opinion
Torsten Reil: If running ByteDance, he would immediately shut down TikTok
“Probably ByteDance, and I would shut down TikTok immediately.”
Torsten ReilDec 11, 2024▶ 1:12:17Torsten Reil, Helsing Founder: Raising $828M to Build the Defence Champion of Europe | E1237 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
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