TechSurge: Deep Tech VC Podcast
A deep tech VC podcast where partners from Celesta Capital analyze the hardware, policy, and economic forces shaping emerging technology.
This is a venture capitalist's guide to the foundational layers of technology. Rather than chasing software trends, the hosts use their positions at Celesta Capital to dissect the 'deep tech' stack: the semiconductors, critical minerals, manufacturing processes, and national policies that everything else is built on. The conversations are from the perspective of operators and investors, focusing on supply chains, strategic bottlenecks, and the long-term industrial and geopolitical chess game.
“Its primary distinction is the focus on the 'atoms' of technology (hardware, chips, manufacturing) rather than just the 'bits' (software, apps). The hosts are not journalists but active VCs and former CEOs, lending their questions an operator's focus on bottlenecks, scalability, and competitive moats.”
Who hosts this show
TechSurge is the podcast of Celesta Capital, a deep tech venture capital firm. It is hosted by the firm's founding partners, primarily Michael Marks and Sriram Viswanathan, who are veteran technology executives and investors. Each episode delves into the intersection of technological advancement, market dynamics, and geopolitics, featuring conversations with industry leaders, founders, and policy experts. The show explores the complex challenges and opportunities in sectors like semiconductors, AI, and the space economy.
Credentials & credits
- Michael Marks: Founding Managing Partner, Celesta Capital; former CEO, Flextronics; former interim CEO, Tesla.
- Sriram Viswanathan: Founding Managing Partner, Celesta Capital; former VP, Intel Capital; former GM, Intel's Incubation & Innovation Group.
- Michael Marks: MBA, Harvard Business School; BA/MA Psychology, Oberlin College.
- Sriram Viswanathan: MBA, UCLA Anderson School of Business; degrees in physics and computer science, Indian Institute of Science.
- Sriram Viswanathan: Advisory Board member, India Semiconductor Mission.
- Michael Marks: Former Adjunct Professor, Stanford Graduate Business School.
Other ventures
- Celesta Capital (presenting organization).
- Michael Marks: Co-founder, Katerra, Inc.; Founding Partner, Riverwood Capital Management.
- Sriram Viswanathan: Founder, IndusAge Partners.
- Michael Marks: Board Director for over 20 companies, previously including Schlumberger, GoPro, and SanDisk.
- Sriram Viswanathan: Chairman at Platform9 Systems, Recogni, Auradine, and Baffle.
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01Broadcom’s AI Revenue SurgeJun 28, 2026 · 1 min
- 02Battle for the AI Data Center: Deep Dive on the Semiconductor SupercycleJun 16, 2026 · 53 min
- 03
- 04The U.S. – China AI and Semiconductor Arms RaceMay 21, 2026 · 48 min
- 05Critical Minerals: Tech's New Semiconductor Resource WarsMay 7, 2026 · 57 min
- 06SEC Czar Hester Peirce on the U.S. Crypto AwakeningApr 16, 2026 · 57 min
- 07The NASA Engineer Who Put a Camera in Every Phone: Dr. Eric FossumApr 7, 2026 · 51 min
- 08Is Sovereign AI the New Strategic National Resource?Mar 19, 2026 · 1h 01m
Notable episodes
- 01The U.S. – China AI and Semiconductor Arms Race
Provides a nuanced, investor-focused breakdown of the tech competition with China, challenging common narratives and focusing on strategic bottlenecks like energy and chips.
- 02Battle for the AI Data Center: Deep Dive on the Semiconductor Supercycle
A clear example of the show's core focus on the hardware layer, explaining the economics of the AI boom through the lens of semiconductor supply, demand, and pricing.
- 03In-Orbit Manufacturing, AI Data Centers, and the New Space Economy with MIT’s Ariel Ekblaw
Showcases the podcast's exploration of futuristic 'deep tech' topics, grounding concepts like self-assembling space stations in concrete engineering and philosophical motivations.
What you'll be asked on this show
The hosts are deeply researched, often opening with a detailed summary of the guest's work or a strategic overview of the topic. They favor framing questions that establish historical context or a timeline (e.g., "When did the competition switch from manufacturing to tech?"). They frequently use comparative frameworks (US vs. China, hardware vs. software) and then drill down with specific technical or policy-related follow-ups. The hosts often leverage their own experience as investors and operators to add color or challenge a guest's assertion, acting more as informed peers than neutral interviewers.
The show is hosted by multiple partners from Celesta Capital, primarily Michael Marks and Sriram Viswanathan. Episodes begin with a narrative introduction framing the topic's strategic importance before the guest is introduced. The hosts often use their own firm's experience and industry knowledge to provide context for their questions.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
12 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
2- Q.01
“When did the competition or trend we're discussing really begin to shift?”
This is a common opening question used to establish a historical timeline and identify the key catalysts for the current situation.
- Q.02
“Can you talk about your unusual background and how it led you here?”
An opening question used to explore a guest's multidisciplinary expertise and personal story.
future
2- Q.01
“Is this current cycle fundamentally different, or just a bigger version of past ones?”
The host asks this to challenge the 'this time is different' narrative and understand the structural uniqueness of a trend.
- Q.02
“If this boom starts to slow down, what would be the first warning signs?”
An investor's question, seeking to identify the leading indicators of a market downturn.
personal
1- Q.01
“Was there a seminal event in your life that set you on this specific journey?”
This question seeks to uncover the personal, driving motivation behind a guest's professional focus.
process
2- Q.01
“How do the hardware and software stacks relate in this competition?”
Used to separate and connect the different layers of a complex technological issue, moving from atoms to bits.
- Q.02
“What are the less obvious bottlenecks developing in the supply chain?”
This seeks to uncover hidden risks and future problems that aren't yet widely discussed.
industry
1- Q.01
“How strong is [a competitor's] innovation system, really?”
This question challenges a commonly held narrative (e.g., that China only copies) to get a more nuanced view.
controversy
2- Q.01
“Are the current policy tools, like export controls or the CHIPS Act, actually working?”
The host asks this to move beyond policy intentions and assess the real-world effectiveness of government actions.
- Q.02
“How does a company or country innovate around a major restriction, like a lack of compute?”
This explores how constraints and scarcity can become drivers for novel forms of innovation.
mindset
1- Q.01
“You frame [your work] as a way to live better on Earth. Can you talk about that?”
This question probes the guest's core philosophy and the higher-level purpose behind their technology.
craft
1- Q.01
“What is the geometric or biological inspiration behind this design?”
Used for guests in engineering or hard science to explore the first principles and biomimicry in their work.
Signature segments
- · Presented by Celesta Capital
- · Host self-introduction as a Partner at Celesta Capital
- · Detailed narrative introduction to frame the topic
- · Host-read ads for sponsors like Notion
- · Host's summary of key takeaways at the end of an interview
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically high-level experts, analysts, founders, or policymakers in the deep tech space. The show books managing directors from financial firms (Bernstein), directors of national security think tanks (CNAS), MIT researchers, and sitting government officials (SEC Commissioner).
- Stacy Rasgonon Battle for the AI Data Center: Deep Dive on the Semiconductor Supercycle
- Ariel Ekblawon In-Orbit Manufacturing, AI Data Centers, and the New Space Economy with MIT’s Ariel Ekblaw
- Vivek Chilukurion The U.S. – China AI and Semiconductor Arms Race
- Hester Peirceon SEC Czar Hester Peirce on the U.S. Crypto Awakening
- Eric Fossumon The NASA Engineer Who Put a Camera in Every Phone: Dr. Eric Fossum
- Helen Toneron Is Sovereign AI the New Strategic National Resource?
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is presented by Celesta Capital, the hosts' own deep tech VC firm, making the show a primary vehicle for thought leadership and brand building. It also features host-read ads for external sponsors like Notion, with the hosts sometimes mentioning how their own firm uses the product.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts of TechSurge?
- The primary hosts are Michael Marks and Sriram Viswanathan, who are Founding Managing Partners at the venture capital firm Celesta Capital. Other partners, like Nic Brathwaite, also host episodes.
- What is the connection between the podcast and Celesta Capital?
- The podcast is presented by and hosted by partners of Celesta Capital. It serves as a platform for the firm to explore themes relevant to its 'deep tech' investment thesis.
- What is the format of the show?
- It is an interview-based podcast where one of the hosts has a long-form conversation with a single expert guest, such as a founder, policy analyst, or industry leader.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, based on the provided episode data, new episodes are released approximately every two weeks.
- What kind of topics does the podcast cover?
- The show focuses on 'deep tech' and the geopolitics of technology. Common topics include semiconductors, AI hardware, the space economy, US-China relations, and critical supply chains.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- TechSurge is available on YouTube and major podcast platforms.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Michael Marks' Biocelesta.vc
- [02]Sriram Viswanathan's Biocelesta.vc
- [03]TechSurge: Deep Tech Podcast Official Pagetechsurgepodcast.com
- [04]Celesta Capital Homepagecelesta.vc
- [05]Podcast Description on Radio.netradio.net
- [06]Sriram Viswanathan - SEMICON India Profilesemiconindia.org
- [07]Michael Marks - Celesta Capital Profilecelesta.vc
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