Throttle Up

Sascha Deri & Justin Starbird

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Entrepreneurship
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Welcome to Throttle Up, a behind-the-scenes look at how bluShift Aerospace is building and launching a new class of rocket propulsion. In each episode, we take you inside the engineering, the decisions, and the momentum it takes to get from concept to liftoff.

5d ago

Why former employee of bluShift Aerospace is all in

Every successful company has people who believed long before the headlines. In this episode of Throttle Up, Justin Starbird speaks with Greg Turis, one of bluShift Aerospace's earliest supporters and now an investor in the company. Greg shares how a small meetup led by Sascha Deri introduced him to an ambitious vision that would eventually become bluShift Aerospace, what those first conversations were like, and why he has continued to support the company over the years. Recorded during the MAREVL Hot Fire Rocket Engine Test in Brunswick, Maine, this conversation provides a unique perspective on the value of early believers, the importance of adapting a vision into a business, and the excitement of watching a company grow from an idea into reality.
5d ago

Why Combustion Engineer Howard Jones is investing in bluShift Aerospace

Recorded live at the MAREVL Hot Fire Rocket Engine Test in Brunswick, Maine, Justin Starbird sits down with bluShift Aerospace investor Howard Jones Jr. to discuss why an experienced nuclear engineer believes in the company's future. Howard shares how he first discovered bluShift, what convinced him to invest, and why the company's focus on safety, affordability, and bio-derived propulsion technology stands out in today's aerospace industry. Drawing on decades of experience at Maine Yankee and Westinghouse, he explains how engineers evaluate emerging technologies and why solving difficult problems with practical solutions creates long-term value. This episode offers a firsthand perspective from an investor who understands complex engineering, recorded just moments before one of bluShift's most important engine tests.
5d ago

Early Investor John Rockwell on why he's betting on bluShift Aerospace

Recorded live at the MAREVL Hot Fire Rocket Engine Test in Brunswick, Maine, Justin Starbird sits down with longtime bluShift Aerospace investor John Rockwell to discuss why he has continued investing in the company from its earliest days. John talks about discovering a rocket company in Maine, attending multiple engine tests over the years, and watching bluShift build momentum with every technical milestone. He also shares how he evaluates startup investments, why founder accessibility matters, and what gives him confidence in bluShift's future. This conversation provides an investor's perspective on the importance of trust, consistency, and execution as bluShift works toward making commercial spaceflight more accessible.
6d ago

Why Angel Investor Philip Lachman is Investing in bluShift Aerosapce

Recorded live at the MAREVL Hot Fire Rocket Engine Test in Brunswick, Maine, Justin Starbird speaks with angel investor Phil Lachman about the future of commercial spaceflight and why bluShift Aerospace stands out among early-stage aerospace companies. Drawing on his experience at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, the automotive industry, and more than a decade of angel investing, Phil explains how he evaluates hardware startups, why founder communication matters, and what excites him about bluShift's approach to reducing the cost of access to space. This conversation offers an investor's perspective on the commercialization of space, the growing role of private companies, and why breakthroughs in launch technology could make space more accessible than ever before.
6d ago

Why Private Equity Pro Ted Pendleton Invested in bluShift Aerospace

Recorded live at the MAREVL Hot Fire Rocket Engine Test in Brunswick, Maine, Justin Starbird speaks with entrepreneur and bluShift Aerospace investor Ted Pendleton about what convinced him to invest in one of Maine's most ambitious technology companies. Drawing on decades of experience building, scaling, and selling technology businesses, Ted discusses why bluShift's disciplined approach, practical execution, and ability to do more with less have impressed him from the beginning. He also shares his perspective on today's investment landscape and what companies need to demonstrate as they grow from venture-backed startups into businesses capable of attracting larger pools of private capital. This conversation offers an investor's view of the qualities that help innovative companies earn long-term confidence while pursuing breakthrough technology.
6d ago

Why Retired Engineer Thomas Eaton is Invested in bluShift Aerospace?

Recorded live at the MAREVL Hot Fire Rocket Engine Test in Brunswick, Maine, Justin Starbird speaks with bluShift Aerospace investor Thomas Eaton about the unexpected path that led him from reading about the company to becoming one of its longtime supporters. Thomas shares how a magazine article, Wefunder, and a chance meeting with founder Sascha Deri turned curiosity into conviction. He reflects on following bluShift's journey, attending engine tests, and why investing in an early-stage company is about believing in both the people and the mission. This conversation offers a reminder that breakthrough companies are built not only by engineers and founders, but also by the communities of investors who choose to support them over the long term.
Jun 24

Why bluShift isn't trying to be a "mini-SpaceX" (and why that's our biggest advantage)

Everyone is obsessing over the SpaceX IPO valuation, but while the headlines scream about billions, we’re looking at the actual rocket motors. In this episode, Sascha Deri, CEO and Founder of bluShift Aerospace, joins us to break down the "SpaceX effect" on the industry (and explaining exactly why we refuse to play the "mini-SpaceX" game!). We’re cutting through the buzzword-heavy noise to talk about where the real value is hiding: solving the brutal, unglamorous supply chain issues that most people are ignoring. We’re also opening up about why we’re building the future of propulsion from an RV in Maine, not a glass office in the Valley. If you want a take on aerospace that values real hardware over hype, you’re in the right place!
Jun 17

The 60-Second Pucker

Ever wonder what it’s actually like to test a rocket engine? It’s not always the high-gloss, Hollywood-style launch you see on TV. In this episode, Sascha Deri, founder and CEO of bluShift Aerospace, joins us for a raw, unfiltered look at the reality of rocket development. Join us as we pull back the curtain on the upcoming July 16 hot fire test of the MAREVL Engine! Sascha talks about the "60-second pucker moment", that high-stakes window where he forgets to breathe and puts everything on the line. But this isn't just about whether the engine fires or not; it’s about the "farmer wisdom" approach to aerospace: engineering for maximum performance, stability, and, most importantly, cost-effectiveness. If you want the real story (the good, the bad, and the ugly!) this is it. Join us as we discuss why we aren't chasing "West Coast flash" and what it takes to build a rocket company that actually makes sense! Follow the mission!

Welcome to Throttle Up, a behind-the-scenes look at how bluShift Aerospace is building and launching a new class of rocket propulsion. In each episode, we take you inside the engineering, the decisions, and the momentum it takes to get from concept to liftoff.

Creator

Sascha Deri & Justin Starbird
Years Active

2026
Episodes

14
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Sascha Deri & Justin Starbird
Show Website

Throttle Up