Throttle Up

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.

Throttle Up is a business podcast hosted by Sascha Deri & Justin Starbird, with 14 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Sascha Deri & Justin Starbird hosts Throttle Up, a business show with 14 episodes published.

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  Throttle Up

  Why former employee of bluShift Aerospace is all in

  Aug 14, 20265 min

  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.

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  Throttle Up

  Why Combustion Engineer Howard Jones is investing in bluShift Aerospace

  Aug 14, 20265 min

  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.

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  Throttle Up

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

  Aug 14, 20263 min

  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.

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  Throttle Up

  Why Angel Investor Philip Lachman is Investing in bluShift Aerosapce

  Aug 13, 20264 min

  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.

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  Throttle Up

  Why Private Equity Pro Ted Pendleton Invested in bluShift Aerospace

  Aug 13, 20264 min

  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.

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