INVEST IN BLUSHIFT
Engine tests completed
Thrust demonstrated
2021
Stardust 1.0 launched
Private capital and non-dilutive contracts raised to date
TRL 6
Technology maturity
1,500+
Investors in bluShift
OUR STORY
bluShift started more than a decade ago, when founder Sascha Deri began developing a bio-derived rocket fuel and testing early engine designs on his farm in Maine.
Since then we have grown into a propulsion company. We have run more than 275 engine tests, demonstrated more than 20,000 pounds of thrust and launched Stardust 1.0 in 2021, the first commercial rocket to fly on bio-derived fuel.
Along the way, our technology development has been supported through work with NASA, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force.
Now we are taking what we have learned and applying it to a growing need in aerospace and defense.
FUEL-PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT COST
~$15K vs. ~$1.5M
Designed to cost roughly 1/100th of comparable legacy solid-motor production equipment.*
THE MAREVL APPROACH
Our solid fuel is non-explosive. It does not need the specialized facilities that explosive propellants do, so it can be produced with much simpler, modular equipment. As demand grows, we can add modular production cells one at a time instead of making a large upfront investment in solid-propellant infrastructure.
Non-explosive fuel
Simpler handling and logistics than explosive propellants.
Long-term storage
Built for applications that need motors ready over long periods.
Throttle control
Thrust can be varied during operation.
Modular manufacturing
Add production cells as customer demand grows.
ENGINE TYPE
Hybrid
PROPELLANTS
Solid / Nitrous
THRUST (SEA LEVEL)
16,800 lbf
BURN TIME
60 s
WHERE WE ARE NOW
01 / CUSTOMER WORK
Hypersonics Subcontract
Our propulsion work with a U.S.-based hypersonics company, supporting work for the dow, is underway. Both teams have completed the formal kickoff and started engineering, including reviewing initial engine performance findings and scoping a full feasibility study.
The agreement includes base requirements and priced options. If exercised and funded, we anticipate they could represent more than $3 million in potential subcontract value.
02 / ENGINE DEVELOPMENT
MAREVL 400
A new nominal 15-inch engine. It is smaller than our MAREVL 600, which makes testing faster and cheaper, and what we learn from it goes straight into the larger engine.
MAREVL 400 recently completed its first preliminary design review, and the team is working toward hardware procurement, build and testing.
03 / SUBORBITAL RESEARCH
Stardust 2.0
MAREVL 400 is also the basis for Stardust 2.0, the next version of our suborbital research vehicle. Early development is underway, including preliminary airframe design and trajectory simulations.
It is expected to be larger and more powerful than Stardust 1.0. Suborbital flight will depend on engine performance, final vehicle design, payload weight and further testing.
MARKETS
Hypersonic Testing & Defense
Our near-term commercial focus. Growing demand for rocket motors has created a need for more propulsion capacity.
Suborbital Research
Stardust 2.0 is intended for research, science, testing and technology-demonstration missions for commercial, academic and government customers, at a fraction of the cost of flying research with Virgin Galactic or Blue Origin.
Additional Aerospace Applications
As the MAREVL family develops, we expect to look at other applications where long-term storage, throttle control, simpler handling and scalable production are useful.
REVENUE PATH 01
Rocket Engines & Boosters
MAREVL propulsion systems for defense and aerospace customers, including hypersonic test vehicles.
REVENUE PATH 02
Engineering & Integration
Adapting MAREVL to specific vehicles, missions and performance requirements.
REVENUE PATH 03
Suborbital Flight Services
Dedicated flights for research, testing and technology demonstration as Stardust 2.0 develops.
WHY KINGSCROWD INVESTED
KINGSCROWD CAPITAL
“Kingscrowd Capital invested $20,000 in this round after doing its own due diligence on our technology, strategy, market, competition and capital needs. It rated bluShift 4.5 and named us a Top Deal.”
HOW THE FUNDS WILL BE USED
This round will fund the work needed to bring MAREVL into customer applications and toward production, while we keep advancing our plans for suborbital flight.
01
Build and Test the Next MAREVL Engines
Engineer, build and test MAREVL as we improve performance.
02
Integrate MAREVL With Customer Vehicles
Adapt our propulsion to customer vehicles and missions, including hypersonic applications.
03
Prepare for Production
Add the equipment, tooling and processes to produce engines more consistently and at greater volume.
04
Expand Test Capabilities
Improve our test site and infrastructure so we can build and test more efficiently.
05
Grow the Customer Pipeline
Keep pursuing defense, government and commercial aerospace work.
06
Keep Moving Toward Suborbital Flight
Advance FAA licensing, Stardust 2.0 and the vehicle development behind future research missions.
$2M
MAINE TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
Matched Patient Loan Funding
MTI selected bluShift for a $2 million patient loan to support manufacturing equipment, test infrastructure and expansion. Investment in this round helps us access that matching capital.
HOW WE WORK
Aerospace is expensive, and we have always had to be careful with capital. Over the past decade we have raised about $6.7m in private capital and non-dilutive contracts. That money took us through more than 275 engine tests, built our test infrastructure, launched stardust 1.0 and keeps marevl moving forward.
Working within those limits shaped how we engineer. We simplify where we can, use existing infrastructure, and design for a path to production that does not need huge capital at every step.
WHERE WE BUILD
Brunswick Landing, Maine
We are based at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station. It gives us the space and infrastructure to build and test rocket engines while keeping costs lower than in many traditional aerospace hubs. Plans are moving forward for a dedicated workshop at our test site, so more of our engineering, assembly and testing can happen in one place.
TEAM
Sascha Deri
FOUNDER & CEO
A four-time technology entrepreneur with more than 27 years leading technology ventures. Sascha co-founded one of the first online solar distribution and light-manufacturing companies, grew it to more than $35M in sales, and founded bluShift in 2014.
David Hayrikyan
CTO
More than 15 years of propulsion and manufacturing engineering across aerospace and medical applications. David leads the modeling and design of the MAREVL propulsion system and manages ITAR and CFR450 compliance.
Seabren Reeves
CFO
More than 20 years in finance and technology. A Babson MBA and patent holder whose career spans Fortune 100 tech leadership and fractional CFO roles for high-growth companies.
OUR ADVISORS BRING EXPERIENCE FROM:
NASA
Air Force Research Laboratory
SpaceX
Rocket Lab
Hybrid rocket propulsion
Defense technology
Commercial aerospace
Space security
AS FEATURED IN
NPR Marketplace
Space.com
CNN
Fortune
Ars Technica
Portland Press Herald
WHY NOW
Defense programs are investing more in hypersonic testing and advanced systems, and existing propulsion supply has not kept up. At the same time, MAREVL is further along than ever: years of testing, more than 20,000 pounds of thrust demonstrated, and now real customer work.
More than 1,500 investors have already backed bluShift. There is plenty of work ahead, and if you would like to be part of the next stage, we would be glad to have you with us.
INVEST ON WEFUNDER
