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Crossing the ValleyLessons from the trailblazers who forged a path from Research to Production in the Department of Defense Author: Frontdoor Defense
Few companies make it from pilot to production in the defense market. Those who do often change the industry in the process. How do they do it? What lessons can startups take from their trials, successes, and failures? Crossing the Valley tells the stories of the trailblazers who are forging a new path for America's defense. www.valleycrossers.com Language: en Genres: Government, Technology Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Ep. 68: Solving America's Propulsion Crisis
Episode 68
Wednesday, 21 January, 2026
About Ben NicholsonBen is the Chief Business Officer at Ursa Major, bringing over 22 years of government service to the defense tech startup. His career includes 10 years in the Coast Guard, legislative experience as a congressional staffer on appropriations, and corporate leadership at defense giants L3 and Honeywell.At age 50, Nicholson made an unexpected leap from the established defense industrial base to a venture-backed startup, driven by a desire to give back and the realization that his experience and perspective could help bridge the gap between young engineering talent and the realities of defense procurement.A self-described “constitutional geek” who signs half his emails simply “America,” Ben brings an unusual combination of technical credibility, government insight, and entrepreneurial drive to URSA Major’s mission.About Ursa MajorFounded 11 years ago during the space launch “gold rush,” Ursa Major pivoted to focus squarely on defense propulsion, addressing what they see as the long pole in the tent for anything that moves fast in the battlespace.The company is focused on three key mission areas:* Homeland Defense: Hypersonic propulsion systems* Munitions: Solid rocket motors* Space Mobility: Propulsion for orbital applicationsThe Business Model: URSA Major is a products and systems company, not a services shop. They’ve received $250 million of private capital (including a recent $100 million Series E), opened a 400-acre test facility in Northeast Colorado, and can go from clean sheet design to hot fire in 29 days.The Core Innovation: Ursa Major combines additive (3D printing) and agile manufacturing to achieve rapid iteration while building toward scale. Their philosophy is to use printing to lock designs fast and avoid costly mistakes before committing capital to production tooling.Check out the Website: https://ursamajor.com/Follow Ursa Major: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ursamajortech/Follow Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-nicholson-666257205Follow Noah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahsheinbaum/Subscribe to Crossing the Valley: www.youtube.com/@CrossingTheValley This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.valleycrossers.com
