Episode #28: The Father of Modern Rocket Science
Tech Optimist Podcast — Tech, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation
Dive into the next frontier of space innovation in this episode of the Tech Optimist, where Drew Wandzilak welcomes Tom Mueller, founder and CEO of Impulse Space and the first employee at SpaceX. In this insightful discussion, Thomas shares the journey from his early days at SpaceX to spearheading Impulse Space, a company dedicated to revolutionizing in-space transportation. They delve into how his pioneering work on propulsion technologies at SpaceX has fueled his vision for Impulse, which aims to enhance how payloads are maneuvered in orbit. Tune in for an insider’s look at the challenges and technological breakthroughs shaping the future of the space economy.
Episode #28: The Father of Modern Rocket Science
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Join us on the Tech Optimist as Drew Wandzilak sits down with Tom Mueller, founder and CEO of Impulse Space and SpaceX’s first employee. In this episode, Tom shares his journey from SpaceX to leading Impulse Space, a company focused on revolutionizing in-space transportation. Discover how his work on propulsion technologies at SpaceX inspired his vision for Impulse and the advancements in maneuvering payloads in orbit. Tune in for a fascinating discussion on the challenges and breakthroughs shaping the future of the space economy.
Watch Time ~33 minutes
The show is produced by Alumni Ventures, which has been recognized as a “Top 20 Venture Firm” by CB Insights (’24) and as the “#1 Most Active Venture Firm in the US” by Pitchbook (’22 & ’23).
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Creators and Guests
HOST
Drew Wandzilak
Senior Associate at Alumni Ventures
Drew has worked in high-growth industries as both an investor and operator, focusing on how people and technology interact within organizations. His venture experience began at AV’s Seed Fund, identifying and supporting early stage founders across a variety of industries. This experience led him to join Holistic Industries, a leading private multi-state operator of cannabis cultivation facilities and dispensaries, where he focused on business intelligence, corporate development, and M&A. Prior to rejoining AV, he worked with the founding team of Mirage, an NFT marketplace and view layer for augmented reality assets. Drew has a BS from Northwestern University in Education and Social Policy with concentrations in Learning & Organizational Change and Entrepreneurship. He is also an ambassador of Northwestern’s Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and a member of Chicago Inno’s 25 under 25.
GUEST
Tom Mueller
Founder and CEO Impulse Space
Tom Mueller is the Founder and CEO of Impulse Space, a company pioneering in-space transportation for payload delivery and hosting.
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