In a world driven by groundbreaking technologies, Jeff Thornburg and his team at Portal Space Systems stand at the frontier of propulsive innovation. As an entrepreneur myself, with a deep appreciation for industries that push boundaries, I was instantly fascinated by how Portal combines time-tested concepts with modern ingenuity to carve out a dynamic niche in the evolving space economy. Thornburg’s work isn’t just about harnessing the sun in the cold dark expanse of space, it’s about reinventing foundational systems that could redefine the defense and aerospace industries globally. Here’s why it matters and what entrepreneurs like you can learn from his approach.
Lessons from Portal’s Solar Thermal Propulsion Innovation
When NASA and the Air Force experimented with solar thermal propulsion decades ago, the idea didn’t take off due to technological and market constraints. Portal Space Systems not only revisited the concept but optimized it by embracing modern advancements like additive manufacturing and the strategic leverage of falling launch costs. If you’ve ever tried reviving ideas that “didn’t work in the past,” their journey provides lessons about identifying the right market conditions and timing for disruptive innovation.
So, what exactly is solar thermal propulsion? Imagine sunlight being concentrated onto a heat exchanger, which rapidly heats a propellant like ammonia. The rapid expansion of the heated gas produces thrust, allowing a spacecraft to reposition quickly across orbits. This cutting-edge form of propulsion bridges the gap between chemical and electric solutions, offering both speed and efficiency. Thornburg has called it “the technical unlock” that creates a new paradigm for military and commercial aerospace mobility.
For any innovator, this raises an important question: how often do you revisit old ideas that were shelved due to timing? Successful businesses often emerge not just from groundbreaking ideas but from the thoughtful resurrection of concepts that were waiting for the right moment.
Five Key Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Portal
1. Identify a Niche with Growing Urgency
Portal chose to target defense and national security, an industry facing increasing threats from China and other adversaries. The shift to contested space territories made rapid orbital maneuverability a necessity rather than a luxury.
Entrepreneur insight: Always ask yourself where pain points are swelling due to external or market-driven forces. Solving problems like speed, ease of use, or security often unlocks funding and customer adoption.
2. Use Emerging Tech to Revive Dormant Ideas
3D printing, advanced materials science, and reduced costs for smaller payloads have made Thornburg’s vision feasible. Portal is the first company to fully commercialize this propulsion technology.
Entrepreneur insight: Look at stagnant industries and identify technologies that can revive their potential. If solar thermal systems flopped in the 1980s, it wasn’t because the idea was useless, it just needed technological refinement.
3. Stake a Claim by Solving a High-Value Problem
Portal helps satellites reposition in hours, not months, providing a strategic advantage for defense contractors. Traditional propulsion systems are either too slow or too inefficient for today’s needs.
Entrepreneur insight: Innovation is only as exciting as the value it delivers to its customers. “Faster,” “more efficient,” and “economical” resonate if you solve mission-critical problems.
4. Invest in Relationships and Ecosystems
Jeff Thornburg’s portfolio includes SpaceX, Stratolaunch, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper. Leveraging these networks for funding, strategic partnerships, and credibility undoubtedly helped Portal fly out of stealth mode confidently.
Entrepreneur insight: Who are you connecting with? The startup ecosystem is often about relationships, the more credible people vouch for you, the easier it becomes to align your vision with others who can help you execute.
5. Test Thoroughly and Share Wins Early
Portal’s success isn’t just conceptual. By 2025, they had successfully tested their Flare propulsion system in real-world conditions and opened a 50,000-square-foot factory to scale operations. Their results and vision pulled in more than $20 million in venture capital.
Entrepreneur insight: Validate early and communicate results effectively. Nothing builds credibility faster than tangible progress, especially in high-stakes markets.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Niche Industries
While Portal navigates a highly technical market, their approach highlights pitfalls entrepreneurs should steer clear of:
- Skipping Tech Validation: The aerospace world is notorious for high failure rates due to half-baked concepts. The same applies to tech and niche sectors, don’t rush validation.
- Failure in Positioning: Portal capitalized on the growing urgency of national defense, ensuring both customers and investors saw their relevance. Misaligned products die out quickly.
- Overlooking Regulation: Thornburg likely spent immense resources navigating government approvals and licenses. For newer entrepreneurs, ignoring legal frameworks can set you back years.
- Underestimating Competition: While Portal is first-to-market, they remain vigilant about maintaining their edge, a necessity in defense markets, where competitors replicate quickly.
- Underfunding Growth: Don’t rely solely on revenue to scale. Portal thrived because its clear vision attracted venture funding. If you’re out to disrupt your industry, infrastructure scale-up is seldom bootstrapped.
My Take as a Serial Entrepreneur
It’s rare to find startups brave enough to tackle problems where failure isn’t just expensive, it’s public. Aerospace and defense aren’t forgiving industries, yet Thornburg’s calculated risks offer a roadmap for how commercially-oriented ideas (like rideshare payloads) can work harmoniously with national security interests. As someone who has collaborated with diverse teams internationally, I also see their story as a testament to forming cohesive global teams with shared expertise, absolutely crucial when dealing with complex challenges like these.
While the immediate applicability of solar thermal propulsion largely pertains to satellites, opportunities for spinoff technologies, ground-based renewable systems, efficient heat exchangers, are virtually endless. Any startup founder should take note of this macrotrend: deeply specialized innovations often open secondary, unforeseen avenues for revenue.
How Entrepreneurs Can Innovate in High-Stakes Sectors
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Start Small, But Start Early: Thornburg didn’t emerge with fully operational systems, the journey began with experiments and private modeling years ago.
- Secure Dual Value: Look for applications that appeal to private customers and governments. Mixed funding sources diversify risk.
- Scale Modularly: Rather than gamble on singular “flagship” products, Portal validated smaller hardware (like heat exchangers) first; only then did they aim for Supernova.
- Incorporate Advanced Materials: Emerging markets like graphene or AI-predictive simulation tools enable 10x advantages. Know your material toolkit!
Looking Ahead: Where Can Portal Take Us?
Portal’s long game is likely centered on developing nuclear propulsion systems, a crucial technology for deep space exploration beyond Mars orbit. While these initiatives might seem far-flung and exotic, history shows that investments in space tech often result in breakthrough applications here on Earth. Portal’s leadership in propulsion could influence sustainable terrestrial systems, ranging from thermal energy storage to industrial-scale efficiencies. As noted in their test campaigns, additive manufacturing already lays the groundwork for cheaper, scalable components.
If you’re an innovator striving to disrupt, Thornburg’s journey is a reminder: start bold, test meticulously, align your solution with urgent demand, and steadily push the frontiers of possibility.
Turns out, it is possible to harness the sun in the cold of space, and the business lessons from Portal’s efforts are just as illuminating for us here on Earth.
FAQ
1. What is Portal Space Systems, and who founded it?
Portal Space Systems is a space startup based in Bothell, Washington, focusing on innovative propulsion technologies like solar thermal propulsion. It was founded in 2021 by Jeff Thornburg, who previously worked with SpaceX, Stratolaunch, and Amazon's Project Kuiper, among others. Learn more about Portal Space Systems
2. What is solar thermal propulsion, and how does it work?
Solar thermal propulsion uses focused sunlight to heat a propellant, such as ammonia, causing it to expand and produce thrust. It bridges the gap between chemical propulsion (high thrust, low efficiency) and solar electric propulsion (efficient but slow). Explore the solar thermal propulsion concept
3. Why is solar thermal propulsion significant for defense and national security?
This technology enables rapid satellite repositioning in contested space environments, meeting urgent national security needs. It is especially useful against growing threats like China’s advanced anti-satellite capabilities. Read about defense applications
4. How is Portal using additive manufacturing in its propulsion systems?
Portal leverages 3D printing for components like its patented heat exchanger thruster, which makes solar thermal propulsion viable for real-world missions. Learn more about Portal's manufacturing advancements
5. How has Portal Space Systems secured funding and partnerships?
Portal emerged from stealth in 2024 after securing over $3 million in funding from the Department of Defense and SpaceWERX, and later raised more than $20 million in venture capital. See details about Portal's funding journey
6. What are Portal's upcoming missions?
Portal plans to launch the "Mini-Nova" package on a SpaceX rideshare mission in 2026 and its "Starburst" spacecraft later that year, followed by the fully operational "Supernova" vehicle in 2027. Check out Portal's upcoming missions
7. What industries could benefit from solar thermal propulsion beyond aerospace?
While its primary application is satellites, spin-off technologies like efficient heat exchangers and renewable energy systems could benefit industries like energy storage and manufacturing.
8. How is falling launch cost aiding innovations like Portal’s propulsion system?
Declining costs for launching smaller payloads have made previously unviable technologies, like solar thermal propulsion, commercially feasible. Read about the impact of launch cost reductions
9. What is Portal Space Systems' flagship product?
Portal's flagship product is the "Supernova," a rapid transorbital vehicle using solar thermal propulsion to reposition satellites quickly across various orbits. Discover the Supernova spacecraft
10. What major milestones has Portal Space Systems achieved?
Portal successfully tested its 3D-printed heat exchanger thruster in 2025 and opened a 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Learn about Portal's milestones
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.