Blake Scholl: "The Future Was Supposed to Be Faster"

Blake Scholl opens by contrasting the technological optimism of 1969, when humans landed on the moon and Concorde flew for the first time, with the current state where returning to the moon or achieving supersonic flight is seemingly impossible. He highlights that not only have we lost speed but also the ability to innovate at a reasonable pace, citing the lengthy development time (over two years) for a new Patriot missile interceptor as an example of this stagnation.

Scholl emphasizes that the introduction of jetliners doubled air travel speed and fundamentally changed global accessibility. He points to Hawaii as a prime example, explaining that its rise as a tourist destination was directly linked to the ability to reach it quickly via jet aircraft—a journey previously taking seven to nine hours.

Beyond tourism, Scholl illustrates how air travel spurred broader globalization. He cites Phil Knight's discovery of Japanese running shoes during a trip to Japan as the genesis of Nike, and The Beatles’ first world tour, which was impractical before faster airplanes were available. These examples demonstrate how advancements in air travel have historically fueled cultural exchange and commercial innovation.

Scholl recounts the early days of Boom, starting with a cardboard mockup built from readily available materials. He shares that he received rejection from Jeff Bezos who wrote in an Amazon shareholder letter that airliners were something only big companies could do. This anecdote underscores the initial skepticism surrounding the idea of a startup challenging established aerospace giants.

Boom Supersonic utilizes a proprietary tool called Bladeunner to enable rapid iteration on engine blade designs. This software allows engineers to assess the structural and aerodynamic behavior of design changes in real time, drastically reducing the time and resources previously required – cutting down what used to take dozens of engineers months into a process manageable by just a few individuals.

Recognizing the limitations of relying on external aerospace suppliers, Boom Supersonic established its own machine shop. This vertical integration allows for a rapid turnaround from digital design to physical prototype parts, achieving production in approximately 24 hours. The co-location of engineers and manufacturing technicians fosters close collaboration and accelerates the overall development cycle.

To address the significant capital requirements for supersonic airliner development, Boom Supersonic devised an innovative financing strategy. They adapted their engine design for ground-based power generation, marketing it as 'Superpower' turbines. This dual-use approach generates revenue and provides valuable test data while funding ongoing research and development.

Boom Supersonic believes in inspiring future generations of engineers and innovators. To that end, they livestreamed the first supersonic flight of XB-1, leveraging Starlink for a global broadcast. The company’s founder emphasized the impact on students who were previously not engaged with aviation or science, hoping to spark their interest and potentially cultivate the next generation of aerospace professionals.

Boom achieved an exceptionally fast approval process for the XB-1 demonstrator aircraft by proactively engaging with the FAA early in the development cycle. This collaborative approach, described as 'Boom plus FAA versus the problem,' resulted in a 90-minute approval after initially expecting months of review and even secured the first ever permit for flying a civil supersonic airplane before the plane had flown. By making regulators part of the team, Boom fostered a cooperative environment that accelerated regulatory hurdles.

Blake Scholl references Steve Jobs’ Stanford commencement address as crucial guidance for pursuing impactful work. Jobs emphasized the importance of working on something you love and not compromising on that passion, arguing it’s essential to building truly great things. Scholl suggests viewers revisit this speech for valuable insights into achieving meaningful professional success.

Scholl highlights the critical role that genuine care plays within teams and organizations. He asserts that while skills and knowledge can be taught, the ability to truly care about one's work is an intrinsic quality that cannot be instilled. He emphasizes seeking out partners and employees who demonstrate this passion, as it’s a key ingredient for both personal and professional success.

Boom's experience demonstrates the challenges of being an early mover in deep tech, as it took approximately ten years just to break the sound barrier. Scholl reflects that had they known what the broader industry now understands about iterative development, the process could have been significantly faster – potentially reduced from five years to two or three. He recommends focusing on product-level iteration and simpler prototypes to accelerate proof of concept and fundraising.

Blake Scholl cautions against starting companies simply to do so, emphasizing that it's a recipe for misery. He recounts observing successful founders trapped in businesses they don’t love due to obligations to employees and investors, highlighting the difficulty of replacing a founder CEO. The advice is to only start a company if you genuinely want to maintain it long-term.

While Blake Scholl moved Boom from San Francisco to Denver due to affordability concerns, he acknowledges the significant benefits of being surrounded by ambitious people. He notes that the ecosystem in places like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin provides invaluable inspiration and networking opportunities for founders; unless there's a specific reason not to, one should seek out such environments.

When assessing early-career candidates, Blake Scholl emphasizes the importance of side projects as a demonstration of initiative and extraordinary ability. He recounts his own experience securing a software job at 15 by showcasing personal projects he had built. Boom actively encourages aspiring employees to create their own projects via boomupet.com/careers, providing a platform for individuals to showcase their talents.

Blake Scholl advocates for 'work-life harmony' rather than a strict balance, viewing work as an integral and meaningful part of life. He shares his experience successfully balancing parenthood with leading Boom, finding that parenting lessons often translate into valuable leadership insights. His philosophy encourages individuals to prioritize activities they love and avoid those that drain their passion.