In this episode of the Mission Shunya podcast, we enter the world of nuclear fusion startups — where physics meets entrepreneurial grit. Joining me is Francesco Volpe, founder and CEO of Renaissance Fusion, a European company working to build the first commercial stellarator fusion reactor. Unlike the massive, government-led projects like ITER, Renaissance Fusion is a leaner, more agile operation — focused on new magnet technology, novel plasma confinement approaches, and ambitious timelines. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore: What makes stellarator fusion different — and why it’s hard Why Europe is taking a unique path in the fusion race ⚙️ How scientific R&D translates (or struggles) to become commercial tech What makes building a fusion startup different from any other energy venture How fusion fits into the broader clean energy transition Francesco brings the perspective of a physicist turned entrepreneur — combining deep domain expertise with the urgency of climate innovation. If you’ve ever wondered whether fusion is finally moving beyond the “30 years away” cliché — or what it actually takes to build a fusion company from scratch — this episode offers a clear-eyed, hopeful perspective from the front-lines. Next in the series: A conversation with Westinghouse PRA engineer on nuclear safety, public trust, and what it means to assess risk in real time. Follow Francesco Volpe: https://renfusion.eu/