The physics is sound. (I have a Master’s in EE with a heavy physics background - took more than most physics majors.) The problems are the politics (DOE took the project from DOD in a turf fight and then promptly canned it to keep their race track fusion research goldmine going) and some serious naivety about venture funding.
Yes, he seemed to find the very concept of venture funding distasteful. Sad if he really has something.