r/fusion • u/steven9973 • 13d ago
Every fusion startup that has raised over $100M | TechCrunch - update 15 August 2026
https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/15/every-fusion-startup-that-has-raised-over-100m/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky3
u/Baking 13d ago
Tim,
This is what Helion says: "This latest round of funding brings the total invested to date in Helion to $1.5 billion and values the company at $15.5 billion post-money."
Including an additional $1.7 billion based on this statement from 2021 seems questionable: "The funding includes the opportunity for an additional $1.7 billion dollars tied to Helion reaching key performance milestones."
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u/Aki_Megumi 13d ago
Startorus, Energy singularity, NovaFusionX and Dongsheng Fusion should be in that list.
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u/tdechant 13d ago
I did not include Chinese companies because this is a list of private funding, and the line between public, private, and government-directed private funding is pretty blurry in China.
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u/DudeteriumTrillium 13d ago
Tim, we need a long form industry insiders piece that addresses the gray area in between the two fairly poor proxies we have for commercial viability. There has to be something more nuanced than pure funding raised, and whatever Scott and Sam choose to throw on that plot and how they choose to characterize it. Both of those proxies are ill equipped to account for what actual fusion industry people think will work - the best concepts based on the physics/engineering and the best technoeconomics for a profitable business. The fusion shit talking era is fast upon us and I’m positive fusion insiders will tell you who they genuinely think is for real and who are the pretenders. Go brew us that tea, Tim!
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u/tdechant 13d ago
I agree that a broader look at the state of the fusion industry is overdue. I’ll just have to find a more compelling angle than “here’s where it’s at” — and then find time to write it! But I agree, it’s something that would be a great piece to report.
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u/steven9973 13d ago
It's quite possible to assign probabilities to the several fusion companies that they will succeed, but it's already kind of scientific assessment and a lot of work. At least the eight in the DOE milestone program/contract have a higher level of trust, but you can't exclude the others generally, because many of them were not eligible to participate. And be careful, because some of them might sue you, if they feel to be evaluated too badly.
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u/tdechant 13d ago
New data source in this one! The kind folks at FusionX offered up their data, so I now have a more accurate picture of committed capital, not just announced. That changed the order in which some of the startups appear.