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Radiant

HardwareEl Segundo, USAFounded 2019· One of 1708 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

Developing Kaleidos, a portable 1MW nuclear micro-reactor designed to replace diesel generators with clean, mass-produced, and meltdown-proof power for remote and critical infrastructure.

CEO / Founder
Doug Bernauer
Team Size
51-200
Stage
Growth Stage
Total Funding
$381.2M
Latest Round
Series C
Key Investors
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Founders Fund, Union Square Ventures, DCVC, Chevron Technology Ventures, Giant Ventures, StepStone, ARK Venture Fund

Technology & Products

Key Products

Kaleidos: a 1.2 MWe nuclear microreactor designed to operate for 5 or more years before refueling, fitting within a single shipping container for portability.

Technological Advantage

Applies SpaceX-inspired rapid prototyping and advanced manufacturing principles to nuclear energy, shifting the industry from bespoke civil engineering projects to standardized, mass-produced hardware products.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Provides a zero-emission, 'plug-and-play' energy source that is meltdown-proof, requires no water for cooling, and eliminates the high cost and logistical risk of diesel fuel transport.

How They Differentiate

Radiant differentiates through its 'SpaceX-style' approach to nuclear: mass-manufactured, helium-cooled (eliminating water requirements), and designed to fit entirely within a single shipping container for rapid deployment. Unlike larger SMRs, its 1MW Kaleidos reactor is specifically sized to replace individual diesel generators.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Data center operators, military installations (U.S. Air Force), remote communities, mining operations, and disaster relief agencies.

Industry Verticals

["Data Centers","Defense","Mining","Energy & Utilities","Disaster Response"]

Competitors

Oklo, Westinghouse (eVinci), Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC)

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Grew team to over 50 employees; secured multiple government contracts for testing and development.

Major Milestones

["First company to receive U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) approval for a Safety Design Strategy (SDS) for a commercial micro-reactor.","Selected for the DOE's Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) program for testing at the DOME facility.","Successfully completed passive cooling tests for the Kaleidos reactor core.","Secured a contract with the DIU to demonstrate micro-reactor power for military installations."]

Notable Customers

U.S. Air Force, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Idaho National Laboratory (Testing Partner)

https://www.radiantnuclear.com

Why this company matters

Radiant positions itself as a diesel-replacement provider for remote and critical infrastructure, targeting a market currently served by costly, logistically complex diesel generators. The company applies a SpaceX-inspired manufacturing philosophy to nuclear energy, shifting from bespoke civil engineering projects to standardized, mass-produced hardware products.

The core product is Kaleidos, a 1.2 MWe micro-reactor designed to operate for five or more years before refueling. It uses meltdown-proof TRISO fuel and helium cooling, eliminating the need for a local water source. The entire reactor fits within a standard shipping container for rapid global deployment. Radiant has received U.S. Department of Energy approval for its Safety Design Strategy, a first for a commercial micro-reactor.

Target customers include data center operators, military installations, remote communities, mining operations, and disaster relief agencies. Named partners include the U.S. Air Force, the Defense Innovation Unit, Idaho National Laboratory, and Equinix, which has a purchase agreement for 20 Kaleidos units. The company has raised $381.2 million from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, and Union Square Ventures.

Radiant competes with Oklo, Westinghouse's eVinci, and Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation. Its differentiation lies in its helium-cooled, shipping-container-sized design specifically sized to replace individual diesel generators. Key open questions include the timeline to commercial deployment and the scalability of HALEU fuel supply, which Radiant is addressing through a partnership with Centrus Energy.