December 17, 2025 | California, USA:
The announcement comes just six months after Radiant’s previous $165 million round, signaling an extraordinary surge of investor confidence in advanced nuclear startups. The new round, led by Draper Associates and Boost VC, included participation from Ark Venture Fund, Chevron Technology Ventures, Friends & Family Capital, and Founders Fund, among others. The funding reportedly values Radiant at more than $1.8 billion. Previous backers include Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), DCVC, Union Square Ventures, and Giant Ventures.
Is Nuclear Entering a Bubble?
With billions of dollars pouring into the sector in just a few months, some analysts are beginning to question whether the nuclear tech industry is entering bubble territory. The momentum closely parallels the ongoing data center and artificial intelligence (AI) boom, where massive power consumption has triggered a global race for reliable, carbon-free energy sources.
AI models require staggering amounts of electricity to train and operate, and hyperscale data center developers — from major tech companies to emerging players — are scrambling to secure long-term energy supplies. Nuclear fission, long considered a slow-moving sector, has suddenly become one of the most attractive options for powering the AI revolution.
“As long as power demands continue to rise, investor interest in next-generation nuclear technologies will remain strong,” said an energy market analyst. “But the industry will face a reckoning if these startups can’t deliver on their ambitious timelines.”
Many of these startups, including Radiant, have promised to bring their first reactors online by 2026 — an aggressive target. Those that succeed in achieving “first criticality” (a self-sustaining nuclear reaction) may still face challenges scaling production, especially as the economics of mass manufacturing will determine whether nuclear can truly compete with conventional energy sources.
Inside Radiant’s Microreactor Vision
Founded by former SpaceX engineers, Radiant Nuclear is developing a portable microreactor capable of generating 1 megawatt of electricity — enough to power approximately 1,000 homes. The unit, designed for deployment via semi-truck, uses helium cooling and TRISO fuel, a type of advanced carbon and ceramic-coated uranium bead engineered for enhanced safety and resistance to meltdowns.
Each reactor will operate for around five months before refueling, with a 20-year operational lifespan. At the end of its cycle, Radiant plans to remove and recycle the units, offering customers flexible options to either purchase the reactors outright or enter power-purchase agreements (PPAs).
The startup’s initial goal is to replace diesel generators commonly used at remote industrial sites, commercial facilities, and military bases. However, its long-term vision is increasingly aligned with the data center sector, where consistent and clean on-site power is becoming a strategic necessity.
Earlier this year, Radiant signed a partnership with Equinix, one of the world’s largest data center operators, to supply 20 microreactors once production scales.
Path to Criticality: Testing at Idaho National Lab
Radiant is now preparing to build a demonstration reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory, with testing expected to begin in mid-2026. The timeline aligns with the U.S. government’s “3 by ’26” initiative, launched under the Trump administration, which aims for at least three advanced nuclear reactors to reach criticality by July 4, 2026.
Radiant is one of 11 companies selected under this program, which accelerates regulatory review processes but does not provide direct financial aid.
If successful, Radiant could become a key player in the next wave of decentralized, safe, and transportable nuclear energy solutions — a market projected to exceed $100 billion globally by 2035.
A Transformative Moment for Nuclear Energy
While some market watchers warn of overvaluation in the nuclear sector, others see this as the dawn of a new atomic age — one where compact reactors could power everything from AI data centers to remote communities and military bases.
Whether or not a bubble forms, the message from investors is clear: nuclear energy is back, and this time, innovation and urgency are driving the momentum.
Ruchi Kumar is the associate editor at Entrepreneur News Network and TVW News India, where she leads editorial strategy, brand storytelling, and startup ecosystem coverage. With a strong focus on innovation, business, and marketing insights, he curates impactful narratives that spotlight India’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape.