Aetherflux Raises $50M to Bring Solar Power from Space to Earth
Overview
Aetherflux, a space solar startup founded by Baiju Bhatt, the billionaire co-founder of Robinhood, has raised $50 million in a Series A round as it works to launch its first low Earth orbit demonstration in 2026. The San Carlos, California-based startup aims to collect and transmit solar energy directly to “ground stations” on Earth, a concept inspired by Isaac Asimov’s 1941 short story “Reason.”
Background and Goals
The idea of harnessing solar power from space has been around for decades, but few have accomplished the feat of sending solar power from space to Earth. Aetherflux is one of them, with the goal of launching a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites to collect and transmit solar energy to the ground. The startup’s founder and CEO, Baiju Bhatt, aims to make this concept a reality, drawing inspiration from science fiction.
Series A Funding
Aetherflux has raised a total of $60 million, with the latest Series A round bringing in $50 million. The round was led by Index Ventures and Interlagos, with participation from notable investors such as Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and NEA. The funds will be used to hire more engineers and invest in the technology and infrastructure needed for its first several missions.
Technology and Infrastructure
Aetherflux is using Apex Space’s Aries satellite bus, which generates power through solar panels and will send back up to a kilowatt of energy to Earth via lasers. The startup is also building its own ground stations, made up of photovoltaic arrays that convert sunlight to energy stored in batteries for later use. The team is working on building its first ground station, evaluating military sites with controlled air space.
Future Plans
The goal is to build small, portable ground stations, anywhere from 5 to 10 meters in diameter, to bring electricity to even the most remote locations. Bhatt wants to demonstrate the end-to-end power linking, showcasing the ability to generate electricity on the ground and use it to power devices.
Notable Milestones
- Caltech’s Space Solar Power Project successfully demonstrated wireless power transfer from low Earth orbit using microwave beaming in 2023.
- Aetherflux received an award from the Department of Defense’s Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund to develop space solar power for the U.S. military.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Aetherflux’s technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we access energy, making it available in even the most remote locations. With the support of notable investors and a talented team, the startup is poised to make significant strides in the space solar industry.
