By Tyler Bernstein, Co-Founder & CEO

Today, we’re proud to announce Zeno Power’s $50 million Series B funding round, led by Hanaco Ventures with participation from Seraphim, Balerion Space Ventures, JAWS, Vanderbilt University, and others.

Following our Series A led by Tribe Capital, this brings our total capital raised to over $70 million as we accelerate our work to demonstrate full-scale nuclear batteries in 2026 and deliver systems to frontier environments by 2027.

We’re also honored to welcome Admiral John Richardson, USN (Ret.), former Chief of Naval Operations and Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, to our Board of Directors. Admiral Richardson has been a mentor to me for years, and we’re thrilled to bring him on board to support our work bringing reliable power to the frontiers shaping the 21^st century.

Powering Strategic Frontiers

The deep ocean, Arctic, and space are emerging as key contested domains for global influence. These regions are already vital for global commerce and government operations, and great power competition is turning them into strategic arenas where nations and companies vie for presence, resources, and control. 

But one challenge persists: energy.

— In the deep sea, protecting seabed infrastructure and powering distributed systems requires energy systems that last for years, not just days or months.

— In polar regions, freezing temperatures and months of darkness render solar and conventional batteries inoperable, threatening vital systems like sensing networks.

— In space, governments and industry are racing back to the Moon and Mars. Yet, China remains the only country with a sustained lunar presence, with American missions unable to survive the two-week lunar night.

Across these frontiers, fuel is impractical, solar fails, and batteries die. Whoever can deliver reliable, years-long energy will shape these domains. Zeno is ensuring that America and our allies lead the way.

Zeno’s Nuclear Batteries

We build nuclear batteries, also known as radioisotope power systems, which convert the heat from decaying radioisotopes into years of reliable energy. While these systems have powered critical missions for decades, they’ve historically been limited to government-led efforts.

Zeno is changing that. We’re bringing the speed and innovation of the commercial sector to nuclear batteries for the first time – starting with Strontium-90 (Sr-90), an abundant nuclear waste product. Our systems are compact, cost-effective, and resilient – delivering continuous energy for years without sunlight, refueling, or recharging.

And we’re just getting started. From the deep sea to deep space, we’re building a portfolio of products using multiple isotopes and energy conversion technologies to meet growing demand for long-endurance power – wherever it’s needed.

Ready to Deliver

This is not theoretical – we have been building fast. In just the last three years, we have:

— Built and demonstrated our first nuclear prototype at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

— Secured over $60 million in contracts from the U.S. Department of Defense and NASA for seabed and space applications

— Contracted Westinghouse to fabricate our nuclear heat sources at their licensed facility

— Received an initial Sr-90 supply from the U.S. Department of Energy, recycling Cold War-era nuclear waste to fuel our first 10+ nuclear batteries

— Assembled a world-leading team across the nuclear, aerospace, maritime, and other sectors

Creating a Commercial Nuclear Battery Industry

Our $50 million Series B unlocks our next phase of growth to:

— Demonstrate full-scale nuclear batteries in 2026 to enable maritime and space deliveries in 2027

— Scale our nuclear supply chain and manufacturing capabilities to meet growing demand from government and commercial customers

— Expand into seabed telecommunications, deep-sea mining for critical minerals, and commercial space markets

— Grow the team from 65 to 100+ team members across Seattle and Washington D.C.

Our Broader Vision

We’re proving that nuclear doesn't have to move slowly. In just a few years, we’ve moved from concept to hardware – and in the coming years we’ll build the capacity to produce dozens of systems per year to provide power where it’s needed most.

We’ll power subsea infrastructure that underpins global commerce and security. We’ll help to establish a permanent presence and thriving economies on the Moon and beyond. And by transforming nuclear waste material into clean, continuous power, we’re turning a legacy into a more sustainable future.

In time, as we expand our product offerings and scale our power output, we envision our systems powering off-grid communities, disaster relief, and critical infrastructure in places where traditional power sources can’t reach, but reliable energy is essential.

Join Us

If you’re ready to shape the future of power on Earth and beyond, we’d love to meet you. We’re hiring across engineering, business development, and regulatory roles in Seattle and Washington, D.C. Visit our careers page and join us in powering what’s next.

‍