Zeno Power
Nuclear batteries for edge systems in extreme environments, providing reliable power for decades from the seabed to the lunar surface
- Initial Investment: January, 2025
- Financing Round: Series B
- Role: Angel Investor
- Thesis Alignment: Aerospace, Defense, Robotics & Autonomy, Energy
- Founder: Tyler Bernstein (CEO) LinkedIn, Jonathan Segal (COO) LinkedIn
- Co-Investors: Tribe Capital, 1517 Fund, DCVC, AIN Ventures
- Website: https://www.zenopower.com/
- Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
Backed by 1517 Fund & led by a Thiel Fellow, Zeno Power develops nuclear-batteries that convert the heat from decaying radioisotopes into a constant supply of clean energy. Utilizing thermoelectrics, Zeno customers in the defense, space, and maritime industries can generate years of reliable nuclear power to unlock multi-year operations in access and power constrained domains.
Nuclear batteries offer significant advantages over conventional batteries, primarily due to their longevity, with operational lifespans potentially reaching up to 5,000 years without the need for replacement or recharging. They provide a reliable energy source that remains unaffected by external conditions such as temperature and pressure. With a high energy density, nuclear batteries deliver substantial power relative to their size and weight.
Additionally, they can operate effectively in extreme environments where traditional batteries might fail, ensuring consistent power output throughout their lifespan. Unfortunately, while nuclear batteries have been used since the 1960s, they have been prohibitively expensive and heavy for broad use cases. Therefore, industries like aerospace, defense, and maritime have been unable to reap the benefits of nuclear-battery power.
Zeno Power is developing nuclear-batteries that generate heat and electricity from the passive decay of radioisotopes. Zeno’s nuclear batteries produce 10W-10kW of power using Strontium-90 or Americium-241 isotopes and last over five years. Zeno will scale production in 2026 to serve $14B of near-term demand in maritime and space markets, including AUVs, Seabed Sensing Networks, Seabed Telecom Cables, Lunar Landers/Rovers, Maneuvering Satellites, and Deep-Space Satellites.