Inertia Enterprises Inc. has successfully secured $450 million in funding to further its ambitious goal of developing a laser-powered fusion reactor. The funding round, led by Bessemer Venture Partners, saw participation from notable investors, including Alphabet Inc.’s GV fund, Modern Capital, and Threshold Ventures.
Founded in 2022 by former Twilio CEO Jeff Lawson, Inertia boasts a team of co-founders, Annie Kritcher and Mike Dunne, who are leaders in fusion research. Kritcher has been pivotal in developing reactors that generate more energy than they consume, while Dunne previously led Stanford University’s LCLS X-ray research facility. “In just three years, we’ve progressed from our first successful energy-producing experiment to consistently achieving and enhancing our output,” Kritcher stated. “Now, we are focused on translating our successful physics into a commercial fusion energy solution.”
Fusion technology operates by fusing light atomic nuclei, generating energy through a mass differential. Inertia’s reactor employs a technique known as inertial confinement fusion (ICF), using hydrogen isotope pellets as fuel. A powerful laser, which is 50 times stronger than previous systems, will be utilized to heat and compress these pellets, mimicking the conditions found in stars.
To meet its ambitious energy production goals, Inertia plans to create its laser system from diodes—semiconductors that produce light efficiently. Currently, the semiconductor industry does not produce enough laser diodes to meet Inertia’s needs, prompting the company to collaborate with partners to increase supply by a factor of 100.
In addition to laser technology advancements, Inertia aims to mass-produce hydrogen isotope pellets at a cost of less than $1 each. These pellets will be converted into energy within reactor chambers made from lead, a more cost-effective material compared to traditional options.
For large-scale fusion energy generation, Inertia is focused on achieving reactors that can deliver significantly more power than they consume. The firm estimates that its diode-powered laser system could potentially yield 18 times the energy input, sufficient for constructing a prototype power plant that would contribute electricity to the grid. However, to meet future large-scale production needs, increasing this output ratio to over 30 will be essential.
Long-term, Inertia envisions building a fusion power plant with a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts, capable of supplying energy to approximately one million homes. With this significant funding boost, Inertia is poised to take critical steps toward realization of its fusion energy vision.
