Aetherflux, a space solar energy startup founded by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, has raised $50 million in Series A funding to support the launch of its first demonstration satellite in 2026.
This brings the company’s total funding to $60 million, including Bhatt’s own $10 million investment.
A Sci-Fi Vision Turned Real
Inspired by Isaac Asimov’s 1941 sci-fi story “Reason,” Aetherflux is building a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites designed to collect solar energy in space and beam it to Earth using laser technology.
The company aims to deliver clean, continuous energy to ground stations, potentially transforming how remote and military areas access power.
“We want to prove that space-based solar power for human use is no longer fiction,” said Bhatt, CEO of Aetherflux.
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Backed by High-Profile Investors
The round was led by Index Ventures and Interlagos, with participation from Breakthrough Energy Ventures (Bill Gates), Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, and even actor Jared Leto.
The new funding will be used to:
- Expand Aetherflux’s engineering team
- Build the tech infrastructure for upcoming missions
- Finalize development of the first satellite payload and ground station
How It Works
- Aetherflux’s system uses Apex Space’s Aries satellite bus, powered by solar panels.
- The power generated will be converted to laser energy and transmitted to Earth.
- On the ground, photovoltaic arrays will capture and store this energy.
The startup is currently scouting military sites with controlled airspace for its first ground station, but future iterations will feature portable stations (5–10 meters wide) for deployment in remote or off-grid areas.
Aiming to Make History
The company’s 2026 mission will be the first to demonstrate end-to-end space-to-Earth energy transfer via laser, lighting up a ground installation to prove feasibility.
Only a few have attempted similar feats — notably Caltech’s 2023 wireless microwave beaming test — but Aetherflux is aiming for a commercially scalable model.
Aetherflux’s momentum is also backed by support from the U.S. Department of Defense, through its Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund, indicating potential defense applications in the future.
With top-tier investors and bold ambitions, Aetherflux is positioning itself at the forefront of space-based renewable energy — a futuristic idea that may soon become a viable global solution.
