Arinna, a deep tech startup focused on advanced space energy solutions, has raised $4 million in a seed funding round to develop ultrathin solar panels for spacecraft.
The round was led by Spacecadet Ventures, with participation from Anorak Ventures and Breakthrough Energy Foundation.
Tackling One Of Space’s Biggest Bottlenecks
As space activity accelerates — driven by governments and private companies alike — reliable and scalable power systems are becoming a critical constraint.
Arinna aims to address this challenge by developing a new generation of solar panels specifically designed for spacecraft, offering improved efficiency, durability, and flexibility compared to existing solutions.
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A New Class Of Solar Technology
The company’s technology is based on transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), a class of atomically thin semiconductors that represent a significant departure from traditional solar materials.
Unlike conventional space-grade panels, which are often expensive and rely on rare-earth elements, or cheaper silicon alternatives that degrade quickly in radiation-heavy environments, Arinna’s approach promises a balance of cost efficiency and long-term resilience.
Built For Flexibility And Performance
Arinna’s ultrathin solar cells are designed to be highly flexible, easier to deploy, and more efficient — with the company targeting performance improvements of over 30% compared to existing technologies.
The panels are also expected to operate without protective coverings and maintain performance for up to 15 years in orbit, while being faster to manufacture and deploy.
From Research To Orbit
Founded by Stanford PhDs Koosha Nazif (CEO) and Alex Shearer (CTO), Arinna is translating academic research into scalable commercial technology.
The company plans to test its first solar panels in orbit before the end of the year, validating both efficiency and durability in real-world conditions.
Scaling Toward Mass Production
Following successful in-space validation, Arinna aims to build a manufacturing facility capable of producing its solar technology at megawatt scale by 2028.
The company is also refining production processes to enable roll-to-roll manufacturing, which could significantly reduce costs and enable large-scale deployment.
Unlocking The Next Phase Of Space Infrastructure
Investors see space power as a key bottleneck limiting the next generation of space applications.
By introducing a fundamentally new material and manufacturing approach, Arinna is positioning itself to play a critical role in enabling more powerful, scalable, and cost-effective space systems.
About Arinna
Arinna is a space technology company developing ultrathin, high-efficiency solar panels for spacecraft. Built on next-generation semiconductor materials, its technology aims to deliver flexible, durable, and scalable power solutions to support the growing demands of the space economy.
