Radiant Industries is a clean energy startup developing Kaleidos, a portable nuclear microreactor designed to replace diesel generators for resilient, zero-emissions power anywhere on Earth. Founded in 2019 and based in El Segundo, California, Radiant’s mission is to deliver safe, reliable, and rapidly deployable nuclear energy for remote communities, critical infrastructure, military installations, disaster relief, and data centers. The Kaleidos microreactor is engineered for mass production, easy transport, and installation, enabling continuous clean electricity and heat in locations where traditional grid or fuel-based power is impractical or unreliable. Radiant aims to be the first company in over 50 years to bring a new commercial reactor design to a fueled test, with a demonstration planned at Idaho National Laboratory in 2026.
Leadership
Doug Bernauer, Co-Founder & CEO
Former SpaceX engineer, where he worked on the Grasshopper project and collaborated on advanced propulsion and energy systems.
Holds a background in aerospace engineering and has extensive experience in both hardware and software development for high-reliability systems.
Mark Urberger, Co-Founder
Also a SpaceX veteran, worked closely with Bernauer on early SpaceX projects.
Deep expertise in engineering, systems integration, and product development for advanced energy technologies.
Key Team Members
Roger Chin (Software Architect, ex-SpaceX)
Ben Betzler (Director of Nuclear Engineering, formerly at Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
Steve Burns (Board Member, former NRC Commissioner)
The broader team includes talent from SpaceX, McMaster-Carr, national laboratories, and the nuclear industry, combining aerospace and nuclear engineering expertise.
Core Technologies
Kaleidos Microreactor: A 1MW electric (1.9MW thermal) compact nuclear reactor, designed for portability and rapid deployment.
TRISO Fuel: Uses meltdown-proof, ceramic-coated uranium particles (TRISO), a proven fuel type used in over 30 reactors since the 1960s.
Helium Gas Cooling: Heat is transferred from the core using helium, which does not become radioactive, eliminating risks from leaks.
Air Cooling: Requires zero on-site water, using fans and a passive air jacket for cooling, allowing operation anywhere.
High-Speed Turbomachinery: Efficient operation from 30% to 100% power, supporting resilient microgrids and variable demand.
Factory-Assembled and Tested: Units are fully assembled, fueled, and tested at the factory, then shipped by truck or aircraft for fast installation—no site excavation required.
Autonomous Fleet Monitoring: Hundreds of units can operate autonomously with real-time data streaming to Radiant’s 24/7 centralized monitoring system.
No On-Site Waste: After 5+ years of operation, the entire container is shipped back for refueling, ensuring no nuclear waste or infrastructure remains on site.
Flexible Deployment: Can be used for electricity, facility heating, or water desalination; supports integration with renewables.
Key Capabilities
Rapid Deployment: Delivered by truck or aircraft, installed and operational within a day.
High Energy Density: Over 110 times the energy density of diesel systems.
No Water Required: Air cooling enables operation in arid or remote environments.
Scalable and Modular: Multiple units can be deployed for larger power needs or microgrid resilience.
Long Lifetime: Each reactor can be refueled up to four times for a 20-year product life.
Flexible Purchase Models: Available via Power Purchase Agreements or direct sales.
Resilient Backup: Ideal for hospitals, data centers, defense, and off-grid industry.
Investors
Total Funding: $160 million as of November 2024.
Series C: $100 million (November 2024), led by DCVC, with participation from Felicis, Washington Harbour Partners LP, Chevron Technology Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Union Square Ventures, Founders Fund, Decisive Point, McKinley Alaska Growth Capital, Boost VC, Also Capital, Vanderbilt University, Collaborative Fund, Crosscut Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Chroma Ventures, Alternative Capital Investments.
Series B: $40 million (April 2023), led by a16z’s American Dynamism team, with Union Square Ventures and others.
Series A: $11 million (2022), led by Union Square Ventures.
Seed/Other: Early funding from angel investors, Also Capital, Acequia, Boost VC.
Government Grants: $3.8 million award from the Department of Defense’s Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund.
Valuation: Not publicly disclosed.
Company Type: Private.
Notable Clients
U.S. Department of Defense: Contracts and funding for microreactor development and testing.
Production Commitments: More than 10 reactors committed for delivery through 2030, including military and commercial customers.
Target Customers: Remote villages, hospitals, data centers, disaster relief agencies, and off-grid industrial operations.
