Thea Energy is a private American fusion energy company founded in 2022 as a spin-out from the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) and Princeton University. The company is focused on commercializing fusion power by reinventing the stellarator—a type of magnetic confinement fusion device—using a novel, proprietary system architecture. Thea Energy’s approach simplifies the traditional stellarator design by replacing complex 3D magnet coils with arrays of mass-manufacturable, planar superconducting magnets controlled by advanced software and artificial intelligence. This innovation aims to make fusion energy more economical, scalable, and maintainable, with the ultimate objective of providing a limitless, zero-emission energy source to address climate change and global energy needs.
The company’s first integrated system, Eos, is designed as a neutron source stellarator capable of commercial operation for isotope production, including tritium and medical isotopes. Eos serves as a technology test bed and a step toward future commercial fusion power plants.
Leadership
Brian Berzin (Co-Founder & CEO): Brian Berzin leads Thea Energy as CEO. He has a background in business leadership and entrepreneurship, with experience in founding and scaling technology ventures. Prior to Thea Energy, Berzin held roles in energy and finance, and he has been instrumental in guiding the company’s vision and growth.
David Gates, Ph.D. (Co-Founder & CTO): Dr. David Gates is the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder. He is a plasma physicist with deep expertise in stellarator physics and magnetic confinement fusion, previously serving as a senior scientist at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. Gates has led major research initiatives in fusion and is recognized for his contributions to the development of advanced stellarator concepts.
Other Key Personnel:
Dr. Angelica Ottaviano: Manager for plasma-material interactions, with an engineering research background in advanced materials for plasma-facing components.
Dr. Santhosh Kumar: Director of stellarator systems, specializing in stellarator design and simulation.
Core Technologies
Planar Coil Stellarator Architecture: Thea Energy’s core innovation is the use of small, simple, planar superconducting magnets arranged in arrays, replacing the complex 3D modular coils of traditional stellarators. Each magnet is individually controlled by proprietary AI-driven software, allowing precise modulation and real-time adaptability.
Dynamic Software Controls: Advanced software, including AI, dynamically controls the magnetic fields, compensating for hardware imperfections and enabling robust, stable plasma confinement. This software-centric approach reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while increasing system reliability and maintainability.
High-Temperature Superconductors: The magnets are constructed from high-temperature superconducting materials, enabling efficient, high-field operation essential for fusion conditions.
Eos Neutron Source: Thea’s first system, Eos, is designed as a steady-state neutron source for isotope production, leveraging the planar coil stellarator design to demonstrate commercial viability and generate near-term revenue.
Materials Research: Thea collaborates with institutions like UCSD and the DIII-D National Fusion Facility to develop advanced plasma-facing materials, such as boron pebble rods, to improve durability and fuel recovery in fusion reactors.
Key Capabilities
Economical and Scalable Fusion System: By leveraging mass-manufacturable magnets and software controls, Thea aims to deliver a cost-effective and scalable path to commercial fusion energy.
Simplified Maintenance and Manufacturing: The planar coil approach allows for easier construction, maintenance, and future upgrades compared to traditional stellarators.
AI-Driven Magnetic Field Control: The system’s AI can adaptively tune each magnet to maintain optimal plasma confinement, even compensating for hardware wear or misalignment over time.
Isotope Production: The Eos system is designed to produce tritium and medical isotopes, providing a commercial use case and revenue stream ahead of full-scale power generation.
Investors
Prelude Ventures: Led Thea Energy’s $20 million Series A funding round in 2024.
Other Support: Thea Energy has received multiple awards from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), including three INFUSE awards and selection as one of eight companies in the DOE Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program.
AWS & IRCAI: Thea was an awardee of the Global Compute for Climate Fellowship by AWS and IRCAI in late 2024.
Valuation & Status: The company is private. Public valuation figures have not been disclosed, but the $20 million Series A and DOE support indicate strong investor confidence.
Notable Clients
Department of Energy (DOE): Thea Energy is a recipient of multiple DOE awards and collaborates with national labs and research facilities.
Collaborations:
DIII-D National Fusion Facility (General Atomics)
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) These collaborations focus on plasma-material interaction research and development of advanced reactor components.
No commercial utility or industrial clients have been publicly announced as of April 2025.
