Valar Atomics is a California-based nuclear energy startup aiming to transform the economics and scalability of nuclear power by mass-manufacturing small modular reactors (SMRs) and deploying them in large clusters called “gigasites.” Rather than supplying electricity to the traditional grid, Valar Atomics focuses on grid-independent products such as hydrogen, data center power, heavy industrial power, and clean hydrocarbon fuels. Their reactors are designed to operate at ultra-high temperatures, enabling efficient hydrogen production and the synthesis of carbon-neutral fuels like jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline. The company’s vision is to make energy dramatically cheaper and more abundant, leveraging existing global hydrocarbon infrastructure to distribute synthetic fuels produced with nuclear energy. Valar Atomics has already secured its first pilot project in the Philippines and is actively developing its first test reactors.
Leadership
Isaiah Taylor, Founder & CEO Taylor is a self-taught engineer and entrepreneur who dropped out of high school at 16, later working on classified technology for the Defense Department. He comes from a family with deep roots in nuclear science—his great-grandfather worked on the Manhattan Project. Taylor’s vision is to industrialize nuclear energy deployment, drawing inspiration from high-volume manufacturing in other sectors.
Mark Mitchell, Chief Nuclear Officer Mitchell is an experienced nuclear engineer who previously led the development of the Micro Modular Reactor as president of USNC-Power and contributed to the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor project in South Africa. He brings decades of advanced nuclear engineering experience to Valar Atomics.
Willem van Rooyen, Head of Mechanical Engineering Van Rooyen is a veteran of the nuclear industry with expertise in high-temperature gas reactor (HTGR) design and engineering.
Other Notable Team Members The team includes mechanical engineers, nuclear engineers, process engineers, materials scientists, and project development experts with backgrounds in advanced reactor design and construction.
Core Technologies
High-Temperature Gas Reactor (HTGR) with TRISO Fuel Valar Atomics’ reactors use a helium-cooled HTGR architecture, operating at temperatures up to 900°C—about three times hotter than conventional reactors. This enables efficient hydrogen production and high-temperature industrial processes. The use of TRISO fuel provides an unmatched safety profile and strong proliferation resistance.
Gigasite Deployment Model Instead of building bespoke, one-off reactors, Valar Atomics aims to mass-produce standardized SMRs and deploy them in clusters of hundreds or thousands at single industrial sites. This approach, inspired by gigafactories in other industries, is designed to unlock economies of scale, minimize regulatory overhead, and enable rapid, cost-effective deployment.
Synthetic Fuel Production Leveraging the high temperatures from their reactors, Valar Atomics uses the sulfur-iodine cycle to produce hydrogen, which is then combined with captured CO₂ via a modified Fischer-Tropsch process to create carbon-neutral synthetic fuels. These fuels can be distributed using existing oil and gas infrastructure.
Grid-Independent Power The company’s products are designed for direct use by data centers, heavy industry, and hydrogen production facilities, bypassing the constraints and costs of grid integration.
Key Capabilities
Mass Manufacturing of SMRs: Standardized reactor design for rapid, repeatable production and deployment at scale.
Ultra-High Temperature Operation: Enables efficient hydrogen and synthetic fuel production, as well as industrial heat applications.
Carbon-Neutral Hydrocarbon Synthesis: Produces jet fuel, diesel, gasoline, and natural gas from water and air, using nuclear energy as the primary input.
Integrated Gigasite Model: Concentrates reactors and fuel production at single sites, reducing regulatory burden and operational costs.
First Pilot Reactor: Secured a contract with the Philippines Nuclear Research Institute for initial deployment and testing, with plans for additional reactors and eventual full-scale gigasites.
Investors
Riot Ventures (lead investor)
AlleyCorp
Initialized Capital
Day One Ventures
Steel Atlas
Valar Atomics has raised $19 million in seed funding as of February 2025, with a total of $21 million raised to date including a pre-seed round. The company is privately held and has not disclosed valuation figures.
Notable Clients
Philippines Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI): Valar Atomics has secured a contract to deliver its first test reactor in the Philippines, with plans to build two full-scale reactors before rolling out a fully integrated SMR plant. This project is the company’s first international pilot and a key step towards commercial deployment.
