Founded in 2020 by Doug Bernauer and Bob Urberger, Radiant Nuclear is a trailblazing nuclear technology company headquartered in El Segundo, California, dedicated to developing the world’s first mass-produced portable nuclear microreactors. These compact generators are engineered to replace diesel systems and deliver reliable, zero-emissions power anywhere it is needed, tackling energy access challenges in military operations, remote communities, data centers, hospitals, disaster relief, and industrial sites. By integrating meltdown-proof TRISO fuel, non-radioactive helium cooling, passive air-cooling (zero water use), and high-speed turbomachinery in a factory-built shipping-container design, Radiant’s flagship Kaleidos 1 MW microreactor provides electric and thermal power with over 110× the energy density of diesel, rapid plug-and-play deployment, and a multi-year operational life before factory refueling. The company’s upcoming R-50 manufacturing facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is designed to scale production efficiently, creating a modern ecosystem for high-volume, factory-assembled clean nuclear power.

In December 2025, Radiant raised over $300 million in a major funding round (following a $165 million Series C earlier that year), achieving a valuation exceeding $1.8 billion. Backed by prominent investors such as Draper Associates, Boost VC, Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, DCVC, ARK Venture Fund, Chevron Technology Ventures, and strategic investor Lockheed Martin Ventures, the company has strong market confidence. Strategic partnerships, including agreements with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit and Department of the Air Force for military-base deployments, plus Department of Energy support for high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel and testing, highlight its real-world impact. Recent milestones, such as the first new commercial reactor design advancing toward a fueled test at Idaho National Laboratory’s DOME facility in 2026 (the first in over 50 years) and DOE Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis approval, solidify its leadership. With initial customer deployments planned for 2028 and scalable mass production underway, Radiant Nuclear is poised to revolutionize portable, resilient clean energy and strengthen global energy security.