Concept art of the central cross-section of the Helix Katana stellarator. (Image: Helical Fusion)
Helical Fusion, a private fusion start-up based in Japan, announced it has closed its first round of venture capital financing, securing ¥2.3 billion ($15.6 million) in funding. According to Helical Fusion, this brings the company’s total capital investment—including grants and loans—to ¥5.2 billion ($35.3 million).
The company said the capital raised in this Series A round will fuel the rapid development of its Helix Program, with the goal of having a full-scale fusion pilot plant operational in the 2030s. Helical Fusion claims its Helix Katana stellarator will be the world’s first commercially viable steady-state net fusion stellarator for electricity generation.
The technology: According to the company, the Helix Katana concept, which uses a liquid metal breeder blanket, builds on research conducted at the National Institute for Fusion Science in Japan, home to the Large Helical Device stellarator facility.
With a clear understanding of the plasma properties, Helical Fusion said it is now focused on the engineering and manufacturing of the pilot power plant and is working with industrial partners to turn concepts into reality through technical partnerships, joint research agreements, and engineering collaborations.
See a video of the company’s Helix Katana concept here.
Quote: “Around the world, fusion development is accelerating. Yet among all the methods, our stellarator approach stands on the shoulders of decades of research conducted at Japan’s top universities and national institutes,” said Takaya Taguchi, cofounder and CEO of Helical Fusion. “This is an ambitious goal, and we cannot do it alone. We welcome partners who share our vision: to pioneer a new global industry, empower nations through energy independence, and lead the world into a more sustainable future.”
Investors: The following organizations and individuals are investing in this Series A round:
- SBI Investment
- Keio Innovation Initiative
- X&KSK I Investment Limited Partnership
- KDDI Green Partners Fund L.P.
- Nissay Capital
- Daiwa House Ventures
- Hakobune
- Okano Valve Mfg.
- Toyoda Gosei
- Mizuho Capital
- Station Ai/Deepcore Inc.
- Tokai Tokyo Investment
- Aoki Super
- YNF Limited
- Crest Skill Partners
- OKB Capital
- Noshiro Densetsu Kogyo
- Yamada Shokai Holding
- Leave a Nest Capital
