Aetherflux Raises $50M to Pioneer Space-Based Solar Power
San Carlos, California-based startup Aetherflux has secured $50 million in a Series A funding round as it pushes forward with plans to launch its first space-based solar power demonstration in 2026. The startup, founded by billionaire Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, aims to harness solar energy in space and transmit it directly to Earth—a concept inspired by science fiction that is edging closer to reality.
The Series A round was led by Index Ventures and Interlagos, with participation from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, and notable individual investors like actor Jared Leto. With this latest funding, Aetherflux has raised a total of $60 million, including a $10 million personal investment from Bhatt himself.
Space-Based Solar: Turning Sci-Fi into Reality
The concept of collecting solar power in space and beaming it down to Earth has long intrigued scientists and innovators. Bhatt credits Isaac Asimov’s 1941 short story Reason as one of the inspirations behind Aetherflux’s mission. While the idea has been studied for decades, technological and financial hurdles have kept it from reaching commercial viability.
“We want to demonstrate that we have made transformative progress—from humans never having power from space to, for the very first time, there being power from space for humans,” Bhatt told TechCrunch.
Aetherflux’s upcoming mission will serve as a proof of concept. The company is developing a satellite payload capable of converting solar energy into laser power, which will then be transmitted to Earth. The satellite bus supporting this payload is being provided by Apex Space’s Aries platform, which offers essential functions such as propulsion, communications, and power generation.
The Technology Behind Aetherflux’s Vision
The key to Aetherflux’s approach lies in its innovative method of energy transmission. The satellite’s onboard system will generate up to one kilowatt of power and convert it into a laser beam directed at ground stations. These ground stations will consist of photovoltaic arrays designed to receive and store the energy.
Bhatt and his team—comprised of experts from NASA, SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, Anduril, and the U.S. Navy—are currently developing the first ground station, which will likely be located at a military site to ensure controlled airspace for safety and efficiency.
In the long run, Aetherflux envisions a network of small, portable ground stations measuring 5 to 10 meters in diameter. This system could provide power to remote locations, disaster-stricken areas, and even military outposts where conventional infrastructure is unavailable or impractical.
The Race to Beam Power from Space
Aetherflux isn’t the first to explore space-based solar power. In 2023, researchers at Caltech’s Space Solar Power Project successfully demonstrated wireless power transfer from low Earth orbit using microwave beaming. However, their experiment was more about proving the concept rather than developing a scalable commercial solution.
Aetherflux’s ambitions extend beyond academia and into real-world applications. The company recently received support from the Department of Defense’s Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund, which is keen on developing space solar power solutions for military use.
Aetherflux’s Roadmap and the Future of Space Solar Power
With the newly raised capital, Aetherflux plans to expand its engineering team and refine its technology in preparation for the 2026 demonstration. The success of this mission will be a crucial step toward building a larger constellation of solar power satellites capable of delivering continuous, renewable energy to Earth.
If successful, Aetherflux could redefine the future of energy, unlocking a virtually limitless supply of clean power from space. For more insights on the potential of space-based solar power, check out NASA’s research on space solar power and Breakthrough Energy Ventures’ investments in sustainable technology.
The coming years will determine whether Aetherflux can turn a long-standing dream into a functional, scalable reality—but with $50 million in fresh funding and an all-star team, the company is off to a promising start.
