The Saturday Morning Newsletter #69
Next-Gen Nozzle Technology, Energy Givers and Takers, and $400M+ for Micro Nuclear Companies
This Week I’m Tracking: 11 developments across the sectors shaping our future
Reading Time: 5 minutes of curated insights
Your weekly pulse check: The most important events in venture capital, energy, space, economics, intellectual property, philosophy, and more. I distill the most important developments across sectors I track, saving you hours of research while keeping you ahead of the curve.
New to these updates? They pair with our bi-weekly Brainwave analyses for comprehensive sector coverage. Wednesday’s deep dive explored a Special Edition Interview with Apartment D - catch up here.
Let’s dive in.
#1: Last Energy
Description: Last Energy is a developer of micro-nuclear reactors.
Why Is This Company Interesting? Last Energy recently raised $100M in venture capital funding. Last Energy is developing 20 MW micro-nuclear reactors. Their technology requires no additional grid spend, limited water and other natural resources, and no upfront costs for consumers. This impact-light model of nuclear energy may be the only way nuclear goes mainstream.
#2: IND Technology
Description: IND Technology is a provider of infrastructure monitoring technology.
Why Is This Company Interesting? IND Technology recently raised $33M in venture capital funding. IND Technology is recently solving a huge pain point for utilities: wildfires. Not every wildfire is caused by utility, but a significant portion are. IND’s early-detection technology helps predict electrical faults before they occur, enabling proactive addressing of concerns.
#3: Vital Lyfe
Description: Vital Lyfe is a developer of portable water desalination.
Why Is This Company Interesting? Vital Lyfe recently raised $24M in venture capital funding. Vital Lyfe is creating a new category of water desalination: autonomous, on-demand, and deployable anywhere. The technology is still at a very early stage, with minimum viable products currently being deployed with scale in mind.
#4: HEN Technologies
Description: HEN Technologies is a fire suppression startup.
Why Is This Company Interesting? HEN Technologies recently raised $20M in venture capital funding. HEN Technologies is striving to solve critical pain points for firefighters worldwide. One of the main areas of solutions is in nozzle technology. HEN has designed nozzles that deliver far more accurate targeting, use less water, and provide faster coverage, directly saving lives and time in emergency situations.
#5: Radiant Nuclear
Description: Radiant Nuclear is a developer of micro-nuclear reactors.
Why Is This Company Interesting? Radiant Nuclear recently raised $300M in venture capital funding. Radiant is one of the foremost companies developing micro-nuclear reactors. Their goal is to have a functioning fuel test in 2026, an expedited timeline compared to their peers. Their microreactors can be deployed on a semi-truck or even by plane if necessary.
Wbur: An Update on America’s Nuclear Renaissance?
Katy Huff, an associate professor at the University of Illinois, explains her views on America’s nuclear progress. “ I think that is a real concern. In order to meet that moment, you’re going to have to build nuclear power plants on time and on budget, even if those budgets are fairly high initially… And some of those schedules will take a decade to get a reactor online from start of construction to connection to the grid. Though there is certainly a hope that some smaller reactors might get from construction to grid connection quicker, time will tell, and we’ll have to see whether the U.S. engineering and construction companies involved in these projects are ready for that challenge.”
The Bulletin: How Nuclear Energy Needs to Be Reframed For the Future
Nuclear energy debates are often highly polarized, with both sides failing to engage with each other, both seeking to convince the other side of what they view as universal truths about nuclear energy. In this article, the authors argue for a different way of discussing these issues, bringing new perspectives, angles, and evidence to the discourse.
MPR News: Wind Energy Permit Freeze is Unlawful, Judge Rules
Back when Trump gained office, he signed an executive order banning federal agencies from approving any wind energy permits. This week, a judge ruled that the ban was unlawful, allowing wind energy projects across the country to proceed again and revitalizing the stagnant industry. There are still many challenges this industry faces, but this regulatory issue is no longer one of them.
Pitchbook: Startups Account for 1/3rd of the Deal Volume
VC funding remains constrained as platforms hold capital toward quality assets, undeterred by current market conditions. An interesting condition has arisen recently: VC M&A dealmaking, where startups are the buyers, has surged this year to almost a third of all VC M&A deal volume. Their share of the total value of all deals was around a quarter.
Foley Hoag: 3 IP Risks to Avoid When Developing AI
As AI technologies continue to progress, many could be tempted to move fast and “figure out the paperwork later.” This can create intellectual property risk in the following areas: data rights, uncontrolled technical advice, and patent protection. By exercising disciplined data rights, controlling collaboration, and thoughtfully patenting, operators can reduce IP risk and best set themselves up for future success.
There was an interesting post on Reddit this week about energy takers and energy givers. Please see the lists below:
Energy Takers:
Focusing on the past
Inconsistent sleep
Mess and clutter
Sedentary time
Social media
Overworking
Dehydration
Screen time
Resentment
Negativity
Junk food
The news
Alcohol
Stress
Fear
Energy Givers:
Nature
Resting
Sunlight
Courage
Positivity
Gratitude
Hydration
Meditation
Movement
Breathwork
Community
Decluttering
Consistent sleep
Eating whole food
Learning something new
I don’t think it’s a perfect list by any means, but it is directionally correct, so I think it’s worth thinking about further. How many energy-giving activities do you regularly participate in vs. energy-taking activities?
It may be time to revisit those dynamics in your life.
That’s a wrap on this week’s roundup.
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Drew Jackson
Founder & Writer
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Briliant summary. Always appreciate the tracking.