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Antares, a U.S. nuclear energy technology company focused on compact microreactors, has closed a $96 million Series B funding round to accelerate development and deployment of its advanced reactor systems. The financing was led by Shine Capital, with participation from Alt Capital, Caffeinated, FiftyThree Stations, Industrious, and other investors. The total includes $71 million in new equity and $25 million in debt financing earmarked for equipment purchases, factory construction, and procurement of nuclear fuel.
The new capital will support Antares’ near‑term technology milestones, including an upcoming demonstration of a low‑power test reactor and preparation for a first full‑scale, electricity‑producing prototype planned for 2027. According to Chief Executive Officer Jordan Bramble, funds will help validate key aspects of the reactor design, build a dedicated testing facility, and produce fuel needed for future demonstrations.
Founded just over two years ago, Antares has quickly expanded, raising over $130 million to date and establishing a large manufacturing site in Torrance, California. That facility is being outfitted to support serial production of microreactor units, with capacity planned for up to 10 systems per year. Antares also operates in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Aiken, South Carolina, and employs a multidisciplinary team advancing multiple components of its technology.
The company has secured several strategic partnerships and contracts with U.S. defense and space agencies, including the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and NASA, to further develop and demonstrate its reactor systems. Highlights from 2025 include an electrically‑heated reactor demonstration in collaboration with NASA at the Marshall Space Flight Center and selection by DIU under the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI)program to provide nuclear energy solutions at Department of War installations. The U.S. Department of Energy also allocated High‑Assay Low‑Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel to support Antares’ efforts and included the company in its Reactor Pilot Program, which can expedite demonstration and licensing pathways.
Looking ahead, Antares plans to compete for additional government projects, including proposals for NASA’s Fission Surface Power initiative aimed at delivering nuclear power on the lunar surface by 2030. The company aims to deploy production‑ready microreactors as early as 2028 to serve defense, industrial, and potentially commercial energy needs.