Fuse Energy Technologies Corporation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fusion energy, Defense, Radiation testing |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Founder | JC Btaiche |
| Headquarters | San Leandro , United States |
Area served | United States (national security clients) |
Key people | JC Btaiche (Founder), James Owen (President of Fuse Federal, LLC), Laura Thomas (Chief Strategy Officer), Vahid Damideh (Chief Engineer), Lisa Gordon-Hagerty (Board of Directors) |
| Products | Radiation testing solutions, Fusion generators, Pulsed power equipment |
Fuse Energy Technologies Corporation (commonly referred to as Fuse) is an American fusion-focused defense firm that offers radiation testing solutions tailored for national security clients, serving as a stepping stone toward commercial fusion power. The company engineers cutting-edge radiation equipment designed to assess the durability of both governmental and commercial components through rapid radiation pulses. Additionally, Fuse is progressing in the development of a fusion generator intended to provide clean and sustainable energy. Established in 2019 by JC Btaiche, the company's main office is located in San Leandro, California.
History
Founded at the age of 19 by JC Btaiche in 2019, Fuse initially concentrated on exploring various fusion energy methodologies before selecting an advanced pulsed power apparatus to drive a MagLIF Z-pinch Magneto-Inertial Fusion (MIF) concept.
In February 2024, Fuse was awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force to create novel nuclear effects testing technologies for defense purposes. That same year, the company executed a live-fire demonstration of “TITAN,” recognized as the world’s inaugural high-energy, high-power impedance-matched Marx generator (IMG), with findings published in Nature Scientific Reports in July 2024. TITAN functions as Fuse’s primary pulsed power source for forthcoming fusion generator developments. Also in 2024, former National Nuclear Security Administration head Lisa Gordon-Hagerty joined Fuse’s board of directors, while the firm unveiled plans for two additional fusion systems: the Z-Star experimental platform and the Apeiron I pilot fusion facility.
Fuse maintains a radiation testing center at its San Leandro headquarters, which has been featured in WIRED magazine. The company holds contracts with the U.S. Air Force and National Nuclear Security Administration and has established Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) with Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
James Owen, who previously served as Chief Engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory, is President of Fuse Federal, LLC, the organization’s federal division. Laura Thomas, formerly a CIA base chief in Afghanistan, acts as Chief Strategy Officer, while Vahid Damideh, an ex-nuclear scientist from the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, fulfills the role of Chief Engineer.
Among its investors are Bracket Capital, Tamarack Global, and Buckley Ventures. As reported by Bloomberg in September 2024, Fuse’s valuation surpassed $200 million.