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Venture funding surges for US nuclear fusion and fission startups
Global investment in nuclear fusion and fission topped $4.5 billion across 81 companies in 2026 so far, with the pace on track to exceed last year’s $6.2 billion record.
Venture capital is pouring into nuclear startups, with investors increasing bets on both fusion and fission as data center and AI-driven power demand rises. OilPrice reports that Axios data shows global investment in fusion and fission has already surpassed $4.5 billion across 81 companies in 2026.
At the current pace, the coverage says 2026 could surpass 2025’s prior benchmark of $6.2 billion raised across 93 companies by the year end. OilPrice also highlights that the surge is being directed mainly to US companies, with the public and private sectors positioning nuclear as a key option for energy security.
The story points to hyperscalers and other large computing firms as major drivers of sharply higher energy demand projections, arguing this would require an all-of-the-above strategy that includes nuclear power for continuous zero-emissions electricity.
OilPrice adds that Big Tech is showing particular interest in expanding nuclear deployment and technology, citing major investors and advocates including Bill Gates and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, who said in Davos that there is no way to get there without a breakthrough.