Aetherflux Secures $50M for 2026 Solar Power Demo

Aetherflux, a space solar startup co-founded by Baiju Bhatt of Robinhood fame, has successfully raised $50 million in a Series A funding round, marking its first outside investment. The round was led by Index Ventures and Interlagos, with notable participants including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, and actor Jared Leto. Aetherflux aims to develop a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites that will collect solar energy in space and beam it to Earth using infrared lasers, a concept inspired by Isaac Asimov's science fiction. The company is planning its first satellite launch in 2026 to demonstrate its technology, which has garnered interest from the Department of Defense for its potential applications in remote and contested areas. The recent funding will enable Aetherflux to expand its engineering team and enhance the necessary infrastructure for its missions. Overall, Aetherflux is positioning itself in a competitive landscape as global interest in space solar initiatives grows.