Nuclear startup Aalo Atomics is catching more than just rays in the Energy Sector these days. The Austin-based company has successfully secured a hefty $100 million in a Series B funding round, led by Valor Equity Partners. Also chipping in were NRG Energy and Hitachi Ventures. This funding, closed on August 19, 2025, pushes Aalo’s total capital raised skyward to over $136 million.
The reason for this influx of cash is pretty straightforward: artificial intelligence requires a lot of electricity. Aalo is putting its chips on the table with their Aalo-X modular sodium-cooled reactor, designed specifically for powering AI data centers. This setup will find its experimental footing at the Idaho National Laboratory, a place so familiar with reactors it probably dreams in fission.
Details on the Aalo-X reactor
Let’s dive into what makes Aalo’s approach noteworthy. The Aalo-X reactor is built for rapid deployment, with units designed to deliver 10 MWe. This power will feed into data centers in nifty little 50 MWe “Pods”—a first for the Idaho National Laboratory in five decades. If that doesn’t set off sparks in the energy world, who knows what will?
Breaking ground yet again, Aalo’s Critical Test Reactor achieved something called “first criticality” at ungodly hours on July 4, 2026. This marks a milestone for not just Aalo but the entire US reactor community. It’s like witnessing a new species emerge in the energy ecosystem—a reminder that innovation is still alive and kicking.
