Nuclear Startup Funding Is Up, But The Sector's Public Markets Take A Bearish Turn

Funding to nuclear power-focused startups hit an all-time high this year, fueled by expectations of surging energy demand around artificial intelligence. Optimism around IPO prospects, however, has taken a hit recently amid weakening public market enthusiasm for the space.

So far in 2026, investors have poured more than $6 billion into companies focused on developing both fission and fusion nuclear energy technology and infrastructure, per Crunchbase data. That’s far ahead of any comparable period, including last year, the prior record-setter…