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Maritime Fusion

Fusion reactors for ships

Maritime Fusion is building HTS (high-temperature superconducting) fusion reactors for defense and commercial shipping applications. Breakeven fusion is coming soon, but the first-of-a-kind (FOAK) reactors will be costly, high maintenance, and have low capacity factors, leading to 5–10x higher electricity cost on the grid. Maritime Fusion is pursuing the most widely accepted approach to fusion, the tokamak, but specifically designed for the marine environment where the challenges that arise between breakeven and a commercially viable energy source are alleviated. The market we're targeting requires 15x less power, lower up-time, and costs the same as alternative fuels but without any emissions. Since fusion does not use highly radioactive fuels or materials – unlike fission – we sidestep the vast majority of regulatory challenges and safety risks associated with nuclear energy. Our team brings over a decade of industry and research experience in plasma physics, nuclear engineering, and electrical engineering with backgrounds at SpaceX, Tesla, Columbia University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Maritime Fusion
Founded:2024
Team Size:4
Status:
Active
Location:San Francisco
Group Partner:Aaron Epstein
Active Founders

Justin Cohen, Founder

Nuclear engineer and plasma physicist working on fusion reactors for defense and commercial shipping applications. Previously Tesla, SpaceX, Columbia University, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, NC State.
Justin Cohen
Justin Cohen
Maritime Fusion

Jason Kaufmann, Founder

I'm a hardware engineer with a passion for building cool electronics and systems. With a background in physics and computer engineering from Penn, I've worked on everything from AI hardware at Tesla to power systems for rockets at SpaceX. Currently focused on making a fusion reactor for military vessels.
Jason Kaufmann
Jason Kaufmann
Maritime Fusion
Company Launches
Maritime Fusion - Fusion reactors for ships
See original launch post ›

We are building the first fusion reactors for marine applications

The Problem
Breakeven fusion is on the horizon, but first-of-a-kind (FOAK) reactors will be expensive, high-maintenance, and have low capacity factors, leading to 5–10x higher electricity cost on the grid. Additionally, these reactors face significant physics challenges for steady-state operation, such as managing first wall heat flux and mitigating nuclear activation of structural components that require novel materials to solve.

The Solution
We are leveraging the most proven approach to fusion energy, the HTS tokamak, but designed specifically for maritime applications. This reactor bridges the gap between achieving breakeven fusion and commercial viability. Our target market, commercial shipping vessels, require 15x less power and lower uptime compared to traditional grid reactors all while matching the cost of alternative bunker fuels—without any emissions. Operating at reduced power densities also alleviates many of the materials hurdles, paving the way for a more robust and reliable technology in the near term. We’re also leveraging the same reactor to meet the Department of Defense’s need for mobile power plants via Ship-to-Shore power.

Who We Are
Our team brings over a decade of industry and research experience in plasma physics, nuclear engineering, and electrical engineering with backgrounds at SpaceX, Tesla, Columbia University, and University of Pennsylvania. We first met at SpaceX while conducting radiation tests for Starship electronics, and later worked together at Tesla on Cybertruck and Optimus.

How the YC Community Can Help
We’re in process of making inroads to the Department of Defense, Navy, DARPA, and Department of Energy, as well as connections to the commercial shipping industry, if you know anyone we should speak with please reach out!
maritimefusion.com
founders@maritimefusion.com