Three Startups Reinventing Critical Infrastructure
This week, a16z American Dynamism Films premiered three short documentaries highlighting companies tackling some of America's biggest industrial challenges: Ulysses, Mariana Materials, and Radiant. Before watching those films, we're revisiting conversations with the founders behind each company.
You'll hear Will O'Brien explain why autonomous underwater robots could unlock a new era of ocean exploration and security, Turner Caldwell discuss rebuilding America's critical minerals supply chain and modernizing mining, and Doug Bernauer share why portable nuclear microreactors could transform how we generate power. Together, these conversations offer a look at the technologies—and the founders—working to rebuild the industrial foundations of the United States.
Resources:
Follow Will O'Brien on X: https://x.com/Willob
Follow Turner Caldwell on X: https://x.com/tbc415
Follow Doug Bernauer on X: https://x.com/dougbernauer
Follow Erin Price-Wright on X: https://x.com/espricewright
Follow Ryan McEntush on X: https://x.com/rmcentush
Follow Theo Jaffee on X: https://x.com/theojaffee
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Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
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How Radiant and Heron Are Rethinking Power Generation and Delivery
a16z general partners Erin Price-Wright and Erik Torenberg speak with Doug Bernauer, founder and CEO of Radiant, and Drew Baglino, founder and CEO of Heron, about rebuilding American energy infrastructure. They discuss portable micro nuclear reactors, solid state power electronics, why delivery rather than generation is the real bottleneck, the case for modular manufacturing, and whether data centers are actually good for the grid.
Resources:
Follow Doug Bernauer on X: https://twitter.com/DougBernauer
Follow Drew Baglino on X: https://twitter.com/baglino
Follow Erin Price-Wright on X: https://twitter.com/espricewright
Follow Erik Torenberg on X: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg
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Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
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A Nuclear Comeback: Are New Reactors the Answer?
Nuclear energy accounts for 20% of the electricity in the United States, but remarkably, 2023 marked the commissioning of the U.S.'s first new nuclear reactor in over three decades. The past few years have been a story of changing public opinion, but equally, innovative startups crafting groundbreaking reactor designs and an ambitious announcement by the U.S. government to triple nuclear power production by 2050.
In this episode recorded at a16z’s American Dynamism Summit in Washington DC, a16z podcast host Steph Smith is joined by a16z General Partner David Ulevich, Doug Bernauer – CEO of microreactor company Radiant – and Dr. Kathryn Huff, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Nuclear Energy.
From energizing the country's data centers to propelling the electric vehicles on our roads or powering the factories crafting tomorrow's innovations, they discuss why expanding our nuclear capacity is a national imperative.
Stay tuned for more exclusive conversations from a16z's second annual American Dynamism Summit in Washington DC.
Topics Covered:
00:00 - The Promise of Advanced Nuclear Reactors
03:43 - Nuclear Energy's Current Landscape
07:00 - Vulnerabilities in Fuel Delivery
10:30 - Nuclear Energy's Timeline
12:11 - Portable Microreactors and Mass Production
15:06 - Nuclear Energy's Role in America
21: 24 - Government's Role in Nuclear Energy
26:08 - Challenges of Portable Micro Reactors
30:03- The Evolution of Nuclear Reactors
32:11 - Nuclear’s Public Perception and Safety
39:21 - The Global Need for Nuclear Power
Resources:
Learn more about American Dynamism Summit 2024: www.a16z.com/adsummit
Find Dr. Kathryn Huff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/katyhuff
Find Doug Bernauer and Radiant on Twitter: https://twitter.com/radiantnuclear
Find David Ulevitch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidu
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Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio
Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
Stay Updated:
Find a16z on YouTube: YouTube
Find a16z on X
Find a16z on LinkedIn
Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify
Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts
Follow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg
Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
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