Zeno Power

Zeno Power is a U.S. company developing nuclear batteries — radioisotope power systems that convert the heat from decaying radioisotopes into electricity. The company was founded in 2018 by three co-founders who met at Vanderbilt University, where they initially explored whether a commercial airliner could run on nuclear power. Guided by Dr. Steve Krahn, they pivoted to the challenge of reliable power for frontier environments and identified radioisotope power systems as a promising solution. Zeno was officially incorporated in April 2018, securing a $50,000 grant from the National Science Foundation and a first $50,000 investment from 1517 Fund. It won its first government contract in July 2019. Zeno's technology is designed to provide steady heat and power for years without sunlight, refueling, or maintenance. Its nuclear batteries are scalable (producing 1 to 100s of watts), sustainable (recycling nuclear waste materials into clean energy), reliable (years of consistent power in any environment), and innovative (a compact power system with a patented design). The company successfully demonstrated a scaled nuclear prototype at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in 2023. Zeno is building an americium-241 fueled radioisotope Stirling generator to power NASA lunar surface missions, and a strontium-90 fueled radioisotope Stirling generator to power seabed operations and infrastructure for the Pentagon. It is also establishing launch approval pathways for radioisotope power systems for U.S. Space Force applications. The company's nuclear batteries are intended to enable lunar missions to survive the two-week lunar night, when temperatures drop as low as -250°C, and to support persistent subsea operations such as powering maritime sensors and telecommunications cables. Zeno Power is privately held and backed by investors. Its mission is to ensure that energy does not limit where humanity can go or what it can achieve, from deep sea to deep space.

Zeno Power was founded by three co-founders — Tyler, Jonathan, and Jake — who met at Vanderbilt University in January 2017. Their initial idea was unconventional: could a commercial airliner run on nuclear power? Under the guidance of Dr. Steve Krahn, they discovered a more urgent challenge — reliable power for frontier environments — and identified radioisotope power systems as a promising solution. In April 2018, Zeno was officially incorporated, setting off on its journey to provide clean, plug-and-play power anywhere in the universe. The company secured a $50,000 grant from the National Science Foundation and its first $50,000 investment from 1517 Fund. In July 2019, Zeno won its first government contract while participating in the Techstars program. Since its founding, Zeno has repeatedly overcome challenges once deemed insurmountable, redefining the speed of innovation in the nuclear industry. In 2023, the company successfully demonstrated a scaled nuclear prototype at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Today, Zeno is building an americium-241 fueled radioisotope Stirling generator to power NASA lunar surface missions, and a strontium-90 fueled radioisotope Stirling generator to power seabed operations and infrastructure for the Pentagon. It is also establishing launch approval pathways for radioisotope power systems for U.S. Space Force applications. The company's nuclear batteries are designed to enable lunar missions to survive the two-week lunar night, when temperatures drop as low as -250°C, and to support persistent subsea operations such as powering maritime sensors and telecommunications cables.

• Co-founders Tyler, Jonathan, and Jake meet at Vanderbilt University to explore whether a commercial airliner could run on nuclear power; guided by Dr. Steve Krahn, they pivot to reliable power for frontier environments.

• Zeno is officially incorporated; secures a $50,000 grant from the National Science Foundation and a first $50,000 investment from 1517 Fund.

• Zeno wins its first government contract while participating in the Techstars program.

• Zeno successfully demonstrates a scaled nuclear prototype at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Developer of next-generation nuclear batteries for frontier environments, providing sustainable power for years without sunlight, refueling, or maintenance.

• Americium-241 fueled radioisotope Stirling generator

  Designed to power NASA lunar surface missions.

• Strontium-90 fueled radioisotope Stirling generator

  Designed to power seabed operations and infrastructure for the Pentagon.

1. 1Zeno Power - Nuclear Batteries Powering the Frontierzenopower.com
2. 2Zeno Power - Aboutzenopower.com
3. 3Wikidatawikidata.org