Nuclearn, a groundbreaking startup founded by Bradley Fox and Jerrold Vincent, has successfully raised $10.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Blue Bear Capital. The funding was joined by AZ-VC, Nucleation Capital and SJF Ventures. Nuclearn is an adventurous startup on a mission to revolutionize the nuclear industry. They use cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) models to automate mundane tasks and increase productivity.
The company originated when its founders were employed at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, located just west of Phoenix. While working there, Fox and Vincent saw a critical need for creative solutions to streamline workflows. With this challenge, they started playing around with data science methodologies to better tackle this challenge and from this Nuclearn was born.
Nuclearn has developed specialized AI models that are trained specifically on nuclear industry terminology, enabling users to interact with the technology more effectively. These models operate in much the same way as common tools like Excel or Mathematica. They let users create sophisticated data sets and complex engineering processes at the click of a button.
No wonder interest in nuclear power is skyrocketing—it’s the only energy source that can provide reliable electricity 24/7. Nuclearn is thrilled to be on the frontlines of this transforming energy ecosystem. The COVID pandemic has catalyzed a growing interest among companies in AI solutions that can be applied within the nuclear sector. Nuclearn’s customers have come to trust them for assistance with projects similar to the very first partnership project implemented at Palo Verde. They demand greater efficiencies that will allow them to reinvent their industries.
Fox underscored that Nuclearn’s models are designed to be a complementary resource in the field. He remarked, “Most AI in the industry now, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission considers it a tool. It’s the same way as if you’re going to use Excel or Mathematica or some type of engineering software.” This approach highlights Nuclearn’s focus on bringing AI solutions to workflows that are already established—human operated and controlled.
Central to the company’s approach is a new, vital safety feature that promotes accountability. Fox stated, “If the model doesn’t know or if we’re unsure, based on the setting you select, it’ll send it back to the right people and get a double check.” He continued, “Liability always lands with the human,” further emphasizing the need for human judgement alongside AI tools.
Nuclearn purposefully fosters a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. It’s closely connected to all of the other climate tech and innovative climate business models. According to Tim De Chant, the company is at the forefront of merging AI advancements with the nuclear sector to create sustainable solutions.