Marvel Fusion has raised $70 million to push forward its ambitious laser-powered fusion energy project, capitalizing on the urgent global need to transition away from fossil fuels. The startup’s innovative approach focuses on inertial confinement fusion, aiming to replicate the conditions of a star right here on Earth.
Co-founder and CEO Moritz von der Linden believes that fusion power offers a virtually limitless energy supply using abundant materials. However, most experts predict that commercial fusion is still at least a decade away, making it crucial for Marvel Fusion to deliver affordable solutions quickly.
The company plans to build a demonstration facility in partnership with Colorado State University, where it will deploy two 100-Joule lasers designed to prove its technology. Construction is set to begin on October 16, with an operational goal for early 2027.
Marvel’s lasers will operate at femtosecond intervals, delivering intense bursts of energy to a nanostructured target. The resultant fusion reaction will be ignited using a fuel mixture primarily composed of hydrogen and boron, with a flexible approach to fuel combinations.
In contrast to traditional methods like those used by the National Ignition Facility (NIF), which rely on intricate gold hohlraums and extended manufacturing timelines, Marvel’s simpler silicon-based targets can be produced using existing semiconductor manufacturing techniques. This enables the company to mass-produce targets with features as small as 50 to 80 nanometers.
If successful, the Colorado experiments will lead to an increase in laser energy by 2028 or 2029. Recently, Marvel raised €62.8 million in a Series B funding round, led by HV Capital, with additional support from various investors and a potential grant from the European Innovation Council.
By 2032 or 2033, Marvel aims to finalize its first commercial-scale prototype, which will feature between 10 and 20 two-kilojoule lasers. This stage is critical for achieving the necessary power output to validate their fusion technology. As von der Linden puts it, “It’s like driving a Ferrari with a two-cylinder engine.” The real test will be whether they can unlock fusion energy’s vast potential. The race to commercial fusion power continues.
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