Starlight Engine (SLE) has successfully completed its first round of external financing, raising 6.06 billion Japanese yen, equivalent to approximately 37.4 million US dollars. These funds will be directed towards accelerating the FAST project, which aims to demonstrate the generation of thermonuclear energy within the 2030s.
Kyotaka Kikuchi, CEO of Starlight Engine, noted that this investment round reflects growing confidence in both the company itself and the future of thermonuclear energy. The acquired capital will allow for the acceleration of numerous components of the FAST program. The main objective of the project is to prove the feasibility of generating thermonuclear energy in the 2030s before transitioning to commercialization.
The funding will be used for engineering design, research and development (R&D), ensuring regulatory compliance, site assessment, and establishing a supply chain.
In Japan, demonstrating thermonuclear energy generation in the 2030s has become a national strategic objective, supported by initiatives from both the public and private sectors. The FAST project utilizes a tokamak configuration, which benefits from decades of global experience, including lessons learned from international experiments such as ITER, as well as the JT-60SA experiment conducted by the Japanese government.
The FAST team brings together leading Japanese universities, government research institutions, and corporations to accelerate the commercialization of thermonuclear energy. Engineering design has already passed the conceptual stage, and preparations for building the device have begun. The fundraising attracted investors from various sectors, including Mitsui Fudosan, MUFG Bank, Mizuho Bank, KDDI Open Innovation Fund V, Fujikura, Furukawa Electric, Kyoto University Innovation Capital, and international venture capital funds.
Starlight Engine is strengthening ties not only through investments but also with universities such as the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Tohoku University, Nagoya University, Kyushu University, and Keio University. Furthermore, the company is working with industrial partners, including Kyoto Fusioneering, Hitachi, Kajima Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, Mitsui & Co., Mitsubishi Corporation, and J-POWER, to create an internal supply chain for future commercial power plants.
The company announced the formation of a new executive team, which is expected to support the next phase of its development. As engineering activities intensify over the next couple of years, Starlight Engine plans to increase its workforce to nearly 200 employees. These investments follow previous joint research and partnerships, which are part of SLE's efforts to prove the latest investments in translating nuclear fusion from the laboratory to public electricity production. Starlight Engine's strategy involves combining academic research, Japan's robust manufacturing capabilities, and private investment to become a leader in the commercialization of thermonuclear energy generation.
Senra Systems has successfully raised $65 million in a Series B funding round. These funds will be used to scale its software-driven manufacturing platform designed for wire harness production. The investment will allow the company to open a third production facility, which is necessary to meet growing demand from the aerospace and defense industries.
The funding round was co-led by Lowercarbon Capital and Interlagos. General Catalyst, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, 8VC, CIV, Dylan Field, The Friedkin Group, Jaws Estates Capital, Sozo Ventures, and Alumni Ventures also participated.
CEO and co-founder Jordan Black noted that wire harnesses remain one of the most undervalued bottlenecks in manufacturing for the aerospace and defense industry, despite being critical components in advanced aircraft, satellites, launch vehicles, and defense systems.
Senra produces complex wire harness systems that provide power, communication, and data distribution across all aerospace and defense platforms. Their platform helps reduce manual operations, accelerates adaptation, and increases production stability.
The company's manufacturing operations are based on Amp—Senra's proprietary software platform. This system integrates engineering, calculations, supply chain management, production planning, and manufacturing workflows into a single digital environment.
Earlier this year, Senra opened its second manufacturing site in Cypress, which increased its production base fivefold. This 80,000 square foot facility is expected to help the company increase its monthly production capacity from approximately 1,000 wire harnesses to around 10,000 by next year.
The demand for wire harnesses has significantly increased amid rising government investments in aerospace and defense programs. Nevertheless, the industry continues to face labor shortages and production constraints. Senra aims to solve these issues by combining software automation with structured personnel training programs. The company is creating an integrated manufacturing solution capable of supporting the aerospace, defense, energy, and computing sectors.
Lowercarbon Capital General Partner Kai Lee stated that wire harnesses form the basis of virtually every advanced electronic platform, making manufacturing automation vital for expanding industrial potential.
The company has strengthened its leadership team by appointing Ken Wenner as Chief Technology and Product Officer. Wenner previously served as Director of Information Technology at SpaceX, where he oversaw corporate systems and the development of manufacturing infrastructure. He managed technologies supporting SpaceX's production operations and launch infrastructure across numerous advanced aerospace programs.
At Senra, Wenner will be responsible for the company's manufacturing platform, operating systems, and long-term technology roadmap. He will guide the technological strategy during the company's preparation for the next phase of business expansion. The company believes that software, automation, and workforce development will strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities in critical industries.
Kraken Technology has successfully raised $175 million in a Series B funding round. These funds are earmarked to accelerate the development of autonomous naval defense systems. This financing valued the British company at $1 billion, making it one of Europe's latest technology unicorns specializing in defense technologies.
The round was led by DTCP and also attracted support from several organizations, including the British Business Bank, NATO Innovation Fund, Rheinmetall, Inocea Group, HICO, Thesiger Capital Group, BOKA Capital, Supernova Invest, Hakluyt Capital, the UK National Strategic Investment Fund, SmartCap, Notion Capital, and Speedinvest. The capital raised will allow the company to speed up product development and increase its international manufacturing presence. Furthermore, Kraken plans to strengthen production partnerships in key global defense markets.
The company, founded by CEO Mal Criss, develops autonomous surface and underwater unmanned platforms for defense, security, and commercial clients. The systems operate based on lightweight carbon fiber composite materials. The flagship K3 SCOUT platform supports tasks such as maritime surveillance, logistics, force protection, and precision target engagement. The company also produces the K4 MANTA, a hybrid vessel capable of operating both above and below the water for covert operations.
Kraken's larger platforms, such as the K5 KRAKEN and K7 SABRE, are designed for long-duration missions, anti-submarine warfare, and advanced strike capabilities. These modular systems allow operators to quickly adapt vessels to changing mission requirements. Kraken has established manufacturing partnerships with several international defense companies to support local production. Partners include Rheinmetall in Germany, Anduril Industries in the United States, and Davie Shipbuilding from Inocea in Canada. The company intends to create additional manufacturing alliances in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region. This strategy aims to enhance supply chain resilience and help defense clients develop their own manufacturing capacities.
The funding followed the acquisition of several major contracts from the UK Ministry of Defence, NATO partners across Europe, and the US Special Operations Command. Kraken stated that its autonomous platforms are already being used in active combat zones. CEO Mal Criss noted that the investment will accelerate the international launch of mission-ready naval capabilities for NATO allies and global defense partners. According to DTCP partner Ole Agirre, the maritime sector has historically received fewer investments despite its strategic importance. He added that Kraken has demonstrated the ability to rapidly create affordable autonomous vessels that meet NATO requirements. Kraken's distinction from many competitors lies in combining proprietary engineering with manufacturing partnerships, rather than building its own shipyards, which allows for faster production scaling and supports local industrial capacity in different regions.
