Bluecore Energy, a maritime nuclear energy startup founded by Kofi Asante, has successfully raised $50 million in a seed funding round following an earlier $10 million pre-seed raise. The company, headquartered at the Port of Long Beach in California, aims to develop small, modular, water-cooled nuclear reactors designed to operate on floating energy barges. These barges are intended to provide reliable, zero-emission power directly to ports, critical infrastructure, and cargo ship propulsion, addressing urgent clean energy needs at major global ports.

Bluecore’s team boasts an impressive lineup, including former engineers from SpaceX and Toyota, Black nuclear engineers, Ivy League PhDs who worked at Blue Origin, and one of the first female nuclear submarine officers. Since officially launching full-time earlier this year, Bluecore has made rapid progress securing a port terminal, delivering barges, advancing a test reactor, engaging with regulators like the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the US Coast Guard, and signing a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration.

The company’s innovative approach is focused on accelerating access to electricity by bringing power directly to places where it’s needed, rather than waiting years for traditional infrastructure buildouts. Bluecore’s initial reactor is designed to power around 15,000 homes with scalability to meet the energy demands of an entire port. Founder Kofi Asante emphasized their mission to deliver zero-emission energy safely and quickly, with a vision to power the more than three billion people who live within an hour of water.

The latest $50 million seed round was led by Silverton Partners and includes notable participation from previous investors like Harlem Capital and Collab Capital, alongside new contributors including MaC Ventures, Vanderbilt, Black Angel Group, and NBAYoungboy. This capital will be instrumental in scaling Bluecore Energy’s development, testing, and deployment of their floating nuclear power systems, positioning them as a promising innovator in clean maritime energy solutions.