GREEN BAY, WI (Dec. 4, 2024) – TitletownTech, a venture capital firm formed out of a partnership between Microsoft and the Green Bay Packers, has invested in Realta Fusion, a Wisconsin-based startup pioneering clean, scalable fusion energy solutions to power AI-driven infrastructure and other industrial applications.
Led by co-founder and CEO Kieran Furlong and co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Cary Forest, Realta is revolutionizing the energy landscape with its modular compact magnetic mirror technology. This cutting-edge innovation delivers clean, always-on energy, addressing the critical need for scalable, zero-carbon solutions as industries embrace AI and cloud computing.
TitletownTech joins Khosla Ventures and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation in supporting Realta’s advancements in fusion.
Fusion energy works by recreating the same process that powers the sun, where hydrogen atoms fuse together under extreme heat and pressure to release massive amounts of energy. Unlike nuclear fission, which splits heavy atoms apart to produce energy, fusion doesn’t create long-lived radioactive waste or carry the same safety risks. Fusion also uses fuel that is practically limitless, hydrogen, and produces only helium as a byproduct, making it a cleaner and safer energy solution.
To put its power into perspective, fusion energy can release up to eight million times more energy than burning the same amount of gasoline. For example, a bucket of fusion fuel, derived from hydrogen isotopes potentially found in seawater, could theoretically power an entire city for years, showcasing its immense potential as a sustainable and efficient energy source.
At the heart of Realta’s technology is the groundbreaking Wisconsin High-field Axisymmetric Mirror (WHAM) project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. WHAM recently achieved its first plasma, a major milestone in demonstrating the potential of high-field magnetic mirror technology to create commercially viable fusion energy. This innovation combines decades of research with state-of-the-art advancements, positioning Realta as a leader in modular and scalable fusion systems.
(LEFT) Co-founder & CEO Kieran Furlong discussing the Wisconsin High-field Axisymmetric Mirror (WHAM) experiment. (RIGHT) The Wisconsin High-field Axisymmetric Mirror (WHAM) experiment ready for first high-field plasma run.
“Fusion energy is not just an exciting possibility, it’s a necessary part of our energy future,” said TitletownTech Managing Partner Craig Dickman. “Realta stands at the intersection of clean energy innovation and the growing energy demands of AI, showcasing how Wisconsin can lead in creating solutions to global challenges. We’re thrilled to partner with Kieran, Cary, and the Realta team as they chart their path forward.”
What sets Realta apart is its ability to scale its compact magnetic mirror technology for diverse applications. From powering individual data centers to meeting the demands of large industrial hubs, Realta’s system offers flexibility and adaptability to solve energy challenges at every level.
“Our mission at Realta is to deliver clean energy solutions that are both scalable and practical,” said Kieran Furlong, co-founder and CEO of Realta. “The support from TitletownTech and others not only validates our approach but also provides us with the strategic resources needed to address one of AI’s biggest challenges: energy consumption.”
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