Topics

Nuclear startup Deep Fission goes public in a curious SPAC

Join 10k+ tech and VC leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025

Netflix, Box, a16z, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just some of the 250+ heavy hitters leading 200+ sessions designed to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech. Grab your ticket before Sept 26 to save up to $668.

Join 10k+ tech and VC leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025

Netflix, Box, a16z, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just some of the 250+ heavy hitters leading 200+ sessions designed to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech. Grab your ticket before Sept 26 to save up to $668.

Most Popular

Musk’s $1T pay package is full of watered-down versions of his own broken promises

Scale AI’s former CTO launches AI agent that could solve big data’s biggest problem

OpenAI announces AI-powered hiring platform to take on LinkedIn

Google brings Material 3 Expressive to Pixel 6 and newer devices, along with other features

Tesla’s 4th ‘Master Plan’ reads like LLM-generated nonsense

BMW, I am so breaking up with you

US and Indian VCs just formed a $1B+ alliance to fund India’s deep tech startups

Latest

Amazon

Apps

Biotech & Health

Climate

Cloud Computing

Commerce

Crypto

Enterprise

EVs

Fintech

Fundraising

Gadgets

Gaming

Google

Government & Policy

Hardware

Instagram

Layoffs

Media & Entertainment

Meta

Microsoft

Privacy

Robotics

Security

Social

Space

Startups

TikTok

Transportation

Venture

Events

Startup Battlefield

StrictlyVC

Newsletters

Podcasts

Videos

Partner Content

TechCrunch Brand Studio

Crunchboard

Nuclear startup Deep Fission goes public in a curious SPAC Tim De Chant PM PDT · September 8, 2025 Nuclear startup Deep Fission announced Monday that it has gone public in a reverse merger, netting the company $30 million.

No, it’s not 2021.

The startup is proposing to build small, cylindrical nuclear power plants and lower them into 30-inch diameter holes drilled one mile down into the Earth.

Deep Fission’s 15-megawatt reactors are cooled using pressurized water, the same type found in nuclear submarines and many existing power plants.

Earlier this year, Deep Fission inked a deal with data center developer Endeavor to build 2 gigawatts of underground reactors.

As recently as April, the startup had been attempting to raise a $15 million seed round. In August, Deep Fission and nine other nuclear fission startups were selected to be a part of the Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program, essentially a streamlined permitting process.

Under the terms of the reverse merger with four-year-old Surfside Acquisition Inc., the offering was priced at $3 per share, below the customary $10 that other SPACs target. The new entity will retain the Deep Fission name, and though its shares aren’t yet trading, it says it intends to quote on the OTCQB.

Techcrunch event Join 10k+ tech and VC leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025 Netflix, Box, a16z, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just some of the 250+ heavy hitters leading 200+ sessions designed to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech. Grab your ticket before Sept 26 to save up to $668. Join 10k+ tech and VC leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025 Netflix, Box, a16z, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just some of the 250+ heavy hitters leading 200+ sessions designed to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech. Grab your ticket before Sept 26 to save up to $668. San Francisco | October 27-29, 2025 REGISTER NOW The circumstances around the SPAC — the share price, the selected equity market, and the timing of the transaction — suggest that Deep Fission wasn’t able to raise cash from new or existing shareholders, who first capitalized the company with a $4 million check last year.

The proceeds of the merger give the startup a bit more runway than its ill-fated seed round would have, but it also imposes SEC reporting costs for what is likely a small company operating in a very expensive sector. Deep Fission is hoping to start its first reactor

Topics

Tim De Chant Senior

Tim De Chant is a senior climate

De Chant is also a lecturer in MIT’s Graduate Program in Science Writing, and he was awarded a Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT in 2018, during which time he studied climate technologies and explored new business models for journalism. He received his PhD in environmental science, policy, and management from the University of California, Berkeley, and his BA degree in environmental studies, English, and biology from St. Olaf College.

You can contact or verify outreach from Tim

October 27-29, 2025 San Francisco Founders: land your investor and sharpen your pitch. Investors: discover your next breakout startup. Innovators: claim a front-row seat to the future. Join 10,000+ tech leaders at the epicenter of innovation. Register now and save up to $668.Regular Bird rates end September 26

Most Popular Musk’s $1T pay package is full of watered-down versions of his own broken promises Sean O'Kane

Scale AI’s former CTO launches AI agent that could solve big data’s biggest problem Julie Bort

OpenAI announces AI-powered hiring platform to take on LinkedIn Maxwell Zeff

Google brings Material 3 Expressive to Pixel 6 and newer devices, along with other features Aisha Malik

Tesla’s 4th ‘Master Plan’ reads like LLM-generated nonsense Sean O'Kane

BMW, I am so breaking up with you Connie Loizos

US and Indian VCs just formed a $1B+ alliance to fund India’s deep tech startups Jagmeet Singh

X LinkedIn Facebook Instagram youTube Mastodon Threads Bluesky TechCrunchStaffContact UsAdvertiseCrunchboard JobsSite Map Terms of ServicePrivacy PolicyRSS Terms of UseCode of Conduct TelsaAnthropicTelexKlarnaMrBeastTech LayoffsChatGPT © 2025 TechCrunch Media LLC.