AeroFuse 🛩

Setting the Scene

• Aviation is on track to become the largest carbon emitter.

  • As the industry shifts towards Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), 2x-5x the price of traditional jet fuel, airlines grapple with balancing fuel costs.

  • Currently, airlines operate on razor-thin margins, with fuel costs consuming a third of operating budgets.

• This week’s company brings zero-emission propulsion to large aircrafts, without the green premium.

In a Sentence

AeroFuse pioneers aviation fusion propulsion systems that cut emissions and extend aircraft range.

• Fusion Propulsion Systems: Fusion, a process where atomic nuclei combine to generate heat, powers AeroFuse's fusion propulsion system where their specialized fusion heat exchanger extracts thermal energy to drive a turbine engine.

• Range: By integrating this advanced fusion technology, aircrafts can achieve an extended range, enabling longer flights with fewer emissions.

The Basics

• Industry: Aerospace, Deep tech, Clean Energy

• Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

• Year Founded: Oct 2023

• Employee Count: 2

• Investors: Soma Capital, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Climate Capital, and others.

• Amount Raised: $370k pre-seed

• Business Model: Production and sale of Fusion Propulsion retrofit systems, installed on aircraft via a global network of MRO partners, with annual licensing, maintenance and fusion fuel contracts.

• Early Traction: Signed an LOI with Natilus to integrate AeroFuse's Fusion Propulsion System into autonomous cargo drones; obtained letters of support from Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, DIU and FedEx; and secured 4 MOUs with leading compact fusion suppliers: Avalanche Energy, Helicity Space, Princeton Fusion and Jupiter Volta

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

• The ARK Venture Fund is taking an asset class once reserved for the accredited, ultra-rich and making it available to all US investors.

• ARK offers investment exposure to companies like SpaceX, Epic Games, Figure AI, Anthropic, and more! See the portfolio here.

• You can invest in the ARK Venture Fund (ARKVX) for as little as a $500 minimum initial investment.

• All U.S. self-directed investors can download the SoFi or Titan app and invest in the ARK Venture Fund (ARKVX) now.

The above button will also contain a prospectus and fund risks. Foreside Fund Services, LLC, distributor.*

Due Diligence

WHAT WE LIKE

• Massive Market Opportunity: AeroFuse targets the aviation industry's $5 trillion problem by offering a groundbreaking fusion propulsion system that can significantly reduce fuel costs and emissions.

• Shift to Zero Emissions: With regulatory pressure and market demand increasingly favoring zero emissions, AeroFuse's fusion technology is uniquely positioned in an industry that is struggling to decarbonize.

• Fusion: Unlike alternatives that rely on SAF or hydrogen—both facing limitations in scalability and cost—fusion offers a limitless, energy-dense power source that reduces emissions while providing efficiency for long-haul aviation.

POTENTIAL RISKS

• Technical Complexity: Fusion energy remains one of the most challenging scientific frontiers, with hurdles to achieve conditions for sustained reactions.

• High Capital Requirements: The development and scaling of fusion propulsion systems require substantial and continuous capital investment, posing a risk if funding is insufficient or delayed.

• Regulatory and Adoption Barriers: Introducing a novel technology like fusion into the aviation industry will likely face stringent regulatory scrutiny and slow market adoption.

Founder Profile

• Ryan Weed, CEO: Previously at Draper and the US Air Force.

• Rama Myers, COO: Previously at Climate Capital, ZeroAvia, and Seeing Machines.

Comps

• LanzaJet: Backed by Suncor Energy, Shell Oil Company, Southwest Airlines, Airbus, and others.

• Air Company: Backed by Toyota Ventures, QP Ventures, JetBlue Ventures, Parley.

• Twelve: Backed by Techstars, DCVC, Capricorn Investment Group, BloombergNEF, and others

• ZeroAvia: Backed by Elemental Excelerator, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Ecosystem Integrity Fund, British Airways, United Airlines, and others.

Event Board

• Bulletpitch Boston Dinner: On September 9th, we are hosting a dinner in Boston for founders and funders. Apply HERE.

• Bulletpitch B2B SaaS Dinner NYC: On September 17th, we are hosting a dinner in NYC for B2B SaaS founders and funders. Apply HERE.

Cast Your Vote

Last Week Today

• The Results Are In: CamPlan, an AI and AR-powered platform for interior design and renovations, was favored in last week’s poll.

• Subscriber Feedback: “With the huge market opportunity in remodeling for both consumers and B2B clients, CamPlan seems well positioned to scale.”