Zap Energy
Facts
- HQ
- Everett, Washington, US
- Sectors
- Energy Technology
- Founded
- 2017
- Type
- Corporation Seattle business license
- Employees
- 151
- Registered name
- Zap Energy Inc Seattle business license
- Stage
- startup
- Total raised
- $319M SEC Form D filings Total of this company's SEC Form D filings
- Last round
- $130M · Jul 2024 SEC Form D
- Founders
- Benj Conway, Uri Shumlak, Brian A. Nelson
Microsoft names Aneesh Raman chief economic opportunity officer and promotes Jenny Lay‑Flurrie; DAT CPO Brian Gill resigns
Microsoft promoted Jenny Lay‑Flurrie to corporate vice president of its Trusted Technology Group and named Aneesh Raman chief economic opportunity officer; Zillow appointed a new policy lead while departures occurred at Oracle, Hiya and DAT Freight & Analytics, including DAT’s CPO Brian Gill resigning.
Agility Robotics names Michael Beer CFO as Jennifer Hunter shifts to COO ahead of planned public listing; other tech executive moves reported
Agility Robotics hired Michael Beer as CFO while current CFO/COO Jennifer Hunter will focus solely on operations as the company prepares to go public; other tech moves include Matt Fisher becoming CTO of Efekta Education and another security leader, Rahul Prakash, departing Microsoft. Zap Energy also appointed a chief legal officer and KEXP named a new CPTO, reflecting a wave of executive changes across startups and tech firms.
Microsoft Partners with Helion Energy for Fusion-Powered Data Centers by 2028 Amid $1.5B Investment; Zap Energy Pursues Alternative Fusion and Micro-Reactors
Microsoft has contracted Helion Energy to supply electricity to future data centers powered by fusion energy, with Helion aiming to launch the world's first commercial fusion device by 2028. Meanwhile, Zap Energy, supported by the US DOE, pursues an alternative fusion approach and plans interim revenue through micro-reactors combining fusion and fission technologies.
Helion Energy to Provide Fusion Power to Microsoft Data Center by 2028 Amid $1.5B Funding; Zap Energy Raises $330M with DOE Support
Helion Energy, with $1.5 billion raised, will supply fusion-generated electricity to Microsoft's Central Washington data center by 2028, while rival Zap Energy, backed by $330 million and the U.S. Department of Energy, is also exploring nuclear fission. These moves reflect the urgent demand for power in AI data centers exceeding current grid capacity and the strategic hedging against fusion timeline risks.
Zoom to Acquire Seattle AI Startup Common Room, Known for $52M-Funded Buyer Intelligence Platform
Zoom is acquiring Common Room, a Seattle-based AI startup that developed a platform to help sales and marketing teams track customer buying signals. Common Room emerged from stealth in 2021 with $52 million in funding and was named the 2022 GeekWire Awards Startup of the Year.
Fusion energy: Wishing upon a star in a jar — Introducing 'Positive Charge' from GeekWire
This week on the show, we're sharing the debut of Positive Charge, a new GeekWire podcast from reporter Lisa Stiffler and producer Laura Scott about the innovations that could help save the planet. In this episode, they dig into the high-stakes race to harness the power of the sun and make fusion energy real, visiting two Seattle-area startups chasing this dream, and asking whether limitless clean power is finally within reach. Also out this week: their debut episode on the "forever chemicals" in our water and the companies figuring out how to destroy them. Follow Positive Charge wherever you get…
Starcloud Becomes Fastest Y Combinator Unicorn at $1.1B as Fusion Leader Helion Tops GeekWire 200 with $15.5B Valuation
The latest GeekWire 200 highlights a shift in the Pacific Northwest startup scene toward physical products like rockets, fusion reactors, and space-based data centers, with Starcloud becoming the fastest Y Combinator unicorn valued at $1.1 billion. Helion maintains the top spot with a $15.5 billion valuation, while notable companies like Stoke Space, Overland AI, and new unicorn XBOW also make significant moves.
Fusion Startups Have Raised $7.1 Billion, Led by Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ $863M Round
Fusion startups have collectively raised $7.1 billion, with Commonwealth Fusion Systems accounting for about one-third of this private investment. Advances in computing, AI, and superconducting magnets, along with key scientific milestones, are driving rapid progress toward commercially viable fusion power.
Zap Energy Adds Nuclear Fission to Fusion Effort, Names Zabrina Johal CEO to Lead Dual-Track Power Strategy
Zap Energy is expanding its nuclear power efforts by adding traditional fission to its fusion technology, appointing Zabrina Johal as CEO to lead the combined approach. The company aims to integrate both nuclear methods to accelerate development and reduce risks amid growing demand for carbon-free energy.
Avalanche Energy Secures $29M Led by RA Capital to Develop Desktop-Sized Fusion Power and Launch FusionWERX Facility
Seattle's Avalanche Energy raised $29 million led by RA Capital Management to advance fusion power and open FusionWERX, a commercial-scale test facility in Washington. The funding supports developing compact fusion devices for specialized applications, diverging from competitors focusing on large-scale fusion reactors.
Seattle Fusion Startup Avalanche Energy Raises $14.9 Million to Advance Compact Fusion Devices
Seattle startup Avalanche Energy raised $14.9 million in a new funding round to develop compact fusion energy devices and pursue commercial applications. The company already secured $50 million from investors and contracts including a Pentagon deal and a $10 million state grant for a fusion testing facility.
Zap Energy's FuZE-3 Reactor Generates Pressure 10 Times Mariana Trench Level, Paving Way for Fusion Power
Zap Energy’s FuZE-3 fusion reactor achieved pressures 10 times higher than those at the Mariana Trench, marking a major milestone in fusion power development. The company plans to commission a fifth device, FuZE-A, next month to further advance and optimize fusion technology.
ExoFusion Secures DOE FIRE Funding to Research Liquid Metal Walls in Fusion Generators with Princeton Lab
ExoFusion, a clean energy startup based in Washington and Texas, received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Fusion Innovative Research Engine program to study liquid metal walls in fusion generators. The project is led by Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory with ExoFusion co-founder Michael Kotschenreuther heading an initiative.
GeekWire 200 Q2 2025 Lists Top 10 Fast-Growing Pacific Northwest Startups in AI, Robotics, Energy, and More
The GeekWire 200 ranking highlights the fastest-growing private tech startups in the Pacific Northwest, emphasizing innovators in AI, robotics, energy, and more for Q2 2025. This quarterly list, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, tracks regional tech development and emerging companies.
Pacific Northwest Leads Fusion Energy Efforts with Helion Energy's $1B Project Starting and Zap Energy's Reactor Advances
The Pacific Northwest has become a fusion energy hub, highlighted by Seattle Fusion Week, with key companies like Helion Energy starting commercial fusion plant construction and Zap Energy advancing reactor milestones. Despite technical challenges, regional firms and research institutions continue efforts toward achieving cost-effective fusion power by the late 2020s.
Avalanche Energy Receives $10M Washington State Grant to Build FusionWERX Fusion Energy R&D Site
Avalanche Energy secured a $10 million grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to build FusionWERX, a commercial-scale fusion energy testing facility in Richland, Washington, aimed at supporting fusion R&D and job creation. The facility will serve universities, companies, and government labs to advance fusion power technologies and the clean energy supply chain.
Report: "Cascadian Dynamism"—Pacific Northwest startups marry AI and physical systems across fusion, satellites, robotics and energy
The Pacific Northwest is spawning a cluster of engineering-heavy startups—what the author calls "Cascadian Dynamism"—that combine AI with physical systems (autonomy, fusion, satellites, robotics, energy) driven by regional talent, infrastructure, and nearby enterprise and federal customers.
Seattle Fusion Startups Helion, Zap, Avalanche Clash Over Commercial Power Timelines at Investor Summit
At a Seattle-area Technology Alliance event, fusion startups Helion Energy, Zap Energy, and Avalanche Energy debated their timelines and challenges in commercializing fusion power, with Helion targeting a 2028 fusion power plant for Microsoft and competitors expressing skepticism about such aggressive goals.
Helion Energy to Build World's First Fusion Plant in Malaga, Washington, Powering Microsoft Data Centers with 50MW
Helion Energy plans to build the world's first fusion power plant near the Rock Island Dam in Malaga, Washington, aiming to begin construction this summer and provide 50 megawatts of clean energy to Microsoft data centers. The company, backed by over $1 billion in investments from notable investors like Sam Altman and SoftBank, has been engaging extensively with the local community and authorities to secure permits and support.
UW Genetics Professor Mary-Claire King Awarded NAS Public Welfare Medal; T-Mobile Board and Seattle Startup Violett Announce Leadership Changes
Mary-Claire King, a University of Washington genetics professor, received the National Academy of Sciences' Public Welfare Medal for her impactful genome science work including discovering the BRCA1 gene. T-Mobile announced board changes with the return of Thomas Dannenfeldt and resignations of Kelvin Westbrook and Srinivasan Gopalan, while Seattle startup Violett appointed Michael Kurtzman as CEO.
GeekWire 200 Q1 2025: Highspot Leads as Helion Rises to No. 2 After $425M Funding; Truveta, Statsig, Protect AI Also Advance
The GeekWire 200 Q1 2025 update highlights rapidly growing Pacific Northwest tech startups, with Highspot retaining No. 1 and Helion rising to No. 2 after a $425 million funding round. Other notable movers include Truveta, Statsig, Protect AI, Carbon Robotics, and Stoke Space, reflecting dynamic shifts in the regional tech landscape.
Helion Energy Raises $425 Million from Sam Altman, SoftBank, and Others, Valued at Over $5.4 Billion to Advance Fusion Power
Helion Energy, a Seattle-area fusion startup, raised $425 million from investors including Sam Altman and SoftBank to advance fusion power development, boosting its valuation above $5.4 billion. The funding emphasizes progress toward clean, carbon-free energy solutions crucial for powering AI data centers.
Pacific Northwest Tech Startups Raise $762M in Q4 2024 with Zap Energy and Auger Leading Funding Rounds
Venture capital funding for Pacific Northwest startups rose over 20% year-over-year in Q4 2024, totaling $762 million across 48 deals, driven by major rounds from Zap Energy and Auger. Despite being well below 2021 peaks, the region shows positive momentum amid a cautious but moderately optimistic U.S. VC market influenced by AI investment growth.
Insights from Uncommon Thinkers: How these innovators found novel approaches in their fields
This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we sit down with some of the Seattle region’s “Uncommon Thinkers” — inventors, scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs transforming industries and driving positive change in the world. We recorded the episode on location, backstage at the GeekWire Gala, where we recognized five Uncommon Thinkers through this annual awards program, presented in partnership with Greater Seattle Partners. Speaking on the episode are: Uri Shumlak, co-founder and chief scientist at Zap Energy, a physicist leading a team in pursuit of fusion energy, taking a different approach from others in the field. Read the profile. Ingrid Swanson Pultz…
Highspot Takes No. 1 Spot on GeekWire 200 Startup Ranking After Outreach’s Layoffs and CEO Departure
Seattle-based sales enablement company Highspot has claimed the No. 1 spot on GeekWire's 200 ranking of privately held startups in the Pacific Northwest, replacing Outreach which recently downsized and saw its CEO step down. The GeekWire 200 ranking reflects changes in the dynamic startup landscape based on factors like funding, employee growth, and layoffs.
People
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Benj Conway Founder, President and Co-Founder, Executive Officer, Director
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Uri Shumlak Founder, Chief Scientist, Co-Founder, Board Member, Director
