Nuclear startup Deep Fission goes public in a curious SPAC
Nuclear startup Deep Fission goes public in a curious SPAC, shaking up the energy and tech sectors with a bold bet on underground reactors. The company raised $30 million through a reverse merger, a move that feels more like 2021 than 2025.
Image Credits:XH4D / Getty Images
A new take on nuclear power
Deep Fission’s vision is simple but radical: build compact 15-megawatt nuclear reactors, encase them in steel, and lower them into mile-deep, 30-inch-wide boreholes. By burying them, the company hopes to sidestep traditional nuclear fears—meltdowns, sabotage, and security risks.
These reactors use pressurized water cooling, a proven technology borrowed from nuclear submarines and existing power plants. The underground design aims to combine reliability with a smaller physical footprint.
Big partnerships and government backing
Earlier this year, Deep Fission signed a deal with Endeavor, a major data center developer, to supply up to 2 gigawatts of underground nuclear power. This partnership highlights the growing demand for sustainable, always-on energy in the AI and cloud era.
In August, Deep Fission also won a spot in the Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program, giving it a streamlined path to regulatory approval—a key advantage in an industry notorious for red tape.
The unusual SPAC deal
The reverse merger was executed with Surfside Acquisition Inc., a four-year-old SPAC. Unlike most SPAC offerings priced at $10 per share, Deep Fission’s deal was set at just $3, signaling both risk and opportunity for early investors.
The company will continue under the Deep Fission name. While its shares aren’t trading yet, it plans to list on the OTCQB market, giving investors a closer look at its ambitious energy play.
Why it matters
With rising energy demand from AI, data centers, and electrification, the nuclear sector is seeing renewed interest. Deep Fission’s underground microreactors could become a key part of the future energy mix—if the company can prove its technology at scale.
For now, all eyes are on how this curious SPAC deal plays out, and whether Deep Fission can turn its bold vision into a safe, scalable reality.
