Leaders from two prominent fusion energy companies are scheduled to present at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, outlining their strategies for transitioning from scientific research to commercial electricity generation. The session, titled “Bringing Fusion to the Grid,” will feature Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) co-founder and Chief Science Officer Brandon Sorbom alongside Helion founder and CEO David Kirtley.
The event highlights a shift in the fusion industry, moving beyond theoretical potential toward tangible infrastructure. CFS is developing SPARC, a demonstration machine designed to precede its first commercial plant, ARC. Notably, CFS became the first fusion company to apply to PJM Interconnection, the largest U.S. wholesale electricity market, in April. Following this regulatory step, the company secured an additional $1 billion in funding in July, bringing its total capital raised to $4 billion.
Meanwhile, Helion is focused on its Orion project, a 50-megawatt plant intended to supply electricity to Microsoft as early as 2028. Kirtley, who holds fellowships from the NSF and NASA, leads the company as it addresses technical and regulatory hurdles. Helion recently announced that its Polaris prototype successfully heated plasma to 150 million degrees Celsius. Additionally, the company completed its Series G funding round in September, raising a total of $500 million.
Sorbom and Kirtley will discuss the specific engineering challenges required to make fusion viable for the grid. They will explore how their respective companies are bridging the gap between recent scientific milestones and reliable, large-scale power delivery. The discussion aims to provide insights for investors and technology leaders interested in the commercialization of nuclear fusion.
The session is part of TechCrunch Disrupt, taking place from October 13 to 15 at Moscone West in San Francisco. The conference is expected to host over 10,000 attendees, 250 speakers, and more than 300 exhibiting startups across various technology sectors.
Leave a Reply