# Realta Fusion

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/companies/realta-fusion
Madison, Wisconsin spinout of the University of Wisconsin's WHAM experiment, developing compact magnetic-mirror fusion plants of 50-500 MW to supply heat and power on site to industry.

## In brief

- WHAM, its joint experiment with UW-Madison, held plasma at a record 17 tesla in 2024 using CFS magnets.
- April 2026: CFS to build the superconducting magnets for its prototypes and plants, a deal it says could be worth billions.
- About $45M in venture equity plus $9.5M debt; one of eight firms in DOE's Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program.

## Facts

- Founded: 2022
- Headquarters: US
- Status: private
- Raised: $55M
- Website: https://realtafusion.com
- Frontiers: [Energy](https://technooptimist.io/energy.md) (Alternative fusion)

## Programs

- [CoSMo mirror fusion (WHAM to Hammir)](https://technooptimist.io/energy/cosmo-mirror-fusion.md) (Energy): Research; next: Prototype mirror system operating (2028). WHAM running at 17 T; CFS magnet deal signed; Madison R&D site; pilot plant mid-2030s.

## Technical approach

- **Magnetic mirror: A straight tube, pinched at the ends**: Plasma sits in a straight magnetic field that is far stronger at both ends; particles heading out are reflected back.
- **HTS magnets: Stronger ends, less leakage**: High-temperature superconducting magnets reach 17 T, letting the end fields be many times the middle and plugging leaks.
- **Direct conversion: Turn escaping ions into electricity**: Ions leaving the open ends can be slowed in electric fields to make power directly, without a steam turbine.

## Open problems

- **End losses** (active research): Mirrors historically leaked too much plasma out of the ends to reach breakeven; strong magnets and plugs must fix that.

## Latest updates

- **15 Jul 2026**: Realta Fusion picks Madison's former Oscar Mayer plant for its headquarters and R&D site. Realta will put its headquarters and research facility in the former Oscar Mayer plant in Madison, backed by up to $55 million of state and city incentives. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/realta-fusion-picks-madison-s-former-oscar-mayer-plant-for-its-646c5ed3.md) · [original source](https://www.dailycardinal.com/article/2026/07/realta-fusion-settles-in-madisons-former-oscar-mayer-plant))
- **2 Apr 2026**: Commonwealth Fusion Systems will build the superconducting magnets for Realta's mirror fusion machines. CFS will design and manufacture high-temperature superconducting magnets for Realta's demonstration prototypes and commercial plants, and lend staff to help design, build and run them. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/commonwealth-fusion-systems-will-build-the-superconducting-magnets-for-1d696925.md) · [original source](https://cfs.energy/news-and-media/realta-fusion-and-commonwealth-fusion-systems-form-strategic-partnership-to-commercialize-magnetic-mirror-fusion-energy/))
- **13 May 2025**: Realta Fusion raises a $36 million Series A led by Future Ventures. Realta closed an oversubscribed $36 million Series A led by Future Ventures, with Khosla Ventures and others. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/realta-fusion-raises-a-36-million-series-a-led-by-future-ventures-f0ca1ce8.md) · [original source](https://pulse2.com/realta-36-million-series-a-closed-for-fusion-energy-platform))
- **18 Jul 2024**: Realta and UW-Madison's WHAM holds plasma at 17 tesla, the first HTS-magnet mirror. WHAM, the Wisconsin HTS Axisymmetric Mirror built by UW-Madison with Realta, made its first plasma on 15 July 2024 using 17-tesla high-temperature superconducting magnets from Commonwealth Fusion Systems. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/realta-and-uw-madison-s-wham-holds-plasma-at-17-tesla-the-first-hts-3386ce6b.md) · [original source](https://ans.org/news/article-6242/wham-realta-gets-first-plasma-with-17-tesla-magnets-in-mirror-fusion-test))

## Funding

| Date | Round | Amount | Post-money | Leads |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Feb 2026 | Growth debt facility | $9.5M |   | Silicon Valley Bank |
| May 2025 | Series A | $36M |   | Future Ventures |
| May 2023 | Seed | $9M |   | Khosla Ventures |

## Partners, customers and investors

- Commonwealth Fusion Systems (supplier): Makes the HTS magnets for WHAM and, from 2026, for Realta's prototypes and plants.
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (partner): Co-runs the WHAM experiment that Realta spun out of.
- Future Ventures (investor): Led the $36M Series A (2025).
- Khosla Ventures (investor): Led the 2023 seed.

## People

- Kieran Furlong, Co-founder and CEO
- Cary Forest, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer

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