---
type: entity
entity_type: company
name: Aetherflux
founded: ~2023
headquarters: United States
founders: [Baiju Bhatt]
status: active
domain: space-development
secondary_domains: [energy]
tags: [SBSP, space-based-solar-power, orbital-data-center, infrared-laser, LEO, dual-use, defense]
---

# Aetherflux

**Type:** Space infrastructure company  
**Focus:** Space-based solar power (SBSP) and orbital data centers (ODC) using shared LEO satellite infrastructure  
**Founded:** ~2023  
**Founders:** Baiju Bhatt (co-founder of Robinhood)  

## Overview

Aetherflux develops LEO satellite infrastructure for power generation and transmission using infrared laser technology. The company's architecture serves three use cases with the same physical hardware: (1) powering orbital AI compute workloads (ODC), (2) beaming power to Earth (SBSP), and (3) military logistics applications (forward operating location power delivery).

## Technology Approach

- **Orbit:** Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with continuous solar exposure, not GEO megastructures
- **Transmission:** Infrared laser with 10-meter spot size at ground receiver, not microwave
- **Architecture:** Shared infrastructure serving ODC (near-term) and SBSP (long-term) use cases
- **Bus:** Apex Space satellite bus platform

## Business Model

Sequential monetization of the same satellite infrastructure:
1. **Near-term (2027):** Orbital data center services (Galactic Brain project)
2. **Mid-term:** Defense power transmission to forward operating locations
3. **Long-term:** Space-based solar power to terrestrial grid

## Strategic Rationale

CEO Baiju Bhatt stated that circa late 2024, the team realized "powering AI workloads by placing compute in orbit and feeding via space-based solar power is more economically attractive than transmitting energy to terrestrial facilities." This insight led to ODC as the near-term revenue case while maintaining SBSP as the long-term value proposition.

## Timeline

- **2023** — Company founded by Baiju Bhatt
- **2025-04** — Series A funding round (~$50M cumulative raised)
- **2025-04** — DoD awards venture funds for LEO power transmission proof-of-concept
- **2025-04** — Falcon 9 Transporter rideshare booked for 2026 demonstration mission
- **2025-12** — Orbital data center project (Galactic Brain) publicly announced
- **2026** — Planned demonstration mission: kilowatt-class spacecraft with infrared laser power transmission from LEO to ground
- **2026-04** — Series B negotiation ($250-350M at $2B valuation, led by Index Ventures)
- **2027-Q1** — Target date for Galactic Brain commercial operation

## Funding

- **Total raised (as of April 2026):** ~$80 million
- **Series B (in negotiation):** $250-350M at $2B valuation, led by Index Ventures
- **DoD venture funding:** Awarded for proof-of-concept demonstration (amount undisclosed)

## Key Projects

### 2026 Demonstration Mission
- **Launch:** SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter rideshare
- **Bus:** Apex Space satellite platform
- **Payload:** Kilowatt-class power transmission system
- **Objective:** Demonstrate wireless power transmission from LEO to ground using infrared laser
- **Funding:** Series A capital + DoD venture funds

### Galactic Brain (Orbital Data Center)
- **Target launch:** Q1 2027
- **Use case:** AI compute workloads powered by space-based solar
- **Revenue model:** Commercial compute services

## Related Entities

- [[apex-space]] — Satellite bus manufacturer
- spacex — Launch provider (Falcon 9 Transporter rideshare)

## Sources

- TechCrunch Series A coverage, April 2025
- Company statements and program documentation, 2025-2026