Bluecore Energy, a clean energy startup founded by Ghanaian-American entrepreneur Kofi Asante, has raised an oversubscribed $50 million seed round to accelerate its floating nuclear power technology.
The round closed about seven weeks after the company’s $10 million pre-seed, bringing its total disclosed funding to $60 million within roughly two months of coming out of stealth.
Founded in January by Asante, Bluecore builds small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) mounted on floating barges instead of fixed land sites, so the power can move to wherever it’s needed: ports, data centres, or communities without reliable electricity.
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Asante points to seven decades of nuclear-powered naval vessels as proof that compact nuclear systems can run safely at sea. Bluecore is adapting that model for commercial power, at a smaller scale and with less deployment complexity than a traditional plant.
The company became the first nuclear startup headquartered at a major port when it set up at the Port of Long Beach in July. It has since launched two floating barges and opened formal engagement with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Coast Guard over the design of its floating plant, along with a partnership with the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Division.
Asante hadn’t planned to raise again so soon, but investor calls kept coming after the company left stealth. Existing backers Slauson & Co., Harlem Capital, and Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen returned, joined by new investors including Collab Capital, Kevin Hart’s HartBeat Ventures, and MaC Ventures. Silverton Partners led the round, which closed in eight weeks.
The new capital will fund product development, regulatory work, hiring, and nuclear fuel purchases.
Last updated: September 9, 2026
