Whalesbook
Arinna, a startup founded by Stanford PhDs Koosha Nazif and Alex Shearer, has announced a $4 million seed funding round to meet the burgeoning demand for robust power solutions in space. The capital injection, led by SpaceCadet Ventures with participation from Anorak Capital and Breakthrough Energy Foundation, will be earmarked for developing revolutionary ultrathin solar panels.
Arinna's technology diverges from conventional approaches by utilizing transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), atomically thin semiconductors. Unlike current silicon panels that degrade under cosmic radiation or older, expensive rare earth panels, Arinna's TMD-based photovoltaics are designed for superior flexibility, durability, and efficiency. The company claims these cells will be cheaper to produce and last longer in orbit.
The startup is poised to test its first qualification panels on orbit before the end of this year. This crucial phase will demonstrate the efficiency and resilience of their novel materials in the harsh space environment. Following successful testing and process refinement for large-scale, roll-to-roll manufacturing, Arinna aims to establish a facility capable of producing megawatt-scale power systems by 2028, addressing a key bottleneck for future space missions.