Fusionality Emerges to Revolutionize Fusion Power Control Systems
By Editor • September 9, 2026 • 2 min read
In an innovative leap for the fusion energy sector, two former Google DeepMind employees have launched a startup aimed at streamlining the control systems essential for fusion power plants. Federico Felici and Jonas Buchli, co-founders of Fusionality, identified a significant gap in the market for components that can efficiently manage fusion reactor operations.
The Lausanne-based company, established this year, recently secured $3.7 million in pre-seed funding from investors including Founderful and Playfair. Felici, now CEO, explained that the inspiration for Fusionality came from the consistent feedback they received from fusion companies: a demand for ready-made control systems tailored for their specific needs. “We would ideally buy many of the components to make our control system, but there isn’t really anybody providing them,” he noted.
Bridging the Fusion Supply Gap
Fusionality aims to fill a critical niche in a rapidly evolving supply chain that supports the growing fusion power industry. While several startups are focused on producing hardware components to convert fusion breakthroughs into electricity, few specialize in the software and hardware necessary for controlling the reactors themselves. Felici pointed out that most companies end up creating their control systems from scratch, even though 80% of the underlying technology is fundamentally similar across various designs.
Harnessing AI for Enhanced Control
As they develop their offerings, Fusionality is concentrating on magnetic confinement fusion, a method that employs powerful electromagnets to sustain the conditions required for fusion reactions. While Felici acknowledges that artificial intelligence will play a crucial role in future control systems, he cautions against relying solely on AI for comprehensive reactor management. Instead, he envisions AI as a tool to enhance and optimize existing systems.
With a dedicated team of seven, Fusionality is set to embark on a journey of technological innovation. Felici describes their approach as building a suite of modular technologies, akin to Lego blocks, that can be adapted and expanded as the company grows. “We have the ambition to serve the really wide range of technology that you need to operate a fusion reactor,” he affirmed.
Source: techcrunch.com
