Aetherflux, a space technology startup founded by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, is aiming for a valuation of around $2 billion as it seeks fresh funding to scale its ambitious orbital infrastructure projects. The company is reportedly looking to raise between $250 million and $300 million in a new financing round led by existing investor Index Ventures.
The California-based firm is developing space-based data centers powered by solar energy, designed to support artificial intelligence workloads in orbit. By leveraging continuous solar power in space, Aetherflux aims to address one of the biggest constraints facing AI growth on Earth—limited access to energy and infrastructure.
In addition to orbital computing, the company is also working on technology to transmit solar energy from space to Earth using laser-based systems. This concept, long considered theoretical, is being positioned by Aetherflux as a potential solution for delivering energy to remote locations and supporting next-generation digital infrastructure.
Aetherflux plans to launch its first orbital data center by early 2027 as part of its broader vision to build space-based computing networks. However, the company faces significant technical and economic challenges, including the high cost of deployment and the complexity of operating advanced systems in space.
The startup is entering an increasingly competitive space, with companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin also exploring orbital data centers and energy solutions. The growing interest highlights a broader industry shift toward alternative infrastructure models to support the rapid expansion of AI and high-performance computing.
