The Robinhood founder who might just revolutionize energy, if he succeeds

After stepping down from his position as Chief Creative Officer at Robinhood, Baiju Bhatt has embarked on an ambitious new venture that could reshape the energy sector. He has founded Aetherflux, a company that seeks to harness solar power from space—an idea that many in the aerospace field have largely overlooked. With an impressive $60 million already raised, Bhatt is on a mission to turn this once-fanciful concept into a reality, aiming to make solar energy beaming from orbit a viable resource for both renewable energy and national defense. Bhatt, who co-founded the trading platform Robinhood in 2013 following his master's degree in mathematics from Stanford, is no stranger to groundbreaking ideas. At a recent TechCrunch StrictlyVC event in Menlo Park, he expressed his desire to evolve from being merely an 'aspiring space company' to a fully operational space enterprise. This transition aligns with his childhood inspirations, particularly the influence of his father, a former NASA research scientist. Interestingly, his father's reluctance to push him toward physics had the opposite effect, spurring Bhatt's interest in the field. In contrast to traditional concepts of space-based solar power—which often involve massive geostationary satellites—Aetherflux proposes a more compact and agile approach. Instead of relying on large microwave antennas, the company plans to convert solar energy into focused light using fiber lasers, allowing for precise targeting at ground-based receivers. Bhatt envisions launching a demonstration satellite within the next year, marking a significant milestone in their efforts. Initially focusing on national defense, Aetherflux has garnered support from the Department of Defense, which recognizes the strategic advantages of beaming power directly to military outposts without the logistical challenges associated with fuel transport. Bhatt highlighted the precision of their technology, aiming for laser spots that could be as small as five meters in diameter, making them less vulnerable if captured. Bhatt draws inspiration from the likes of Elon Musk, believing that entering the space industry as an outsider provides a unique perspective that can lead to innovation. However, he acknowledges the higher stakes involved in space hardware development, where one misstep during a launch can have significant repercussions. To mitigate this risk, Aetherflux is adopting a 'hardware-rich' approach, emphasizing rapid prototyping and testing to ensure reliability. The potential impact of Aetherflux extends beyond military applications. Successful implementation of space-based solar power could revolutionize energy distribution, enabling consistent power supply to remote areas without extensive infrastructure and offering emergency energy solutions during crises. With a growing team of experts from renowned institutions, Bhatt is keen to attract talent interested in tackling challenging problems. With significant personal investment and backing from notable investors, including Bill Gates's Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz, Aetherflux is poised for a transformative journey. The ambition is to not only serve defense needs but also to eventually provide renewable energy on a global scale, reminiscent of how GPS evolved from a military project to a crucial civilian resource.