Supporting the energy transition with fusion inspired by nature .

First Light Fusion’s mission is to solve the problem of fusion power with the simplest machine possible. Its inertial confinement approach aims to create the extreme temperatures and pressures required for fusion by compressing the fuel using a hypervelocity projectile.

Fusion, which is safe, clean, and virtually limitless, has the potential to transform the world’s energy system. Unlike existing nuclear, there is no long-lived waste, no meltdown risk, and raw materials can be found in abundance.

First Light’s journey to a new method for fusion started in nature, with the pistol shrimp. The pistol shrimp has an oversized claw, which it can “click” at very high speed. The motion is so fast that it launches a shock wave into the water and stresses it so much that it rips apart and forms a cavity. As the cavity then collapses in a process called “cavitation” the vapour inside is heated to thousands of degrees and emits a bright flash of light.

Two scientists at Oxford, Dr Nick Hawker and Professor Yiannis Ventikos, were modelling this process and discovered that in principle this sort of shock-driven cavity collapse could achieve fusion conditions. This discovery led to the founding of an Oxford spin-out (initially called Oxyntix) in July 2011. IP Group led the first investment in 2011 alongside Parkwalk Advisors and a number of angel investors. The Company changed its name to First Light Fusion in 2014 and proceeded to embody its technology in proprietary “target” designs, which shape input shockwaves from a projectile into hypersonic implosions that heat and compress fusion fuel. In 2022 the company demonstrated fusion with its new approach showing the reaction with a projectile for the first time.

IP Group has been with First Light Fusion from its founding in 2011. We understood the science and backed it not just as an investor but also as a business builder, providing support and help along its journey. We led the first 3 investment rounds and also used our internal executive search function to complement the team’s brilliant scientists with people from the worlds of business and engineering. We hired the high-profile venture investor and serial entrepreneur Bart Markus to chair the company and placed Sir David King, the former UK government chief scientific advisor and world-renowned clean energy expert, on the company’s Advisory Board while IP Group’s Dr Trezona remains on the company’s Board.

A key focus area for IP Group is the energy transition and the technologies which will support the transformation of the energy system as it evolves. Fusion, which is safe, clean, and virtually limitless, has the potential to transform the world’s energy system. Unlike in existing nuclear fission powerplants, there is no long-lived waste, no meltdown risk, and raw materials can be found in abundance. First Light’s approach to fusion has the potential to make fusion power practical and cost effective. If First Light can be successfully brought to market over the next two decades, it will make a significant impact on creating a sustainable future.