LOS ANGELES, Calif., July 21, 2026 — Bluecore Energy, a maritime nuclear energy startup, on Tuesday announced that it had raised $10 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Slauson & Co. The company is developing floating small modular reactors (SMRs) installed on barges to provide clean electricity for ports, industrial facilities and nearby communities. Founded seven months ago by Kofi Asante, who previously worked with Uber Freight, Bluecore is developing a nuclear power platform that can operate on water and be relocated to different sites based on electricity requirements.

The funding round included participation from Harlem Capital, Precursor Ventures, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen, actor Kevin Hart’s HartBeat Ventures and several angel investors. Bluecore plans to use the capital to deploy its technology and continue testing its reactor system. The company has already secured a port terminal, a barge and a test reactor pressure vessel as it works to validate the foundation of its design.

Floating Reactors Designed for Maritime Energy Delivery

Bluecore’s floating nuclear platforms are built around small modular reactors that generate electricity through a steam-based process. The reactors heat water, creating steam that moves into a generator, which then spins a turbine to produce electricity. The system uses closed-loop water cooling, allowing the reactor platform to operate without requiring continuous water intake from nearby communities. According to Asante, Bluecore’s barges can be shipped to new locations, allowing the energy system to be relocated while avoiding emissions associated with traditional fuel transportation. The reactors are also designed to require refuelling only once every few years.

The company’s floating platforms can be docked near communities and connected to the power grid through subsea cables. Asante told TechCrunch that the electricity generated by Bluecore’s barges could support the equivalent of approximately 15,000 homes or scale to meet the power needs of a major port. “We are able to utilize existing water-cooled nuclear technology that has been operating for over 70 years,” he said. “With a production line of small modular reactors that can be rapidly deployed on water, there is a pathway to provide clean energy to the majority of the country.” The company’s floating reactor system could provide another option for regions requiring reliable electricity generation.

Testing Technology for Future Nuclear Deployment

Bluecore is conducting hardware and software testing to validate its reactor design before deployment. The company’s test vessel allows engineers to simulate water flow through the cooling system, helping evaluate how different components perform together. “The test vessel allows us to simulate flow with water, which is the cooling source of the system,” Asante said. “We are using hardware with software testing to validate and verify the foundation of our design.” The testing process is intended to confirm the performance of the system’s underlying technology and prepare the company for future development stages.

The startup is also working with regulatory agencies to incorporate safety measures into its first product. Asante said Bluecore is developing multiple layers of safety and redundancy, including uranium fuel protection, a thick steel reactor vessel, concrete shielding and steel lining. These safety features are designed to protect the reactor system during operation and support regulatory evaluations. By using water-cooled nuclear technology that has operated for decades and adapting it for maritime deployment, Bluecore is developing a new method for delivering nuclear-generated electricity.

Nuclear Energy Opportunity for Ports and Data Centers

Bluecore sees growing demand for electricity from industries that require large-scale and reliable power resources, including artificial intelligence data centers. Speaking with TechCrunch, Asante said AI data center executives had shared that they would not need to draw electricity or water resources from surrounding communities if they could access their own power source and offshore water resources. He said offshore nuclear platforms could allow data centers to receive dedicated electricity generation while accessing water available at sea.

The company is also targeting ports, which require significant electricity for shipping operations, logistics systems and industrial activities. Bluecore’s floating nuclear platforms could provide power near coastal locations while reducing emissions associated with traditional energy generation and transportation. By placing reactors on mobile barges, Bluecore plans to support areas with growing electricity requirements without requiring large-scale land-based facilities.

Photo credit: Bluecore Energy

Building the Next Generation of Maritime Nuclear Systems

The $10 million pre-seed investment provides Bluecore with resources to continue reactor testing, develop its first product, and move toward deployment. With a secure port terminal, barge infrastructure, and a test reactor vessel already in place, the startup is building the foundation for its floating nuclear energy system while working with regulators to meet safety requirements.

Asante said Bluecore Energy’s long-term vision is to create a production line of small modular reactors that can be deployed on water and provide clean electricity to different regions. The company’s floating nuclear platforms apply decades of water-cooled reactor experience to maritime energy generation, supporting ports, communities and high-demand electricity users as power requirements grow.