Curio Legacy Ventures, a Washington, DC-based company dedicated to advancing a closed fuel cycle through innovative technologies like NuCycle, a transformative nuclear waste recycling technology, announced the successful closing of its seed round, which raised $14 million. This achievement is a significant step forward in the company’s goal to establish clean nuclear power as a catalyst for global prosperity and sustainability.
The funding round included significant interest from strategic investors within the nuclear sector and long-term impact investors, further validating Curio’s innovative approach to nuclear technology development and deployment.
Via this pioneering partnership, Curio secured $7.5 million in private-sector funding led by Synergos Holdings, a venture studio focused on conceptualizing, developing, and advancing transformative deep technologies.
The public sector was crucial in driving Curio’s seed round success by awarding four pivotal grants from the Department of Energy (DOE). And these grants included a prestigious ARPA-E award as part of the Converting UNF Radioisotopes Into Energy (CURIE) program and two awards from the Office of Nuclear Energy Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) program. Curio also secured a feasibility study award through the newly established Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) with ENERGYWERX, a DOE initiative aimed at accelerating partnership formation to support the expansion of clean energy solutions.
The federal contribution for these awards totaled $5.8 million, representing 80% of the $7.25 million total awards, while Curio remains committed to providing the remaining 20% by federal DOE cost-share requirements.
Curio also signed partnerships via four Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) with esteemed national laboratories, including Idaho National Lab (INL), Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL), Pacific North National Lab (PNNL), and Sandia, alongside other key industry stakeholders, including utilities and local communities. This collaborative approach marks an unprecedented development strategy for commercializing nuclear waste recycling technology in the United States, signaling Curio’s commitment to expanding these partnerships as it progresses with developing and demonstrating its transformative technologies.
Curio’s goal of a closed fuel cycle powered by revolutionary technologies like NuCycle stands at the forefront of transforming the energy landscape. And by addressing environmental, security, and market concerns, Curio paves the way for a sustainable and prosperous future. Looking ahead, Curio plans to leverage the success of its seed round to bridge toward further development, expanding its portfolio of technology advancements.
KEY QUOTES:
“Curio’s transformative technologies and groundbreaking corporate management approach has positioned us to unlock the full potential of the US and global nuclear markets in a way we have not seen before. We are clearly on the brink of a new nuclear era. Our commitment to developing pivotal and transformational nuclear technologies for a closed and sustainable nuclear cycle underscores our belief in seizing the future of energy. Clean nuclear power serves as the cornerstone of our mission, envisioning a world where the United States leads as the leading nuclear energy exporter and supplier of nuclear fuel, energy, and next-generation radioisotopes and nuclides.”
- Edward McGinnis, President, and CEO of Curio
“Our journey in deep-tech innovation underscores our commitment to a future where innovation and prosperity intersect. By investing in groundbreaking ideas like Curio, we’re driving toward a future where all of humanity can thrive. Our development of Curio from concept to reality exemplifies our team’s dedication to an innovative framework that ensures sustained success for all stakeholders.”
- The Moskowitz brothers, founders and managing partners of Synergos
