TidalCore™Advanced port-energy nuclear
§ Funding

$3M pre-seed to take port-energy nuclear from concept to NRC pre-application.

TidalCore is a pre-incorporation conceptual study seeking founding capital. The plan stacks non-dilutive federal support (GAIN, SBIR, ARPA-E) underneath a focused equity raise so that the first 18 months produce verifiable regulatory and technical milestones — not just engineering paper.

The ask
$3.0M
Pre-seed equity, SAFE or priced, 18-month runway
Non-dilutive target
$2–5M
GAIN + SBIR + ARPA-E over the same window
Milestone to Series A
18 mo
NRC Part 53 REP filed + port-host LOI executed
Fig. 0 · Funding readiness dashboard

Technology readiness (DOE TRL)

EVDOE G 413.3-4A
TRL 1
Basic principles
Heat-pipe reactor physics well-established (LANL, INL).
done
TRL 2
Technology concept
TidalCore concept dossier + market gap analysis published.
done
TRL 3
Analytical proof
Reduced-order thermal + neutronic model; MCNP6 validation planned via GAIN.
active
TRL 4
Component validation (lab)
Sodium heat-pipe test loop at INL or partner university.
next
TRL 5
Component validation (relevant env)
Integrated heat-pipe + sCO₂ HX loop.
future
TRL 6
System demo (relevant env)
Non-nuclear electrically-heated prototype.
future
TRL 7
System demo (operational env)
First-of-kind at partner port.
future

NRC Part 53 engagement checklist

EV10 CFR Part 53
  • ✓Part 53 review of design objectives + safety functions
  • ✓Regulatory pathway comparison (Part 50 / Part 52 / Part 53)
  • Pre-application meeting request to NRC NRR ARP
  • Regulatory Engagement Plan (REP) draft
  • Principal Design Criteria per RG 1.232 / RG 1.233
  • Topical report — sealed heat-pipe passive safety case
  • Topical report — TRISO fuel qualification adoption
  • Environmental Report scoping (NEPA)

Target capital stack (18-month plan)

Assumption· Target composition
  • Non-dilutive federal (GAIN / SBIR / ARPA-E)40%
  • Pre-seed equity40%
  • Strategic / corporate CVC15%
  • State / port-authority co-funding5%
Fig. 1 · The funding stack
Non-dilutive · T-0 to T+9mo
GAIN voucher

DOE Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear — in-kind national-lab access (INL) for neutronics validation against MCNP6 and TRISO performance review. Builds federal credibility before any equity raise.

Non-dilutive · T+3 to T+12mo
SBIR Phase I → II

DOE Office of Nuclear Energy SBIR topics on advanced reactor manufacturing, instrumentation, and HALEU fuel cycle. $250K Phase I + $1.6M Phase II is realistic and non-dilutive.

Non-dilutive · T+6 to T+18mo
ARPA-E + ARDP support

ARPA-E MEITNER/GEMINA-class solicitations; DOE Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program risk-reduction awards. Typical $2–5M, 18–24 month duration.

Equity · T+6 to T+12mo
$3M pre-seed

Nuclear-specialist + climate deep-tech VCs. 18-month milestones to NRC Part 53 pre-application meeting, signed port-host LOI, and third-party neutronics validation.

Fig. 2 · Use of $3M pre-seed
  • Regulatory & licensing
    38%

    NRC pre-app counsel, Part 53 gap analysis, REP authoring, topical reports

  • Technical validation
    24%

    Third-party MCNP6 + Serpent neutronics; TRISO performance review; safety case draft

  • Team & founders
    22%

    Founder salary (below-market), 1 reactor physicist, 1 licensing lead, 1 BD

  • Port + off-taker BD
    10%

    Site studies, LOI negotiation, USCG / port-authority engagement

  • G&A + IP
    6%

    Legal entity, patent prosecution, insurance, SAM.gov compliance

Fig. 3 · 18-month milestone plan
  1. Month 1 · M1
    Delaware C-corp + provisional patent filed
  2. Month 1 · M2
    SAM.gov + Grants.gov + ORCID registration
  3. Month 2 · M3
    NRC NRR Advanced Reactor Programs pre-application dialogue opened
  4. Month 3 · M4
    GAIN voucher application submitted (INL host lab)
  5. Month 6 · M5
    Port-authority MOU executed (Houston / Corpus Christi / Long Beach)
  6. Month 9 · M6
    Third-party MCNP6 neutronics cross-validation complete
  7. Month 12 · M7
    SBIR Phase I award + pre-seed term sheet
  8. Month 18 · M8
    NRC Part 53 Regulatory Engagement Plan filed
Traction checklist
✓Conceptual design (15 MWth / 5 MWe, heat-pipe + HALEU TRISO, 850 °C process heat)
✓Market gap analysis vs 15 NRC-tracked advanced reactor designs
✓Part 53 licensing pathway mapped + 18-month review thesis
✓Technical concept dossier + investor pitch deck
Delaware C-corp formation + provisional patent filing
NRC pre-application meeting on calendar
GAIN voucher acceptance + INL host lab match
Port-authority MOU or LOI (≥1 of Houston / Corpus Christi / Long Beach)
Target investor categories
Nuclear-specialistEnergy Impact Partners · At One Ventures · Valor Equity · MCJ Collective
Climate deep-techLowercarbon Capital · Breakthrough Energy Ventures · DCVC · Refactor Capital
Frontier / hard-techStarshot Capital · Founders Fund (energy thesis) · Khosla Ventures
Strategic / corporateShipping line CVCs · ammonia & methanol producer CVCs · port-authority innovation funds

Categories are illustrative; named firms reflect public theses in advanced nuclear and climate hard-tech. No commitment, no conversation, no implied endorsement.

Investor data room

Request access to the gated investor materials.

The data room contains the founder-track pitch deck, full technical dossier, financial model, IP summary, and the regulatory engagement strategy. Access granted on signed mutual NDA.

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Forward-looking statement: financial figures, milestones, and timelines reflect a pre-incorporation plan and are subject to change. Not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. Securities, if and when offered, will be offered only under exemption pursuant to applicable U.S. law.