On March 28, 2025, Munich-based Marvel Fusion announced a significant development in its Series B funding round. The company secured an additional €50 million, bringing the round’s total to €113 million. This fresh capital injection reflects growing confidence in Marvel Fusion’s unique approach to clean energy—laser-driven nuclear fusion.
The startup now plans to accelerate its prototype development and expand collaborations with global research institutions. With this funding boost, Marvel Fusion reinforces its position at the forefront of Europe’s clean energy innovation landscape.
A Glimpse into Marvel Fusion’s Mission
Marvel Fusion operates with a clear objective: deliver safe, scalable, and carbon-free energy through advanced nuclear fusion. Unlike traditional fusion approaches, the startup relies on ultra-short, high-intensity laser pulses to spark fusion reactions. This method sets it apart from players like Commonwealth Fusion Systems and TAE Technologies, which use magnetic confinement or plasma heating.
The founders of Marvel Fusion believe that lasers offer a faster and more stable path to commercial fusion energy. Their approach eliminates many of the problems plaguing tokamak-style reactors, such as complex magnetic field containment and long reactor warm-up times. Instead, Marvel Fusion fires powerful lasers at nanostructured targets, triggering fusion within picoseconds.
This laser-based model not only reduces operational complexity but also promises faster energy yield cycles. If successful, the technology could transform how societies generate and distribute electricity.
Details of the Extended Series B Round
Marvel Fusion’s initial Series B round in 2023 raised €63 million from investors across Europe and the U.S. Key participants included deep-tech venture firms and institutional investors with green energy mandates. In March 2025, the company added €50 million to the round, signaling investor belief in its long-term vision.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund led the latest tranche. Other contributors included Bayern Kapital, Earlybird Venture Capital, and several German family offices. These investors recognized the importance of laser fusion in Europe’s broader energy transition strategy.
CEO Dr. Heike Freund explained the rationale behind the extended round. “We saw strong investor interest beyond our original cap. Rather than launching a separate Series C, we decided to expand our existing round and accelerate our R&D roadmap.” With this move, the company avoided fundraising distractions and kept its leadership focused on product development.
Allocation of the New Capital
Marvel Fusion will direct the new funds toward three major initiatives:
- Prototype Development Facility:
The company will construct a dedicated prototype facility in Bavaria. This center will house high-powered lasers, advanced diagnostics systems, and radiation-safe test chambers. Engineers will use the facility to refine target design, improve laser configurations, and capture real-time fusion data. The site will support hundreds of test cycles annually, ensuring steady technical progress. - Laser System Optimization:
Marvel Fusion already partners with leading laser manufacturers, including Trumpf and Lumibird. The new capital enables deeper co-development efforts. Engineers plan to optimize laser pulse duration, coherence, and beam-shaping precision. These refinements will increase energy efficiency and bring the company closer to net energy gain. - Scientific Collaborations:
Marvel Fusion maintains partnerships with institutions like Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, École Polytechnique in France, and Sandia National Laboratories in the U.S. The company intends to expand these collaborations and bring more researchers into its ecosystem. These alliances ensure strong theoretical support and peer-reviewed validation.
A Bold Vision for Fusion Energy
Fusion energy has attracted global interest for decades, but no one has achieved commercial viability yet. Marvel Fusion wants to end that drought.
Dr. Freund outlined a phased path to commercialization. Over the next 24 months, Marvel Fusion aims to demonstrate consistent ignition in lab conditions. After that, the company plans to scale test shots and gather performance data. By 2028, it hopes to begin pilot-scale energy generation. If successful, this would mark one of the fastest fusion-to-market timelines in the world.
The team remains laser-focused on this goal. Engineers work across disciplines—physics, photonics, software, and materials science—to push boundaries daily. The startup’s 70-person team includes fusion veterans, PhDs, and former engineers from the aerospace and semiconductor industries.
Europe’s Clean Energy Landscape
Marvel Fusion’s rise coincides with growing momentum in Europe’s clean tech ecosystem. The European Union has prioritized fusion as a strategic technology. Policymakers see it as a long-term solution to grid stability and energy independence. The recent geopolitical climate, coupled with climate change urgency, has pushed fusion to the top of the energy agenda.
Germany, in particular, has stepped up its funding and regulatory support. While the country phased out nuclear fission reactors in 2023, it has drawn a clear distinction between fission and fusion. German lawmakers view fusion as inherently safer and cleaner, given the absence of long-lived radioactive waste.
This distinction allows startups like Marvel Fusion to operate with public support and without the political baggage that often surrounds traditional nuclear energy.
Global Competition in the Fusion Race
Marvel Fusion doesn’t operate in isolation. It competes against several international players, including:
- Commonwealth Fusion Systems (U.S.): Focuses on compact tokamaks with high-temperature superconductors.
- Helion Energy (U.S.): Uses a fusion-fission hybrid approach and aims for modular reactor design.
- Tokamak Energy (U.K.): Leverages spherical tokamaks with next-gen superconducting magnets.
- TAE Technologies (U.S.): Focuses on beam-driven fusion with advanced plasma control.
Each player bets on a different pathway to achieve fusion ignition. Marvel Fusion stands out by eliminating magnetic confinement altogether. Its laser-first model appeals to investors who want a faster, lower-risk route to fusion deployment.
This global race resembles the early days of the space industry. Capital, innovation, and regulatory momentum converge to push boundaries. But unlike space travel, fusion promises a direct benefit to every home and industry on Earth.
Challenges Ahead
Marvel Fusion faces a host of technical and operational challenges. Laser systems require precise alignment and impeccable synchronization. Even microsecond delays can ruin fusion conditions. The company must also engineer nanostructured fuel targets at industrial scale—something no one has accomplished yet.
Moreover, regulators will scrutinize safety and environmental impact. Marvel Fusion must develop clear frameworks for energy discharge, shielding, and fusion byproducts. These guardrails will determine public trust and eventual deployment approvals.
But the startup’s leadership expresses confidence. CTO Dr. Thomas Kluge remarked, “We’ve built one of the most focused, multi-disciplinary teams in the fusion world. Everyone here understands the stakes, and we move forward with urgency every single day.”
Final Thoughts
With €113 million secured in Series B funding, Marvel Fusion stands on solid ground. It now controls the resources needed to prove its concept and accelerate toward commercialization. The startup’s laser-driven model—while unconventional—continues to attract supporters eager to break free from fossil fuels and aging infrastructure.
Fusion energy won’t arrive overnight. But Marvel Fusion shows that bold vision, scientific rigor, and strategic capital can fast-track progress. If the company succeeds, it won’t just power homes—it will reshape global energy systems for generations.