About the Company
Oklo Inc. is an advanced nuclear energy company based in Santa Clara, California, focused on designing and deploying compact fast reactors that provide clean, reliable, and affordable power. Founded in 2013 by Jacob and Caroline DeWitte, the company’s signature reactor, called Aurora, uses advanced heat-pipe cooling and aims to operate for long periods without refueling. Uniquely, Oklo’s technology is designed to recycle nuclear waste as fuel, helping reduce environmental impact while generating consistent energy. The company draws its name from Oklo, Gabon, where natural nuclear fission reactions occurred over 1.7 billion years ago. Although Oklo has yet to deploy a commercial reactor and faced a setback in 2022 when the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission denied its initial application, it plans to reapply and target commercial deployment by 2027. Recently, Oklo has been advancing partnerships, including a potential power purchase agreement with the U.S. Air Force for a reactor in Alaska and a collaboration with Vertiv to integrate nuclear power with data center cooling systems. Despite being pre-revenue, Oklo has attracted strong investor interest and a multibillion-dollar valuation, though skepticism remains about its aggressive timeline and ambitious claims.