CFS vs Tokamak Energy vs Helion vs Zap Energy
Private Fusion Company Comparison
Comparison of 4 leading private fusion startups — approach, funding, timeline, key milestones, and valuation.
CFSTokamak EnergyHelionZap Energy
Full Specification Comparison
| Specification | CFS | Tokamak Energy | Helion | Zap Energy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | HTS Tokamak | Spherical Tokamak | FRC + MTF | Z-pinch |
| Total Funding | $2B+ | $250M+ | $1B+ | $300M+ |
| Key Milestone | SPARC 2027 | ST80-HTS 2026 | Polaris 2025 | FuZE-Q 2024 |
| Net Power Target | 2027 (SPARC) | 2030 | 2028 | 2026 |
| Magnetic Field | 20T (HTS) | 25T (HTS) | N/A (FRC) | N/A (Z-pinch) |
| Valuation | $5B+ | $800M+ | $2.5B+ | $500M+ |
| Investors | Tiger, ENI, Gates | Temasek, DFJ | Altman, Mithril | Energy Impact, Chevron |
Expert Verdict
CFS leads in funding and has the most concrete timeline with SPARC; Helion claims first net electricity by 2028; Zap Energy offers the simplest design with sheared-flow Z-pinch.
Subject Breakdown
CFS
2 Category Wins
- ★ Total Funding: $2B+
- ★ Valuation: $5B+
Tokamak Energy
0 Category Wins
Helion
0 Category Wins
Zap Energy
0 Category Wins