Arinna raises $4M seed round to solve the space power problem

Arinna, a startup founded by two Stanford PhDs, has raised $4 million in a seed round led by SpaceCadet Ventures, with participation from Anorak Capital and Breakthrough Energy Foundation. The company aims to address the critical power challenges faced by spacecraft by developing ultrathin, flexible solar cells using transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), a novel class of atomically thin semiconductors. Unlike traditional space solar panels made from rare earth elements or silicon—which either are costly or degrade quickly in space—Arinna’s technology promises higher efficiency (32% more efficient), greater durability (lasting 15 years on orbit), and faster delivery times without the need for protective coverings. Arinna plans to test its photovoltaic panels in orbit by the end of the current year and hopes to scale production to megawatt levels by 2028. The founders, Nazif and Shearer, combined expertise in photovoltaic materials and scalable manufacturing processes to create a product that could significantly improve power