Keep pulling the thread on Baiju Bhatt.
Aetherflux is actively developing laser power beaming technology for space applications.
Aetherflux has announced plans to build orbital data centers.
Beijou Bhatt believes the timing is right for a space-based energy company due to the low cost of photovoltaics and the increasing energy demand from AI.
Aetherflux's initial go-to-market strategy is to focus on government applications for its space-based power technology, following a pattern similar to the commercialization of GPS.
Aetherflux's orbital data center model aims to accelerate deployment by integrating GPUs into satellites on a factory assembly line and launching them into orbit where they can become operational almost immediately.
Aetherflux's orbital data center architecture will use lasers for inter-satellite networking.
Aetherflux is scheduled to launch its first power-beaming hardware into space in the summer of 2024.
Beijou Bhatt self-funded Aetherflux with a $10 million seed investment to hire an initial team, book a launch, and purchase a satellite.
Robinhood's organizational structure included significant compliance, regulatory, and legal departments.
Aetherflux's hardware-focused business requires a more diverse range of engineering specializations than a software company, including embedded software, optomechanical, thermal, mechanical, electrical, computer science, laser, and optics.
For the past year and a half, Aetherflux has been designing payloads and partnering with a third-party provider for its satellite buses.
Beijou Bhatt led the design language at Robinhood for its first 10 years.