Atomic Canyon is a pioneering technology company dedicated to revolutionizing the nuclear energy sector through advanced artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. Founded in 2023 and headquartered in San Luis Obispo, California, the company aims to enhance operational efficiency, streamline regulatory compliance, and modernize data management within the nuclear industry. By integrating AI into nuclear operations, Atomic Canyon seeks to facilitate a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable energy future.
Key Strategic Focus
Atomic Canyon's strategic focus centers on developing AI-powered tools tailored for the nuclear energy sector. Their flagship product, Neutron Enterprise, is designed to transform document search, retrieval, and knowledge management processes. By leveraging AI models trained specifically on nuclear terminology, Neutron Enterprise significantly reduces the time required to access critical information, thereby improving safety, reliability, and efficiency in nuclear operations. The company targets nuclear power plants, manufacturers of next-generation reactors, and government and national laboratories as primary markets for their solutions.
Financials and Funding
In May 2025, Atomic Canyon secured $7 million in funding to accelerate the deployment of its AI solutions across the United States. The funding round was led by the Elevate Future Fund from Energy Impact Partners (EIP), with participation from Commonweal Ventures, Plug and Play Ventures, Wischoff Ventures, Tower Research Ventures, and previous angel investors. The capital is intended to expand the company's team, enhance the Neutron platform, and develop additional integrations with third-party data sources and AI tools for next-generation nuclear technologies.
Technological Platform and Innovation
Atomic Canyon's technological innovation is exemplified by its FERMI family of AI models, developed in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. These open-source models are specifically trained on nuclear terminology, achieving unprecedented accuracy in nuclear-specific searches. The Neutron Enterprise platform, powered by FERMI, integrates with multiple data sources at nuclear facilities, including record management and work management systems, while maintaining strict role-based access controls to ensure data security.
Leadership Team
- Trey Lauderdale, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
- An accomplished entrepreneur, Trey previously founded and led Voalte, a healthcare communication platform, to $40 million in annual revenue and a successful $180 million acquisition by Hillrom. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master's degree in Entrepreneurship from the University of Florida.
- Kristian Kielhofner, Co-Founder, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief AI Architect
- Formerly the CTO of Star2Star Communications, Kristian brings extensive experience in developing scalable technology solutions. He played a pivotal role in Star2Star's growth leading to its $437 million acquisition.
Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships
Atomic Canyon has established significant partnerships to bolster its market position and innovation capacity:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL): Collaborated to develop the FERMI AI models using ORNL's Frontier supercomputer, the world's first exascale computing system.
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E): Implemented Neutron Enterprise at PG&E's Diablo Canyon Power Plant, demonstrating the platform's capability to transform document search and retrieval processes in a live nuclear facility.
- NVIDIA: Partnered to enhance the computational capabilities of Neutron Enterprise, leveraging NVIDIA's advanced computing platform to process vast amounts of nuclear documentation efficiently.
Operational Insights
Atomic Canyon's AI solutions offer distinct competitive advantages by addressing the unique challenges of the nuclear energy sector:
- Enhanced Efficiency: Neutron Enterprise reduces document search times from hours to seconds, allowing nuclear facility staff to focus on higher-value activities.
- Regulatory Compliance: By streamlining access to critical documentation, the platform supports adherence to stringent regulatory requirements, minimizing the risk of non-compliance.
- Data Security: The integration of role-based access controls ensures that sensitive information is accessible only to authorized personnel, maintaining the highest standards of data security.
Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions
Looking ahead, Atomic Canyon plans to expand its AI solutions to additional nuclear facilities and explore integrations with third-party data sources and AI tools for next-generation nuclear technologies. The company's commitment to open-source collaboration positions it to drive innovation and set new standards for efficiency and safety in the nuclear energy sector.
Contact Information
- Website: Atomic Canyon
- LinkedIn: Atomic Canyon LinkedIn
- Twitter: Atomic Canyon Twitter
