Family roots and early interest in nuclear

Experts have called Valar Atomics CEO Isaiah Taylor “totally nuts.” He says that when you’re trying to build a trillion-dollar company that’s literally splitting the atom, it comes with the territory.

Isaiah discusses his origins founding nuclear energy startup Valar, why competitors have failed, and his Upstart Moment in raising $150 million to build new-look energy campuses called “gigasites.” His life’s work: to solve AI’s energy crisis—and keep America on pace with China and Russia globally.

Chapters: 00:58 Isaiah’s founder journey 4:18 Why nuclear startups fail 5:55 The case for small reactors 8:36 AI’s energy demands 12:04 Isaiah’s Upstart Moment 14:11 China and the global energy race 19:18 Speed as safety 22:47 Splitting the atom 27:50 Building energy campuses 29:16 Isaiah’s advice for his earlier self

For more, visit https://www.upstartsmedia.com/

Season 1 of the Upstarts Podcast is presented by Mercury: https://mercury.com/

Produced & edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod: https://lightningpod.fm/