Casimir, Inc., a Houston-based quantum energy technology company, has launched with a $12 million oversubscribed seed funding round to advance what it describes as the world’s first quantum vacuum energy chip. The round was led by Scout Ventures and exceeded the company’s original $8 million target, signaling investor interest in a new approach to persistent, battery-free power. The funding will support commercialization of Casimir’s semiconductor technology, which is designed to generate continuous electrical energy without cords, batteries, or charging cycles.
Funding to Advance MicroSparc Chip Development
The seed round included participation from Lavrock Ventures, Cottonwood Technology, Capital Factory, American Deep Tech, and Tim Draper of Draper Associates. Casimir said the new capital will be used to optimize chip performance and move its first-generation product, called MicroSparc, toward planned commercial availability in 2028. The company is positioning the chip for ultra-low-power electronics where traditional batteries create cost, maintenance, and reliability challenges.
MicroSparc is a 5mm by 5mm semiconductor chip designed to produce 1.5 volts at 25 microamps. According to the company, that output is comparable to a small rechargeable battery, but without degradation or replacement requirements. Initial target applications include tire pressure monitoring systems, embedded sensors, wearables, and other connected devices that are difficult or expensive to service once deployed.
Technology Built on the Casimir Effect
Casimir’s technology is based on the Casimir effect, a quantum physics phenomenon involving forces that arise from vacuum field fluctuations between engineered surfaces. The company said it has integrated customized Casimir cavity structures into semiconductor hardware to harvest energy from quantum vacuum fields. Casimir describes the result as a persistent power source that could enable devices to operate for years without battery replacement or recharging.
Founder and CEO Dr. Harold “Sonny” White said the company’s work builds on nearly two decades of research into advanced propulsion and future energy systems. White previously worked as a NASA advanced propulsion researcher and now serves as Director of Advanced Research and Development at the Limitless Space Institute. He said recent tools and research advances have helped move the concept from long-standing scientific theory toward practical hardware.
Market Opportunity and Commercial Roadmap
Casimir is initially targeting the ultra-low-power electronics market, which the company estimates is worth nearly $10 billion today. The near-term opportunity centers on Internet of Things devices, industrial sensors, wearable electronics, and other systems that require dependable low-level power over long periods. By removing the need for replacement batteries, the company aims to reduce maintenance costs, limit waste, and improve uptime for distributed electronics.
The company’s longer-term roadmap extends beyond sensors and wearables into consumer electronics, mobility platforms, electric vehicles, and larger energy systems. Casimir said its broader total addressable market could exceed $67 billion if the technology scales across higher-power applications. The company also highlighted potential relevance for artificial intelligence infrastructure, edge computing, autonomous systems, and always-on memory applications that depend on persistent low-latency power.
Scientific and Strategic Backing
Casimir’s technology was incubated at the Limitless Space Institute, a nonprofit founded by technology investor and entrepreneur Dr. Kam Ghaffarian. Ghaffarian, known for backing companies including X-energy, Intuitive Machines, Axiom Space, and Quantum Space, remains an investor and board member at Casimir. The company said its research base includes DARPA-funded nanofabrication work, university collaborations, and peer-reviewed research by White on the dynamic quantum vacuum.
Scout Ventures founder and managing partner Brad Harrison said Casimir fits the firm’s focus on breakthrough dual-use technologies. The venture firm invests in areas including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, space infrastructure, cybersecurity, quantum technology, and advanced power. Casimir is also emphasizing its American-made positioning and says it is working with commercial, academic, and government partners on applications tied to energy independence and national security.
Casimir’s launch brings fresh funding and investor attention to a highly ambitious category of semiconductor-based energy technology. While the company’s claims will ultimately be judged by commercial performance, manufacturability, and real-world adoption, its planned MicroSparc chip gives it a defined path into low-power electronics. With a 2028 commercialization target, Casimir is now moving from research-backed promise toward the difficult task of proving quantum vacuum energy can become a practical power source.