Zero Industries, a San Francisco-based space technology startup, has secured $3 million in pre-seed funding just six months after its establishment. The investment round was led by Maezawa Fund, with participation from UntroD Capital Japan, NOW, Midtown, and individual investors. Announced on October 22, 2026, the financing represents the largest Japanese pre-seed round among the publicly disclosed transactions examined in the company's own research.
Developing Laser-Based Power Infrastructure in Space
Zero Industries is developing Helios, a satellite power transmission service designed to deliver electricity between spacecraft using laser technology. Conventional satellites rely on onboard solar panels and batteries, which increase spacecraft mass and can limit operational flexibility during periods without sunlight. By supplying electricity from external sources, the company aims to reduce these constraints and allow satellite operators to dedicate more capacity to scientific instruments, computing systems, and propulsion equipment.
The Helios platform consists of three interconnected components designed to generate, transmit, receive, and manage electricity in orbit. Helios Beam will convert solar-generated electricity into laser energy for transmission, while Helios Cell will receive that energy and convert it back into usable electricity aboard customer satellites. Helios Grid will coordinate transmission according to satellite positions, available power, and customer requirements, while monitoring delivery and managing potential operational anomalies.
Research Collaboration and Commercialization Roadmap
Zero Industries is collaborating with the Graduate School for the Creation of New Photonics Industries in Hamamatsu, Japan, through research led by Professor Kazuhisa Fujita. The partnership focuses on evaluating laser power receivers, studying long-distance energy transmission, and developing safety procedures for high-power laser experiments. The research is intended to establish technical requirements for the company's orbital power transmission system and support future standardization efforts.
Between late 2026 and spring 2027, Zero Industries plans to conduct ground-based demonstrations involving kilometer-scale laser transmission and moving-target tracking. The company expects to advance spacecraft design and environmental testing during the second half of 2027, followed by its first satellite-to-satellite power transmission demonstration in 2030. Commercial deployment is planned after successful validation of transmission efficiency, equipment performance, operational reliability, and economic viability.
Young Founders Leading an Ambitious Space Venture
Zero Industries is led by founder and CEO Kai Sugihara, 16, alongside co-founders Yusei Fujii, 19, who serves as chief technology officer, and Koya Tani, 20, who oversees operations. Sugihara directs corporate strategy and fundraising, Fujii leads technical development, and Tani manages business development, finance, and organizational operations. The founding team is supported by advisers with experience at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, JAXA, and SKY Perfect JSAT, bringing expertise in aerospace engineering, wireless power transmission, and space policy.
Long-Term Vision for Space Energy
Beyond satellite power delivery, Zero Industries intends to expand its infrastructure to orbital data centers, space manufacturing facilities, and lunar installations. The company has outlined ambitious long-term objectives, including supplying Earth's electricity needs from space by 2035 and developing a Dyson swarm, a network of solar energy collectors surrounding the Sun, by 2150. These targets remain aspirational, with their feasibility dependent on major technological advances, substantial infrastructure investment, and successful commercial validation.
The $3 million financing provides Zero Industries with early-stage capital to advance its proposed laser-based power infrastructure and begin experimental validation. Its immediate priorities center on demonstrating reliable wireless energy transmission and establishing whether orbital power delivery can offer economic advantages over conventional onboard systems. If these technical and commercial challenges can be addressed, the Helios platform could contribute to emerging energy infrastructure for a growing range of space-based operations.