Baiju Bhatt, the Indian-origin billionaire and co-founder of stock trading giant Robinhood, has made a bold foray into the space industry by launching his new startup, Aetherflux.

The ambitious venture aims to harness solar power from space and transmit it to Earth, offering a groundbreaking solution to the world’s growing energy demands. With this launch, Aetherflux is set to explore innovative ways to unlock space-based solar power (SBSP) and revolutionize renewable energy distribution.

Aetherflux: Solar Power from Space

Aetherflux targets outer space as the new frontier for solar power harvesting, aiming to build a network of orbital solar power stations that will transmit energy wirelessly to Earth.

Unlike terrestrial solar farms, space-based solar arrays are unaffected by the atmosphere, clouds, or the Earth’s rotation, providing a continuous, reliable energy source.

This approach, Bhatt believes, could be a game-changer for regions where conventional energy delivery is expensive, dangerous, or impossible.

Bhatt, who co-founded Robinhood and made headlines with the company’s meteoric rise in the stock trading world, announced Aetherflux’s launch in a statement on Wednesday.

“What we’re doing at Aetherflux is a different approach to space solar power,” Bhatt said in a recent interview. “As we like to say, it’s not your grandpa’s space solar power approach.”

Aetherflux’s First Mission and Partnerships

Aetherflux is working towards sending its first demonstration spacecraft into orbit by late 2025 or early 2026. The spacecraft, which will serve as the platform for Aetherflux’s space solar array, is being built by Apex, a Los Angeles-based satellite bus manufacturer.

Bhatt himself is an Apex investor, reflecting his deep engagement with the space industry. Through this partnership, Aetherflux hopes to showcase the feasibility of its technology and lay the groundwork for future, full-scale solar power stations. 

Baiju Bhatt’s Passion for Space and Science

Bhatt’s journey from fintech to space tech is rooted in a lifelong fascination with space and science. His interest was sparked during childhood, inspired by his father’s career as a NASA scientist at the Langley Research Center.

“As a kid, I remember reading Black Holes and Time Warps, talking physics with my dad on long drives, and imagining science fiction that could happen in the real world,” Bhatt wrote in a LinkedIn post on Wednesday, reflecting on his early inspirations.

These interests led him to Stanford, where he earned a Bachelor’s in Physics and a Master’s in Mathematics.

Although Bhatt initially envisioned a career in science, the 2008 financial crisis shifted his trajectory toward finance. He eventually co-founded Robinhood with the mission of democratizing access to financial markets, an effort that helped millions of people participate in the stock market.

Now, after stepping down from his role at Robinhood, Bhatt is focusing his passion for space and technology on solving one of the world’s most pressing challenges—energy distribution.

Bhatt’s Vision for Aetherflux

Aetherflux’s mission is clear: to commercialize space solar power and provide renewable energy to hard-to-reach places like remote military bases, disaster-stricken regions, or islands where conventional power sources are difficult to deliver.

“If we succeed, we unlock a renewable energy source for humanity that can be delivered virtually anywhere,” Bhatt said.

He emphasized that space-based solar power could help revolutionize energy distribution, especially in areas where traditional power infrastructure is expensive or unreliable.

Bhatt also highlighted the long-term potential of space solar power for commercial and civilian use. By providing constant, reliable, and clean energy, space-based solar could reduce global reliance on fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to a green economy.

Financial Backing and Industry Impact

With a net worth of $1.7 billion, according to Forbes, Bhatt is self-funding Aetherflux. He has already invested millions of his own capital into the startup and plans to finance the company through its first demonstration mission.

This is not Bhatt’s first investment in the space sector. Just last month, he participated in a $6.5 million seed round for Reflect Orbital, another space-based solar startup, alongside major investors such as Sequoia Capital and Starship Venture.

Though the concept of space-based solar power remains largely theoretical at this stage, Bhatt is confident that the technology will soon become a reality. “As we make it a reality, that’s when the comparisons [to terrestrial solar] are going to be a lot more real,” he said.

Challenges and Opportunities

While Aetherflux’s vision is bold, the road to success is fraught with challenges. Developing, launching, and maintaining large solar arrays in orbit is a complex and expensive endeavor.

Additionally, the technology needed to safely transmit energy from space to Earth, either via microwave or laser, is still under development. There are also regulatory hurdles to consider, as well as safety concerns surrounding energy transmission from space.

However, Bhatt’s track record of innovation, combined with his ability to raise capital and foster key partnerships, puts him in a strong position to overcome these challenges.

Aetherflux’s potential to provide clean energy to underserved regions and help combat climate change could attract significant interest from both private investors and government agencies.

Positive Impact of Aetherflux’s Launch on the South Asian Community

The launch of Aetherflux, a space-based solar startup by Indian-American billionaire Baiju Bhatt, has positively impacted the South Asian community by showcasing innovation and leadership.

Bhatt’s transition from co-founding Robinhood to the renewable energy sector highlights the potential of South Asians to excel in diverse industries like space technology and clean energy.

His focus on sustainable energy solutions, such as space-based solar power, could benefit regions like South Asia by addressing energy challenges and reducing infrastructure costs.

Bhatt’s achievements break stereotypes and expand the community’s representation in STEM fields, while also creating potential economic opportunities. 

As Aetherflux grows, Bhatt’s work will continue to inspire future generations to contribute to global advancements.