Casimir, Inc., a Houston-based quantum energy startup, has closed a $12 million oversubscribed seed round to bring the world’s first quantum vacuum energy chip to market. Led by Scout Ventures, the round included participation from Lavrock Ventures, Cottonwood Technology, Capital Factory, American Deep Tech, and Tim Draper of Draper Associates. The funding will accelerate the commercialization of the company’s first-generation MicroSparc chip, which generates persistent electrical power by harvesting energy from quantum vacuum fields—eliminating the need for batteries, charging, or external power cords.
Harvesting the Quantum Vacuum: The MicroSparc Chip
The company’s core technology is based on the Casimir effect, a physical force arising from quantum electromagnetic field fluctuations. Casimir has engineered customized “Casimir cavities” into semiconductor hardware to produce usable electricity. The inaugural MicroSparc chip (5mm × 5mm) is designed to produce 1.5 volts at 25 microamps, a performance profile comparable to small rechargeable batteries but without chemical degradation or replacement cycles. Initial target markets include the $10 billion ultra-low-power electronics sector, specifically for devices where battery replacement is impractical, such as:
- Embedded Sensors & IoT: Monitoring systems for industrial and infrastructure health.
- Automotive: Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS).
- Wearables: Always-on medical and fitness devices.
Strategic Roadmap and Scaling
Casimir plans to achieve commercial availability for the MicroSparc chip by 2028. While the first generation serves low-power electronics, the company’s long-term roadmap extends into higher-power applications, including consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and eventually residential energy systems. This expansion targets a total addressable market exceeding $67 billion. With the rise of AI driving demand for “always-on” edge computing and persistent memory, Casimir’s battery-free architecture offers a sustainable solution for autonomous systems that require 24/7 reliability without maintenance downtime.
Scientific Foundation and Leadership
Founded by Dr. Harold “Sonny” White, a former NASA advanced propulsion researcher, Casimir’s technology was incubated at the Limitless Space Institute (LSI). Dr. White’s recent peer-reviewed work, “Emergent Quantization from a Dynamic Vacuum“ (published March 9, 2026, in Physical Review Research), provides the theoretical framework for how engineered vacuum cavities generate electricity. The company is also supported by Dr. Kam Ghaffarian, chairman of LSI and founder of Axiom Space and Intuitive Machines, who serves as an investor and board member. Casimir’s hardware has been validated through DARPA-funded nanofabrication research, positioning the startup as a key player in U.S. energy independence and national security.
You can find the official announcement regarding Casimir’s $12M seed round here.
May 12, 2026
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