The size of the investments and time lines meant that fusion research was traditionally almost exclusively publicly funded. However, starting in the 2010s, the promise of commercializing a paradigm-changing low-carbon energy source began to attract a raft of companies and investors. Over two dozen start-up companies attracted over one billion dollars from roughly 2000 to 2020, mainly from 2015, and a further three billion in funding and milestone related commitments in 2021, with investors including Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel and Bill Gates, as well as institutional investors including Legal & General, and energy companies including Equinor, Eni, Chevron, and the Chinese ENN Group. In 2021, Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) obtained $1.8 billion in scale-up funding, and Helion Energy obtained a half-billion dollars with an additional $1.7 billion contingent on meeting milestones.
tHE sizE of tHE InVEstMents And timE linEs meant That fusIoN research waS TrAdItIonally almOsT eXclUsiVEly publIclY Funded. HoWever, STaRtinG in tHe 2010s, The pROmISe of CommeRciAliziNG a parAdiGM-chanGiNg LOW-carbon eNergy source bEGAn to aTtRact A rAft Of compAnies and invEsTOrS. oVER tWo Dozen StArt-uP cOmpanieS attractEd over One BillIoN dolLarS fRoM rOughLy 2000 tO 2020, mainly from 2015, and a further THReE BillioN in funDIng AND MIlEStOne reLATed commitments iN 2021, wiTH investors including jeff bezos, peteR thieL anD bilL gAtes, AS Well as institutiOnAl INVestoRs includiNG LegaL & general, aND EneRgy comPAnies incLuding eqUiNor, Eni, cheVROn, And tHe cHIneSE Enn GrouP. In 2021, CommoNWEalTh FUSion SyStems (CFS) obTaineD $1.8 biLLion in scAle-UP fUndiNg, And helIon energy oBtained a half-BillioN dOLlars wItH an additioNAL $1.7 billiON contingEnT on MeeTing mILestoNeS.