Arinna Raises $4M Seed for Space Solar Panel Technology

Arinna, a startup founded by two Stanford PhDs, has secured $4 million in seed funding to develop ultrathin solar panels for spacecraft. Led by SpaceCadet Ventures, the funding will support the company's goal of mass-producing these new solar cells. Arinna's technology utilizes transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), offering a more flexible, durable, and potentially cheaper alternative to traditional silicon panels used in mass-produced satellites. The company aims to have its first products tested in orbit this year and plans to scale production by 2028, addressing a critical power bottleneck for future space missions.