David Kirtley
FounderCo-founder & CEO at Helion Energy
Everett, Washington, United States
FoundedHelion Energy · YC
Find your path to David
630 people in our graph share verified history with David — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Alex ChachavaunlockedDavid: together at YPO (2023–2024)
×7David: together at Y Combinator
×2David: together at Helion Energy
×2David: together at YPO
About
David Kirtley is the founder and CEO of Helion Energy, a privately funded fusion electricity company. The company is working to develop a fusion power plant.
Co-founder & CEO at Helion EnergyYC S14
Intro paths
YC
David went through Y Combinator (Summer 2014) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
GP
Their group partner at YC was Garry Tan, President & CEO of Y Combinator — the partner who ran Helion Energy's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
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In turn, David can intro founders to Helion Energy's investors below.
Helion Energy's investors · 10
AntiSan Juan · $250K – $30M checks · since 2015Capricorn Investment GroupNew York · since 2015Congruent VenturesSan Francisco · $100K – $5M checks · since 2015Lightspeed Venture PartnersMenlo Park · $1.7M – $87M checks · since 2025Mithril Capital ManagementAustin · since 2015Sam Altmansince 2015SoftBank GroupTokyo · since 2015SoftBank Vision FundLondonThrive CapitalNew York · $500K – $25M checks · since 2015Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2014
Co-founders at Helion Energy
CP
Chris PihlCo-founder & CTO
JS
John SloughCo-founder
GV
George VotroubekCo-Founder & Chief Scientist
AP
Anthony PancottiCo-founder
Experience
- Helion EnergyFounder and CEOcurrent2010 — present
- YPOMembercurrent2023 — present
- MSNWPrinciple Investigator and Fusion Lead2011 — 2017Redmond, Washington, United States
- MSNWPropulsion Lead2008 — 2017Redmond, WA
- Air Force Research LaboratoryResearch Scientist2001 — 2008
- University of Michigan Plasmadynamics LaboratoryGraduate Student Researcher2003 — 2008
- NASA Glenn Research CenterLewis Graduate Fellowship2001
- Red River EngineeringElectrical Engineer1998 — 1999
Skills & more
Business Strategy10Plasma Physics18Management2DoD6Program Management8Numerical Analysis8Research4Public Speaking3Space Systems10Propulsion12Nuclear Engineering5Experimentation9
+7 more
Executive ManagementTeam LeadershipEntrepreneurshipStrategic PlanningTechnology DesignResearch and Development (R&D)FusionLanguages Russian · Spanish
From David's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is David Kirtley?
- David Kirtley is the founder and CEO of Helion Energy, a privately funded fusion electricity company. The company is working to develop a fusion power plant.
- Where does David Kirtley work?
- David Kirtley is Co-founder & CEO of Helion Energy.
- What companies did David Kirtley found?
- David Kirtley founded Helion Energy.
- Where did David Kirtley go to school?
- David Kirtley studied at University of Michigan - Rackham Graduate School (PhD, Aerospace Engineering); University of Michigan (Master's degree, Nuclear Engineering); University of Michigan (Master's degree, Aerospace).
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia10,230
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Garry TanPresident & CEOFounded Y Combinator +1Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianPartnerFounded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded Paradigm +1
+ 10,223 more
University of Michigan mafia339
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Erik TorenbergBachelor of Arts (B.A.)Founded VillageglobalDavid R. WaltBachelor of Science - BSFounded Sherlock Biosciences +4Eric LefkofskyFounded InnerWorkings +2Chris VoigtBSEFounded Asimov +2Val AgostinoB.S.E.Founded Monarch +2Dillon ErbMaster of Architecture (M.Arch.)Founded Paperspace +2
+ 332 more
University of Michigan - Rackham Graduate School mafia6
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended University of Michigan - Rackham Graduate School12
Jeep KlineManaging Partner and Founder at Raisewell VenturesJermaine RuffinSenior Vice President, Neighborhoods at Invest DetroitDenise MillerPartner at WovenEarthKirby SmithChief Strategy Officer at Arnold VenturesAllison WinstelChief of Staff at mHUBCameron TaylorFounder at Entelexo Biotherapeutics
+ 6 more
Also attended University of Michigan888
Erik TorenbergGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz; founder of TurpentineGlen AndersonPartner at Monta Vista CapitalAlexandra FarmerPrincipal at Intel Capital, North AmericaScott ShawChief of Staff at Intel CapitalZach PoleyPartner and Chief Technology Officer at Clear VenturesTom DanilekPartner, Rise of the Rest Real Estate at Revolution
+ 882 more
Also attended Y Combinator2,000
Ryan SheaCo-founder of Blockstack (Stacks)Suhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleArhaan A.Deeptech Fellow at Clear VenturesAkshat GoenkaInvestor at Moonfire VenturesJon XuGeneral Partner at Y CombinatorChris GoldaGeneral Partner at Y Combinator
+ 1,994 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Helion Energy5
Also worked at YPO416
Alex ChachavaInvestor at Leta CapitalRaoul Oscar FianoInvestor at DN CapitalRouven DresselhausInvestor at Cavalry VenturesRobert CoppedgeChief Executive Officer at Echo Health VenturesDan MalvenVenture Partner at Alpha PartnersTien WongTech investor, entrepreneur, and CEO; Chairman & CEO of Opus8
+ 410 more
Also worked at MSNW3
Also worked at Air Force Research Laboratory19
Adam BryCo-founder & CEO of SkydioAlex GaoEngineer at Pear VCStacy SwiderVice President, Investments at MassVenturesAaron MitchellVenture Partner at Balerion Space VenturesZack PecenakInvestor at Empire State Development – New York VenturesJack FischerFounder at Credal.ai
+ 13 more