Justin Cohen
FounderFounder at Maritime Fusion
San Francisco, California, United States
FoundedMaritime Fusion · YC
About
Justin Cohen is a nuclear engineer and plasma physicist who previously held roles at Tesla, SpaceX, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, and NC State, as well as attended Columbia University. He now leads Maritime Fusion, developing fusion reactor technology.
Founder at Maritime FusionYC W25
Intro paths
YC
Justin went through Y Combinator (Winter 2025) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
GP
Their group partner at YC was Aaron Epstein, General Partner at Y Combinator — the partner who ran Maritime Fusion's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
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In turn, Justin can intro founders to Maritime Fusion's investors below.
Maritime Fusion's investors · 4
Co-founders at Maritime Fusion
JK
Jason KaufmannFounder
Experience
- Maritime FusionCo-Foundercurrent2024 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- TeslaSr. Systems Architecture / Design Engineer2023 — 2024
- TeslaSr. Test Engineer2022 — 2023
- TeslaHigh Voltage Abuse Test Engineer2021 — 2022San Francisco Bay Area
- Columbia EngineeringGraduate Research Assistant2020 — 2021New York, New York, United States
- SpaceXRadiation Effects Associate Engineer2020Hawthorne, California, United States
- Westinghouse Electric CompanyUndergraduate Design Project2019 — 2020Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area
- Atmospheric Plasma SolutionsR&D Intern2018 — 2020Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)Research Intern2019Princeton, NJ
- Nano Extended Textiles Research GroupUndergraduate Researcher2018 — 2019Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area
- Lawrenceville Plasma Physics, Inc.Engineering Intern2017Middlesex, NJ
- PULSTAR ReactorStudent Reactor Operator Training2016 — 2017North Carolina State University
- Weill Cornell Medical CollegeResearch Intern2015White Plains, NY
Skills & more
3D Printing4Spectroscopy6Radiation Effects2MCNPThermal Hydraulics1Economic Data AnalysisPlasma Diagnostics1Heat Transfer1Laser CuttingSolderingElectromechanics1Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
+12 more
Power ElectronicsComputer-Aided Design (CAD)Public SpeakingLeadershipMatlabPython (Programming Language)Computer Numerical Control (CNC)Microsoft OfficeC++GitNeutronicsMachining & Fabrication- Radioactive Material Safety Certification — North Carolina State University
From Justin's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Justin Cohen?
- Justin Cohen is a nuclear engineer and plasma physicist who previously held roles at Tesla, SpaceX, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, and NC State, as well as attended Columbia University. He now leads Maritime Fusion, developing fusion reactor technology.
- Where does Justin Cohen work?
- Justin Cohen is Founder of Maritime Fusion.
- What companies did Justin Cohen found?
- Justin Cohen founded Maritime Fusion.
- Where did Justin Cohen go to school?
- Justin Cohen studied at Columbia University (Master of Science - MS, Applied Physics); North Carolina State University (Bachelor of Science - BS, Nuclear Engineering); Nyack High School (Advanced Regents Degree).
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,773
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
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Columbia University mafia200
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ben HorowitzBAFounded OpswareChris DixonBachelor of Arts - BAFounded HunchKai-Fu LeeA.B.Founded 01Robin ChanB.A.Founded Operator +2Kevin M. SlawinB.A.Founded Perseus SENOLYTIX +2Joey LevyBachelor of Arts (B.A.)Founded Draftpot +2
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North Carolina State University mafia20
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Richard WhiteBAFounded Uservoice +2Jacob HookerBSFounded Sensorium Therapeutics +1Scot WingoMastersFounded Spiffy +1Rami EssaidComputer EngineeringFounded Distil Networks +1Nicholas DonahueMechanical EngineeringFounded Drafted +1Len BoyetteBachelor of Science (BS)Founded Edge +1
+ 13 more
Same school
Also attended Columbia University726
Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen HorowitzDoug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzKai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AIGabriella GiglioHR & Executive Talent at General CatalystScott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)
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Also attended North Carolina State University90
Eric WagnerVP of Research and Data at Redpoint VenturesBrent BlakeVenture Partner at TFX CapitalBill NusseyPartner at Tech Square VenturesSteve AngelAdvisor at Industrious VenturesMelissa WhitingAssistant Controller at Red Cell IncubationJody ShepherdCo-Founder and Managing Director at Service Provider Capital
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Shared employers
Also worked at Maritime Fusion1
Also worked at Tesla197
Steve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesJoe GebbiaCo-founder of AirbnbArpan ShahInvestor at Spark CapitalJustin LiuVice President at Sapphire VenturesErica WaichmanHead of People & Community at Canvas VenturesBen FawEntrepreneur-in-Residence at Context Ventures
+ 191 more
Also worked at Columbia Engineering8
Aditya NaganathPartner at KPCBCooper BatesAnalyst at Clean Energy VenturesAlessandr PiolGeneral Partner at AlphaPrime VenturesMoawia EldeebFounder/CEO at TempoSiddhi MittalFounder at yhangryElena ZhaoFounder at Litmus
+ 2 more
Also worked at SpaceX148
Roelof BothaAdvisor & former Steward at Sequoia Capital; SpaceX board memberSteve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesAsanka JayasuriyaPortfolio Support at 8VCJustin RoseInvestment Team at 8VCGarry HillInvestment at Makers FundHelen LiangFounder & General Partner at FoundersX Ventures
+ 142 more