Industrial heat, essential across sectors from brewing to chemical manufacturing, has long relied on fossil fuels. But a wave of innovative startups is challenging this status quo by harnessing electricity for high-temperature heating. Companies like Rondo, Antora, and Fourth Power are utilizing renewable energy to heat specialized bricks to thousands of degrees, while Skyven Technologies is advancing industrial-scale heat pumps.
Among these pioneers is Karman Industries, a startup that’s been operating quietly but is now making headlines with its cutting-edge technology. Unlike traditional heat pumps, Karman’s approach draws inspiration from SpaceX’s rocket technology. Co-founder and CEO David Tearse likens their system to a Raptor engine, emphasizing its advanced speed, pressure, and temperature capabilities.
Karman’s heat pump employs high-speed turbomachinery, a technology not commonly used in heat pumps but well-established in rocket engines. This innovation allows Karman’s units to achieve significant heat output while maintaining a compact design. The largest model will fit within an eight-foot-long frame, while smaller versions are designed to be even more space-efficient. Notably, these pumps eliminate the need for oil, simplifying both design and maintenance.
Traditionally, achieving high temperatures with heat pumps required multiple stages of compression, adding to complexity and cost. Karman’s technology, however, aims to deliver the same heating efficiency in fewer stages. According to Tearse, their system can accomplish what competitors need multiple compressors to achieve in just one or two stages.
With experience from co-founder and CTO Chiranjeev (CJ) Kalra—formerly head of technology at Antora and VP of power generation at Heliogen—Karman is well-positioned to revolutionize the industry. The startup has garnered a $4 million pre-seed investment led by Riot Ventures, with participation from Space VC.
Looking ahead, Karman anticipates that its first model, Thermal01, will be competitive with natural gas for certain applications and regions. The company expects to launch a pilot installation by early 2026, potentially transforming how industries approach high-temperature heating.
