false
0001918102
0001918102
2026-09-21
2026-09-21
iso4217:USD
xbrli:shares
iso4217:USD
xbrli:shares
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
September 21, 2026
Deep Fission, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware |
000-56407 |
87-4265302 |
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
|
2001 Addison Street, Unit 300
Berkeley, California
(Address of principal executive offices) |
94704
(Zip Code) |
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code: (707) 400-0778
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since
Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ¨ |
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| |
|
| ¨ |
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| |
|
| ¨ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| |
|
| ¨ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
|
Trading
Symbol(s) |
|
Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share |
|
FISN |
|
The Nasdaq Global Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth
company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company x
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant
has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant
to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On September 21, 2026, Deep Fission, Inc. (the “Company”)
issued a press release announcing its collaboration with Youngquist Brothers, LLC concerning the evaluation and testing of drilling and
borehole-construction methods for the Company’s underground reactor deployment model. A copy of the press release is furnished as
Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section
18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that
section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange
Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
| 99.1 |
|
Press Release dated September 21, 2026 |
| 104 |
|
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| |
DEEP FISSION, INC. |
| |
|
| Date: September 21, 2026 |
/s/ JON GORDON |
| |
Jon Gordon |
| |
General Counsel & Secretary |
Exhibit 99.1
Deep Fission
and Youngquist Brothers Announce Collaboration on Deep, Large-Diameter Borehole Drilling for Underground Nuclear Reactor Deployment
--
Companies will jointly evaluate and test drilling and borehole-construction methods to support Deep Fission's underground reactor technology
--
Fort Myers, Fla. – September
21, 2026 – Deep Fission, Inc. (Nasdaq: FISN) (“Deep Fission” or the “Company”), an advanced nuclear
energy company working to place small modular pressurized water reactors (SMRs) in boreholes approximately one mile underground, today
announced a collaboration with Youngquist Brothers, LLC ("Youngquist"), a commercial drilling contractor specializing in large-diameter
boreholes, to evaluate and test drilling technologies for Deep Fission's underground reactor deployment model.
Under the collaboration, the companies
will advance and test methods for constructing large-diameter, deep boreholes for Deep Fission's underground deployment model, drawing
on Youngquist's drilling and borehole-construction expertise. On September 3, the companies successfully completed a related equipment
demonstration in Fort Myers, Florida, where Deep Fission lowered and retrieved its 30-inch full-size prototype reactor canister into
a 34-inch borehole, to a depth of approximately 100 feet using Youngquist’s proprietary drilling technologies & equipment.
The demonstration scale test focused on installation and retrieval mechanics, distinct from the full-depth drilling work intended to
be covered by the collaboration.
“Youngquist brings decades of
hands-on drilling experience that maps directly onto what our deployment model requires,” said Liz Muller, CEO and Co-Founder of
Deep Fission. “Working with an established commercial driller lets us advance the drilling side of our approach using equipment
and expertise that already exist in the field, rather than starting from scratch.”
Youngquist has spent decades drilling
large-diameter boreholes reaching depths of more than 8,000 feet. That experience gives the collaboration a strong foundation for adapting
proven commercial drilling methods to Deep Fission's underground deployment model.
“Large-diameter drilling to these
depths is a method we've refined since 1971,” said Harvey Youngquist, CEO of Youngquist Brothers. “What Deep Fission requires
for its nuclear application is the same discipline we've always applied. We're glad to bring that experience to a project of this scale
and in this unique application.”
Deep Fission's Gravity™ Nuclear
Reactor uses established pressurized water reactor technology and standard low-enriched uranium fuel and secures the reactor roughly
a mile underground in a water-filled borehole. The surrounding rock and water are designed to provide core safety and operating functions,
including containment and cooling. The collaboration with Youngquist is focused on the drilling and borehole-construction methods needed
to support that underground deployment.
The companies intend to continue working
together on borehole drilling and testing as Deep Fission advances toward commercial deployment, which the Company is targeting as early
as 2027.
About Deep Fission
Deep Fission is developing technology
that places a small modular pressurized water reactor in a borehole approximately one mile underground. The Company’s Gravity Nuclear
Reactor™ approach combines established pressurized water reactor technology with a novel underground deployment model designed
to simplify construction, enhance safety, and support scalable commercial deployment. Deep Fission is focused on delivering reliable,
low-carbon baseload power to meet growing electricity demand from utilities, industrial customers, and data centers. The Company is currently
advancing the development of its first reactor project in Parsons, Kansas and was selected for the U.S. Department of Energy’s
Reactor Pilot Program.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements
regarding the scope, objectives, continuation and anticipated benefits of the collaboration; the parties’ plans to advance and
test technologies and construction methods; the applicability and adaptability of Youngquist’s equipment, expertise and commercial
methods to the Company’s deployment model; the anticipated effect of the collaboration on advancing the drilling aspects of the
Company’s approach; and the Company’s progress toward and anticipated timing of commercial deployment, including its target
as early as 2027. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied.
Important factors that may cause actual
results to differ materially include, among others, risks related to the parties’ ability to continue and successfully perform
the collaboration; changes in the scope, timing or objectives of the collaboration; the ability to adapt existing equipment, technologies
and construction methods to the Company’s proposed application and deployment model; technical, engineering, drilling, construction,
regulatory, licensing, financing, supply chain, and deployment risks; and the other risks described under “Risk Factors”
and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Deep Fission’s filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Forward-looking statements speak only
as of the date of this press release. Deep Fission undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required
by law.
Media Contact:
Chloe
Frader
media@deepfission.com
Investor Relations Contact:
Bob
Prag
IR@deepfission.com
(858) 794-9500
Elevate IR
(720) 330-2829
