MFG Podcast Ep 19: Yasir Arafat, Co-Founder and CTO of Aalo Atomics

In this special episode of the Manufacturing Austin Podcast, host Kevin Fincher, President & CEO of the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association, sits down with Yasir Arafat, the co-founder and CTO of Aalo Atomics, a trailblazing startup redefining how we build and deploy nuclear energy.

Broadcasting from inside Aalo’s pilot factory in Austin, TX, this episode dives into how Yasir and his team are accelerating the future of clean, scalable nuclear power through advanced manufacturing. From sodium-cooled reactors to architecturally elegant “Aalo Pods” designed for data centers and industrial facilities, Yasir shares how their Extra Modular Reactors (XMRs) are breaking new ground in speed, safety, and sustainability.

You’ll hear about:

• Aalo’s unique artistic and environmental vision
• How sodium-cooled reactors work (and why they’re safer and more efficient)
• The U.S.-based manufacturing strategy to retain tech leadership
• Why Texas is the perfect home for nuclear innovation
• A realistic, fast-tracked timeline to commercial nuclear deployment by 2029
• And yes — there’s even a live reveal of their working prototype!

Whether you’re in manufacturing, energy, or just fascinated by the future of tech and climate, this is one episode you don’t want to miss.

Learn more at [https://www.aalo.com/]