The Shawn Ryan Show: Episode #275

Guest: Jay Yu
Topic: Nano Nuclear Technology and the Future of American Energy
Date: January 29, 2026
Host: Shawn Ryan

Overview

This episode features Jay Yu, Founder, Executive Chairman, and President of Nano Nuclear Energy and LIS Technologies. Jay discusses his journey from humble beginnings to building one of the most innovative nuclear energy companies in the US, spearheading a Wall Street “Cinderella story” with his company’s IPO, and leading the charge on micro nuclear reactors and cutting-edge uranium enrichment technology. Jay and Shawn deep-dive into the future of American energy, national security, nuclear technology, and the transformative potential for both the nation and the globe.

Episode Structure & Key Themes

• Early Life and Resilience: Jay’s upbringing as the son of Chinese immigrants in New York, and how adversity shaped his risk-taking approach.
• From Wall Street to Startups: His unconventional path through education and career, ultimately entering the investment world and learning the pitfalls and lessons of startup culture.
• Nano Nuclear’s Rapid Rise: The inception of Nano Nuclear Energy, its game-changing microreactor tech, IPO success, government partnerships, and global ambition.
• LIS Technologies and Enrichment: The nuclear fuel supply chain choke point, LIS’s laser enrichment advantage, and its centrality to American energy security.
• Geopolitics, National Security, and Legacy: The race against Russia and China in nuclear tech, and Jay’s vision for a legacy that combines technological advancement with philanthropy.

Detailed Summary and Insights

Jay Yu’s Early Life, Family, and Entrepreneurial Spirit

[01:07–11:19]

• Jay describes his childhood as the “sweatshop baby” of immigrant parents in a tiny tenement apartment in New York City. His mother was a seamstress, his father a carpenter—both struggled but worked hard.
• Early observations about business, risk, and value creation were shaped by practical life:

  "I asked her that question. I said like, mom, why are you going so slow? ... why don't you make more money? And this is when I'm like three years old. ... that maybe planted a seed in me for the future." (Jay, 03:53)

• Jay emphasizes coming from nothing, and how envying wealthier peers didn’t make him resentful but motivated him to find his own way.

Education & Entry to Wall Street

[27:00–36:38]

• Jay’s education was “C minus average in psychology” but his focus was on value creation and finding unconventional paths:

  “I graduated with a C minus average ... I’m going to determine my future.” (Jay, 28:24)

• While working full-time at Columbia University, he learned institutional systems so thoroughly he was promoted above more qualified candidates.

  “They gave me the job. And my assistant actually had her master's degree. ... She was f***ing pissed at me.” (Jay, 30:55)

• Used “the matrix” approach—finding creative loopholes:

  “The matrix to me is figuring things out but doing it in a way where it's reachable ...” (Jay, 34:39)

• Eventually landed an analyst job at Deutsche Bank on Wall Street by networking into Ivy League recruitment.

Adapting Through Adversity: The Entrepreneur’s Journey

[36:38–41:05]

• Left finance after the 2009 recession, started investing in diverse startups.
• Major lessons: Many startups fail due to “the egos of the founders.”
• “I look for integrity. ... I could tell who they are [very quickly] ... I'm probably a guy where, if we do a handshake deal, I honor that deal.” (Jay, 38:48)
• Jay talks about long-term vision, humility, integrity, and honoring one’s word as keys to startup success.

Founding Nano Nuclear Energy: Disruption & Grit

[41:12–45:50]

• Nano Nuclear emerges as an underdog—“Cinderella story” of 2024’s IPOs, stunning hedge funds that bet against them:

  “A ton of hedge funds bet against us... But they don't understand my history. ... We were the number one IPO performer in America, and we shocked the world.” (Jay, 41:18)

• Emphasis on deep work ethic:

  “They don't understand that we work till 4am in the morning while they're all asleep. ... We're warriors. And they underestimated nano.” (Jay, 41:18)

• Built a world-class team, including nuclear engineers, academics, and former US national leaders.

Why Microreactors? Markets, Military, and Humanity

[55:31–62:04]

• Microreactors are transportable, scalable, and can “bring energy to the front lines” of military, disaster relief, remote communities, and data centers:

  "If you're able to transport and scale nuclear, think about island communities, ... replacing diesel generators with consistent baseload energy ... [and] military deployment."

• Direct work with universities (Berkeley, Cambridge, Illinois) for reactor R&D; multiple partners and use-cases in U.S. military and global humanitarian contexts.
• Emphasis on the “walkaway safe” TRISO fuel—can’t explode, passively cooled:

  “...We use at nanonuclear, where it’s coated with essentially tank armor and it passively cools. It could never explode." (Jay, 10:13)

• U.S. government momentum and “nuclear renaissance” is enabling key regulatory breakthroughs.

Nuclear Power, National Security, and Laser Enrichment

[81:00–100:22]

• The next big play: vertically integrating with LIS Technologies—laser enrichment for uranium, decreasing U.S. reliance on Russian fuel:

  “Everyone right now is building these glorious reactors. ... They have no gas for the Ferrari. And this is where LIS comes in ...” (Jay, 81:00)

• LIS History: Founded on Dr. Jeff Eerkens’ pioneering tech (the “mad scientist” story), now modernized and headquartered at Oak Ridge, TN.

  “He built a whole test loop of the laser in his garage. And the craziest thing is the US government didn’t stop him.” (Jay, 82:22)

• Laser enrichment offers massive efficiency and security advantages:

  “If you're able to now make it cheaper, the enrichment than any other centrifuge technology in the world ... then Russia is going to have a problem with the US.” (Jay, 89:24)

• U.S. and allies are ramping investment to counter China and Russia; Jay calls enrichment “the critical technology” for U.S. security.
• LIS selected for major federal fuel supply awards, with support from military and private sector.

The Future: AI, Energy Abundance, and a “Golden Age”

[70:36–77:16]

• The combination of abundant, safe, deployable nuclear energy and the AI race could launch a new era:

  “If Unnuclear is truly unleashed and we have an overabundance of energy, it is my understanding that would throw us into some type of a golden age.” (Shawn, 74:48)

• Modular, scalable microreactors will “democratize energy” and backstop vital digital infrastructure, manufacturing, and military needs.
• AI data centers driving surging demand—and microreactors are seen as the solution for decentralized clean energy growth.

Global Competition & Urgency

[90:19–92:44]

• China now “building more reactors than the whole world put together”; U.S. must accelerate to keep up.

  “National security, energy is national security. ... This is why the US ... need[s] to be a part of that.” (Jay, 92:44)

• Importance of domestic enrichment, less reliance on Russia, and rapid regulatory innovation for “energy sovereignty.”

Legacy & Philanthropy

[102:44–104:43]

• Jay describes giving back through philanthropy in sports/education, paying forward the assistance he received as a kid.
• Emphasis on long-term, impactful change:

  “I want to create a legacy here, right? Like I’m long-term in nano, long term, enlist. And I think this is going to help change humanity, help change the world and give necessary energy to humanity across every aspect.” (Jay, 104:35)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On integrity in business:
  "I'm probably a guy where, if we do a handshake deal, I honor that deal. There's very few people, I think, in this world that would do that these days." (Jay, 39:39)
• The underdog's mindset:
  “They don’t understand my history... I have nothing to lose. I have something to prove. I have a legacy to build.” (Jay, 41:33)
• On the ‘Matrix’ approach:
  “The matrix to me is figuring things out but doing it in a way where it’s reachable.” (Jay, 34:39)
• On nuclear as a golden age trigger:
  “Energy is the X factor, right. It is the bottleneck right now... So if you're able to create scalable factory fabricated situation where you can mass produce nuclear, you have that baseload energy, it's carbon free and then you could deploy it off grid.” (Jay, 71:11)
• On future enrichment and US security:
  “If you're able to now make it cheaper, the enrichment than any other centrifuge technology in the world, or make it essentially obsolete, then Russia is going to have a problem with the US ...” (Jay, 89:24)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Topic | |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:07 | Jay’s background & immigrant family roots | | 06:21 | Nano Nuclear’s IPO story & introduction | | 10:13 | SMR safety and Gen 4 nuclear technology | | 27:00 | College experience, "matrix" method, and career hacks | | 36:38 | From finance to investing/startups: lessons learned | | 41:12 | Building Nano Nuclear; IPO, grit, and global impact | | 55:31 | Microreactor rationale, humanitarian, and military applications | | 59:00 | AI/data centers: new energy demands intertwined with microreactors | | 81:00 | LIS Technologies & the laser enrichment revolution | | 90:00 | The U.S.–China–Russia energy arms race | | 104:44 | Philanthropy and sports/education for inner city kids |

Suggested Further Guests

[104:48]
Jay’s top three recommendations for future guests:

1. Dr. Jeff Eerkens – Pioneer of laser enrichment, rich life story.
2. Nano Nuclear’s CEO – Unique personal journey and insight.
3. A fellow self-made New Yorker with a different path and perspective.

Conclusion

Jay Yu’s story bridges immigrant grit, Wall Street hustle, tech disruption, and a passionate call to long-term integrity and giving back. His leadership at Nano Nuclear and LIS Technologies signals a tipping point for American innovation in nuclear energy as the nation seeks energy sovereignty, security, and a fresh “golden age” fueled by both technology and character.

For listeners seeking an inside look at the future of American energy, nuclear technology, investment strategy, and the mindset required to disrupt entrenched systems, this episode delivers both the high-level strategy and the personal stories that define true entrepreneurship and leadership.