Energy and Life Sciences Investments Highlight Continued Growth in Montgomery County, MD

April brought another strong month of investment activity for Montgomery County, Maryland, with companies across the energy, life sciences, and technology industries securing major funding.

Leading the month was X-energy, which completed its initial public offering on the Nasdaq, raising more than $1 billion. Headquartered in Rockville, X-energy is developing advanced small modular reactor (SMR) and fuel technologies designed to transform clean energy generation. The company’s flagship Xe-100 reactor is intended to provide safer, more flexible nuclear energy solutions with faster construction timelines and expanded industrial applications. The IPO valued X-energy at more than $11.9 billion, underscoring growing investor confidence in clean energy. The milestone also represents one of the most significant capital raises by a Montgomery County company in recent years.

The County’s life sciences sector also saw significant activity in April. Altimmune completed a $225 million public offering to advance development of its lead therapeutic candidate, pemvidutide. The Gaithersburg-based biotechnology company is focused on treatments for metabolic and liver diseases, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), alcohol use disorder, and alcohol-associated liver disease.

Altimmune’s continued progress reflects the strength of Montgomery County’s globally recognized life sciences ecosystem (ranked 3rd in the nation), which supports companies across every stage of growth. With proximity to federal agencies, leading academic institutions, and a deep talent pool, the County remains one of the nation’s premier destinations for innovation.

Beyond energy and life sciences, April investment activity showcased the diversity of Montgomery County’s innovation economy. Chevy Chase-based Floreo raised $1 million from Cleveland Clinic to further expand its virtual reality learning platform designed for individuals with autism and other developmental challenges. Meanwhile, Rockville-based greatEvent secured venture funding from TEDCO to continue developing its event booking and venue discovery platform.