What OPEX does

OPEX (Opex Professional Services) is a privately held, founder-led nuclear operational readiness consultancy headquartered in California, USA. The firm serves nuclear utilities, Small Modular Reactor (SMR) developers, First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) reactor programs, and new nuclear entrants across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Its primary offering is consulting, support, and project management through the construction-to-operation transition, with senior practitioners delivering frameworks rooted in the WANO Roadmap to Operational Readiness and the 21-step implementation methodology. Engagement scope spans operational readiness planning, leadership and culture building, organizational design, HR infrastructure, human performance, management standards, and regulatory alignment.

The company monetizes through three revenue streams: (1) Nuclear Consulting Services (professional services, primary), quote-based engagements with nuclear utilities and project developers; (2) Nuclear Learning Hub (subscription recurring), an online learning platform with monthly ($49), annual ($485), and extended ($99) tiers plus free courses such as the Nuclear Professional Foundation Certificate; and (3) Nuclear Professional & Project Marketplace (freemium), a community platform connecting nuclear professionals with project opportunities. Distribution combines direct senior-led enterprise sales for consulting with self-serve digital channels for training, amplified by a thought-leadership content engine including the 'Before First Fuel' podcast, animated nuclear safety explainers, and a nine-part corporate drama series on construction-phase error accumulation.

Underlying technology includes AI-enabled Operating Experience Integration using LLM and RAG to surface historical nuclear events at the point of use and generate Pre-Job Briefing packs; interactive 3D/VR plant models for operator and engineer training; a 2D/3D Emergency Response Training Game; and structured compliance evidence applications. Subsidiaries Nuclear Learning and Nuclear Marketplace operate as wholly-owned adjacent platforms. The team comprises approximately 10 senior nuclear professionals with deep credentials including WANO authorship and ENEC executive background. No external funding rounds, institutional investors, or parent company are disclosed.

Name

OPEX

Legal name

Opex.Services

Website

https://opex.services

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

OPEX is a founder-led nuclear operational readiness consultancy headquartered in California, serving nuclear utilities, SMR developers, and First-of-a-Kind reactor projects globally with consulting, online training, and AI-enabled operating experience tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nuclear Operational Readiness Consulting

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Project & Program Management (PMO), Controls & Reporting (EUAKAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nuclear Plant O&M Services (EUAEAGAC), Operational Excellence (OPEX) & Performance Management (KPI/OKR) (EDABAKAH)

Keywords

• Nuclear operational readiness
• Nuclear consulting services
• Nuclear professional training
• Small modular reactor support
• Nuclear safety culture

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo, SP

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Nuclear Consulting Services: OPEX provides consulting, support, and project management solutions to nuclear utilities and new nuclear developers worldwide. Senior consultants with decades of nuclear experience deliver engagements across operational readiness, organizational development, HR infrastructure, management standards, and leadership coaching. This is the primary revenue stream.
2. Nuclear Learning Hub Memberships: Online learning platform offering courses for nuclear professionals with subscription-based membership tiers (Monthly at $49/month, Annual at $485/year, Extended at $99). Some courses are available free of charge (e.g., Nuclear Professional Foundation Certificate, Owners Requirements Document course).
3. Nuclear Professional & Project Marketplace: Platform connecting nuclear professionals with project opportunities and job placements. Revenue model likely includes placement fees or subscription access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

OPEX is a nuclear operations consultancy that helps nuclear utilities, SMR developers, and First-of-a-Kind reactor projects transition from construction to safe, reliable operation. Its core services cover operational readiness, organisational development, leadership coaching, management standards, and human performance improvement, delivered through senior consultants who helped author the WANO operational readiness standards. The firm also operates the Nuclear Learning Hub subscription platform (monthly/annual/extended tiers), the Nuclear Professional & Project Marketplace, AI-enabled Operating Experience integration, 3D/VR plant training environments, and an Emergency Response Training Game.

Product overview

OPEX is a nuclear operational readiness consultancy offering a portfolio of consulting services and digital learning products. The core offering includes Operational Readiness Consulting for nuclear utilities preparing for startup, supported by the Nuclear Learning Hub online platform providing courses such as the Nuclear Professional Foundation Certificate and Owner's Requirements Document training. Digital products include simulation games (Emergency Response Training Game, Plant 3D Game) and 3D/VR plant exploration environments. AI-enabled features include Operating Experience integration with Pre-Job Briefing packs. Content offerings include the Before First Fuel podcast series and animated explainer videos on nuclear safety. Membership tiers provide access to additional resources including the Human Performance Tools Workbook and Compliance Evidence Application.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• OPEX helped achieve the first and only Corrective Action Letter (CAL) closure achieved months before formal restart readiness determination at a US nuclear station.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and moderate.

• WANO (World Association of Nuclear Operators)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPEX team members were instrumental in establishing the recognized international best practices and standards for operational readiness in new nuclear projects through WANO. Robert Fisher served as Executive Sponsor and Chairman of the New Unit Assistance Industry Working Group (NUAIWG). Robert Godley was principal author of Section 5 of the WANO Guideline for Operational Readiness. OPEX acknowledges WANO's role in enabling peer-to-peer industry collaboration and references WANO materials and the Roadmap to Operational Readiness in their work. OPEX is explicitly independent and not affiliated with WANO.
• Energy NorthwestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy Northwest, a nuclear utility, has engaged OPEX for operational readiness support on nuclear development projects, including SMR projects. Chris Maxwell, Operational Readiness Manager at Energy Northwest's Nuclear Development division, has provided a testimonial praising OPEX's deep industry experience and specific knowledge of SMR operational readiness requirements.
• Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPEX team members including Christine Scheffer (Employee #2) and Robert Godley supported the development of the UAE Barakah nuclear power plant, including developing the Integrated Barakah Organization to align multinational operating teams. Christine Scheffer was on the executive team supporting the CEO on strategic issues and established HR frameworks and scholarship programs for the UAE nuclear new build program.
• UAE Nuclear Regulator (FANR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristine Scheffer provided early advisory support for the UAE Nuclear Regulator (FANR) during the establishment of the UAE nuclear program regulatory framework.
• NNB Generation UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNNB Generation UK commissioned and owns the nine-part corporate drama series on cultural learning created by Jack Davis of OPEX. The series illustrates how organizational and equipment failures can lead to significant plant events in new nuclear construction and commissioning.
• New Nuclear Programs (Saudi Arabia & Egypt)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristine Scheffer of OPEX has provided advisory support for new nuclear programs in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, including establishing HR infrastructure for nuclear programs in those countries.
• Nine Mile Point Nuclear StationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRobert Godley of OPEX achieved INPO Accreditation Renewal at Nine Mile Point in a dual Operations and Training Manager role. He also achieved the first and only Corrective Action Letter (CAL) closure at the station, led technical response to core shroud cracking, and overhauled simulator training programs to support plant restart.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• KBR: KBR provides nuclear program management, engineering, and technical services to government and commercial customers. Its program-management and mission-critical delivery capabilities are comparable to OPEX’s senior-led consulting model.
• CANDU Energy: CANDU Energy provides nuclear engineering, project services, and lifecycle support, including operating-plant and new-build work. It is a relevant technical comparator for OPEX’s new-build and established-plant readiness focus.
• Worley: Worley provides engineering, procurement, project delivery, and advisory services to the energy and nuclear sectors. Its larger project-delivery platform is comparable to OPEX’s project-management and nuclear-transition work.
• Westinghouse: Westinghouse supplies nuclear plant technology, services, maintenance, and training to operators globally. It overlaps with OPEX through nuclear lifecycle support, workforce readiness, and plant performance offerings, but at much greater scale.
• Mott MacDonald: Mott MacDonald provides nuclear engineering and advisory services across new build, operations, and decommissioning. It overlaps with OPEX in technical consulting, organizational readiness, and safety and performance improvement.
• AtkinsRéalis: AtkinsRéalis provides nuclear engineering, project management, and technical advisory services from design through operations. It is a broad incumbent comparator for OPEX’s project and operational-readiness engagements.
• Framatome: Framatome provides nuclear engineering, maintenance, training, and operational services to plant operators. It overlaps with OPEX in nuclear training, readiness, and lifecycle support, but is a broad incumbent.

Direct peers

• Assystem: Assystem provides engineering, digital, and project-management services across nuclear new build, operations, and decommissioning. Its lifecycle advisory model and nuclear-focused client base closely overlap OPEX’s operational-readiness consulting, although it is a much larger incumbent.
• Kinectrics: Kinectrics provides nuclear engineering, testing, inspection, and lifecycle services to utilities and new-build projects. It is a useful direct comparison for OPEX’s technical advisory and performance-improvement work at operating nuclear assets.
• MPR Associates: MPR Associates is an engineering consultancy serving nuclear power and other highly regulated industries with plant design, licensing, safety, and technical analysis. Its nuclear technical advisory model is comparable to OPEX’s readiness and performance services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/opexservicesbr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OPEX