Boom Supersonic jet startup pivots to power AI data centers

Core Insights - Boom Supersonic has pivoted from developing supersonic commercial flights to selling turbines for AI data centers, successfully closing a $300 million funding round [1] - The company has secured its first customer, Crusoe, for its new turbine product called Superpower, which can generate 1.21 gigawatts of power, and claims a backlog of over $1.25 billion in orders [2] Group 1: Business Strategy - The pivot to turbine manufacturing was inspired by CEO Blake Scholl's observations of power shortages affecting AI data centers, leading to the adaptation of the company's Symphony supersonic engine into a stationary power turbine [3] - Each Superpower turbine operates on natural gas and does not require a water supply, addressing significant constraints in data center expansion [4] Group 2: Market Challenges - Boom is entering a market with severe supply constraints, with major turbine manufacturers like GE Vernova and Siemens Energy quoting wait times of five to seven years for new orders due to pandemic-related supply chain issues and material shortages [5] - The company has announced plans to build a "Superpower Superfactory" and aims to scale production to over 4 gigawatts annually by 2030, but has not clarified how it will navigate existing supply chain bottlenecks [6] Group 3: Financial Implications - The turbine business provides a critical funding solution for Boom, allowing for faster revenue generation while the company prepares for test flights of its Overture airliner in 2027 and aims for commercial service by 2030 [7]