It’s hard at first to grasp why Musk has suddenly become convinced that taking SpaceX public is worth the scrutiny, criticism, and regulatory burden he has long said he wanted to avoid. He was the leader who took Twitter private, after all, so he could instill sweeping layoffs and changes without the criticisms of the public markets. And, in earlier business history lore, he famously tweeted he was considering taking Tesla private in 2018—a tweet that prompted an SEC investigation and litigation with shareh ...

Ron, one of those people that have fulfilled and checked many of the boxes that you just mentioned is one that you've been closely associated with for the past decade plus at this point and that's Elon Musk. >> 15 years. >> 15 years now. Elon Musk uh specifically with regard to investments as you point out in Tesla, SpaceX which is now the biggest holding that you have. You mentioned you invest in XAI as well. The Elon Musk story is an interesting one because he has become one of the people that has been ma ...

Core Insights - The European space industry is experiencing rapid growth, with a shift towards a more structured financial architecture that supports repeatable deals [1][5] - Investment focus has transitioned from technology development to production capacity, emphasizing strategic solutions and supply chain financing [3][4] Investment Trends - Significant investments include Quantum Systems in Germany raising €180M for aerial systems, and Ferroelectric Memory Company in Dresden securing €100M for semiconductor fabrication [2][6] - Institutional capital is emerging, exemplified by the European Investment Bank's €500M funding program for Space TechEU, indicating a shift towards production-focused scaling [6] Robotics and AI Development - The robotics sector is evolving from lab-based prototypes to scalable, investable solutions, with notable funding such as Flexion Robotics raising nearly €50M for humanoid robotics [8][9] - Investment in AI governance and fraud prevention is growing, with companies like TMT ID securing €34M for identity intelligence and cybercrime prevention [13][15] Financing Structures - November saw a rise in hybrid financing structures, with companies utilizing credit facilities and securitization as growth tools rather than relying solely on equity rounds [19][20][21] - Asset-backed funding is becoming more prevalent, allowing companies to scale without frequent valuation resets, as seen with Keyzy's €147M in property financing [22] M&A Activity - The M&A landscape in Europe is characterized by smaller, functional acquisitions rather than large liquidity-driven deals, with 69 tech M&A transactions in the DACH region alone [25][27] - Acquisitions are focused on enhancing capabilities and integrating functionalities, reflecting a shift towards operational efficiency in the tech market [28] Market Outlook - The European tech sector is moving towards a more disciplined approach to production and deployment, with an emphasis on technologies that can be manufactured and integrated [28][29] - The current environment rewards companies that demonstrate readiness and the ability to deliver scalable solutions, shaping the future trajectory of the tech industry in Europe [29]

Billionaire entrepreneur and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO, Elon Musk, reached another personal wealth milestone, with the valuation of his privately held space transportation company, SpaceX, soaring to record new highs, ahead of a planned public offering in 2026.Step Closer To A TrillionOn Monday, Musk’s net worth touched $677 billion, becoming the first person ever to be worth $600 billion or more, according to a report by Forbes.This comes just months after Musk hit the $500 billion milestone earlier thi ...

The latest craze in the space business is the promise of orbital data centers, which could provide a solution to artificial-intelligence hyperscalers' energy problem. A slew of companies stand to benefit. ...

The year 2025 began with post-election optimism and expectations of a strong first quarter. Instead, markets were hit by the rise of low-cost AI initiatives from China, and its adverse impact on the U.S. Big Tech, Trump tariffs, sticky inflation, and persistently high interest rates. Stabilization in the market returned in the month of May after a tariff-led, turbulent April.Market euphoria started to solidify from midyear, thanks to easing trade tensions. There have been three Fed rate cuts this year, with ...

Key Takeaways Cannabis leveraged ETFs surged last week on optimism over potential U.S. marijuana reclassification.Space & defense-linked leveraged ETFs gained on contracts and IPO-driven sector buzz. Inverse natural gas ETFs jumped as mild weather and strong supply pressured prices.Wall Street was upbeat last week. The S&P 500 lost 0.6%, the Dow Jones advanced 1.1% and the Nasdaq retreated about 1.6% last week. The tech stocks were beaten down, taking a toll on the Nasdaq-100 as well as the S&P 500. Roundhi ...

So, our next guest is going to be weighing in on Disney's billion-dollar deal with Open AI, dueling bids for Warner Brothers, and so much more this morning. Walter Isacson is here. Great to see you.Of course, Walter's Carella Weinberg advisory partner, Twolane University, history professor, CNBC contributor, uh, amazing writer and allaround great friend of ours. >> Help us understand. Let's go AI first.>> Obviously, >> you saw the the Disney story. Were you surprised. And what do you think it portrays.I was ...

Company Developments - iRobot (IRBT) has filed for bankruptcy protection and will go private after being acquired by its primary manufacturer [3] - SpaceX (SPACE) is in the process of selecting investment banks for a potential IPO, targeting a valuation of up to $1.5 trillion [5] - SpaceX has initiated a secondary share sale valuing the company at $800 billion, with shares priced at $421 each [6] - Alphabet (GOOG) stands to gain significantly from its investment in SpaceX, with an expected accounting gain linked to its stake [7] Industry Insights - Concerns over China's property sector have resurfaced as Vanke's bondholders rejected its bond payment plan, increasing default risks [4] - The tech trade between the US and UK is at risk of collapse due to disagreements [8] - Developers have canceled nearly 2,000 power projects this year, indicating potential shifts in the energy sector [8]

Core Insights - STMicroelectronics and SpaceX celebrate a decade-long partnership that has significantly contributed to the development of Starlink's satellite communication technology, enabling global connectivity for over 8 million users [2][4][8] Company Collaboration - The collaboration has resulted in the co-design of billions of custom-made components for Starlink, including over 10,000 satellites and user terminals, enhancing the performance and scalability of Starlink's services [2][5][6] - STMicroelectronics has played a crucial role in the manufacturing of Starlink user terminals, producing over 20,000 terminals daily for customers in more than 150 countries [3][6] Technological Advancements - The partnership has focused on BiCMOS technology and innovative manufacturing processes, such as panel level packaging (PLP), to meet the high-volume and quality demands of Starlink [6][8] - STMicroelectronics supplies various critical technologies, including STM32 microcontrollers and secure elements, for Starlink's broadband satellites and ground infrastructure [6][8] Future Directions - The collaboration is set to continue with a focus on next-generation satellites and user terminals, aiming to advance new technologies for phased-array antennas powered by ST's solutions [7][8]