Venture

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission can single-handedly approve massive spaceflight projects that could fundamentally change the night sky for everyone on Earth. Despite public outcry over projects like large satellite constellations, space law experts say there is very little other regulatory oversight, leaving the agency with unmatched authority over these ventures.

SpaceX has released its first-ever earnings report, revealing that revenue grew but the company remains unprofitable. The disclosure offers a rare financial glimpse into Elon Musk's privately held rocket and satellite company, and is drawing attention to how its Starship and Starlink ventures balance heavy spending against rising income.

Elon Musk's SpaceX is preparing its Starship spacecraft for its first orbit around Earth, according to a report from NewsNation. The fully reusable rocket system, designed for missions to the Moon and Mars, has undergone earlier test flights, and reaching orbit would mark a major milestone in its development programme.

Aliko Dangote says a Kenyan court ruling will not stop the planned launch of his refinery project in the country, though it may affect activities at the site. The statement, reported by Reuters, suggests the billionaire industrialist intends to press ahead with the venture despite legal challenges, while acknowledging the ruling could disrupt on-the-ground operations.

Four environmental organizations filed a petition Thursday asking the Federal Communications Commission to reverse its approval of a startup's plan to beam on-demand sunlight from space to Earth. The groups argue the agency ignored the project's potential impacts on wildlife and astronomy, opening a new front in debates over commercial use of orbit and the regulation of emerging space-based technologies.

Vanguard International Semiconductor, a smaller affiliate of TSMC, is considering building a second chipmaking plant in Singapore through its joint venture to meet growing demand for chips. The move would expand Singapore's role in global semiconductor supply at a time when manufacturers are investing heavily in new capacity worldwide.

A company owned by Donald Trump filed trademark applications on Friday for "MAGA" and "45-47", covering streaming apps, television broadcasting, and news and commentary on politics and current events, according to US Patent and Trademark Office records. The filing fuels speculation that Trump is preparing to launch his own media operation, following his earlier ventures into digital platforms.

New York City has subpoenaed Elon Musk and his artificial intelligence company xAI as part of an investigation into AI safety. The move makes the city one of the most prominent US local governments to target a major AI developer directly, and it adds regulatory pressure for Musk, whose AI business is already drawing scrutiny alongside his other ventures.

VSMC, the joint venture between Vanguard International Semiconductor and TSMC, is building a 300mm wafer fab in Singapore, framed as a strategic bet on the specialty chips underpinning AI infrastructure. Coverage highlights the facility's role in easing capacity tightness for mature and specialty nodes, as AI demand pulls in power management, controller and analog chips alongside leading-edge processors.

A young entrepreneur has built a defense technology company now valued at $3.7 billion, with backing from Sequoia Capital. The story highlights how the founder scaled the startup despite being part of Generation Z, drawing attention to the growing wave of young founders entering the defense sector as venture capital flows into military and security technology.

Elon Musk says SpaceX's AI effort, dubbed SpaceXAI, could reach GPT-6-level capability within three months and take the 'pole position' in artificial intelligence within six, backed by plans for a massive expansion of GPU computing power. The comments land amid fierce competition among AI labs and Musk's own xAI venture, drawing skepticism and attention in equal measure.

Autonomous driving software firm Momenta and Stellantis' Chinese joint venture with Dongfeng have agreed to co-develop intelligent driving technology. The partnership will focus on bringing advanced driver assistance systems to vehicles sold in China, one of the world's largest but most competitive auto markets. The move underscores how global automakers are pairing with local tech suppliers to stay relevant against fast-moving Chinese competitors.

SpaceX has reported $7.8 billion in revenue alongside a quarterly loss of $541 million. The figures, disclosed through reporting on the privately held company's finances, offer a rare glimpse into the economics of Elon Musk's space venture, which continues heavy spending on Starship development, Starlink expansion and launch operations while remaining one of the world's most valuable private companies.

Efforts to pass the Clarity Act, a bill to establish clear regulatory rules for the cryptocurrency industry, have stalled amid political tensions tied to the Trump family's crypto business ventures. Lawmakers' concerns over potential conflicts of interest surrounding those ventures have complicated negotiations, leaving the industry without the regulatory framework the legislation was meant to provide.

Venture investors including Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen are funding a new academy designed as an alternative to traditional college, according to the Wall Street Journal. The school aims to give young people a pathway into careers, particularly in technology, without a university degree. Supporters see it as a challenge to the rising cost and value of higher education; critics question whether such programs can replace the breadth of a college education.

AI agent startup Instinct has raised a $1 billion Series C funding round at a $10 billion valuation, according to a TechCrunch report. The company, described as a viral AI agent, joins a wave of heavily funded AI firms attracting large venture rounds. The report gives no details yet on the investors or how the capital will be used.

Foxconn and Alter have formed a new joint venture, Beijing Futekang, to build a mass production platform for humanoid robots. The move ties Foxconn's large-scale manufacturing capability to the fast-growing humanoid robotics sector, positioning the partners to industrialise robot assembly much as Foxconn did for consumer electronics. Industry watchers see it as a signal that humanoid robots are moving from prototypes toward volume production in China.

Elon Musk, speaking in his capacity as SpaceX chief, said Anthropic is the 'clear AI leader' and pledged not to interfere with or sabotage its compute deal, despite the rivalry between his xAI venture and the Anthropic-backed camp. The comments are drawing attention given Musk's own massive AI ambitions and his history of feuding with competitors over data centers, chips and talent in the intensifying race for computing power.

A chip fabrication plant run as a joint venture between Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) and NXP Semiconductors has entered its initial production stage. The facility marks a key milestone for the partnership, which focuses on expanding chip manufacturing capacity, and is being followed closely by industry watchers tracking global semiconductor supply.

A satellite company backed by a venture fund connected to US Vice President JD Vance has won a Pentagon contract award, according to reporting by Sludge. The story is drawing attention because it highlights potential conflicts of interest between the vice president's financial ties and defense procurement decisions made under the Trump administration. Critics are questioning whether the award reflects merit or political connections.

Idan Nurik, co-founder of the startup Paragon, is leaving the company to launch a new venture focused on AI infrastructure, according to Calcalist. The move marks the latest departure of a founder from an existing Israeli startup to build a new company in the fast-growing AI infrastructure space. Details about the new venture, including its products and funding, have not yet been disclosed.

Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla says valuations for most robotics startups will fall by 2030, according to The Information. The prediction from the prominent Khosla Ventures founder is drawing attention as investors reassess how much of the current enthusiasm around robotics and AI reflects durable business value versus hype-driven pricing.

European Greens are calling for mining projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be removed from the EU's list of strategic projects, according to Euractiv. The move reflects concerns over the environmental impact of mining ventures seeking EU backing. The dispute touches on tensions between Europe's push for secure critical raw materials and environmental safeguards, and it comes as the EU finalises which projects deserve strategic status and support.

South Korea's government under President Lee is restructuring its small and medium enterprise support programmes, directing more funding toward technology and startup ventures while cutting back on traditional loans and employment subsidies. The policy shift signals an effort to prioritise innovation-driven growth over broad-based business aid, sparking debate over whether conventional small businesses will be left behind.

Bob Chapek, the former Disney chief executive, is advising startups and says he is open to launching or joining a private equity fund, according to Bloomberg. The move marks a new chapter for Chapek after his high-profile exit from Disney in 2022, and signals continued interest from former media executives in early-stage ventures and investment vehicles.

A member of Congress has warned that donations from intelligence contractors toward a ballroom project linked to Donald Trump could face scrutiny, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest between firms seeking government business and the president's private ventures. The warning suggests such contributions may be examined for improper influence or ethics violations.