WHAT’S INSIDE

👇️ Todays’ Feature: The Future Of Transport Is in Motion

• Tech News: Markets Rally, IPO Surge, TikTok Truce, SB 53, Nvidia v China

• Company Watch: Mercor, Divergent, Robinhood VC, Apex, Lila, Brain Co. 

• Buzzy Tools: Latest Buzzy tech, AI and financial tools

• Deep Tech: The latest in deep tech, biotech, futurism and more

• Space Tech: Latest news in the space race and aerospace tech

• Crypto: Blockchain and crypto policy and startups or protocols to watch

TECH IN THE NEWS

Markets Rally Pre-Fed — U.S. and global stocks hit record highs while dollar and Treasury yields dip as markets expect a 25-bp rate cut. Fed independence faces scrutiny with Rick Rieder emerging as potential chair candidate.

IPO Surge — Wall Street saw a major IPO rebound last week with six companies raising over $100M each, totaling $4.4B. This pushed 2023's total to $25B, the highest since 2021. Experts foresee continued robust activity.

TikTok Truce — The U.S. and China have reached a framework deal on TikTok, confirmed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. This comes after a potential ban and President Trump's social media hints of a resolution.

California's AI Safety Bill — California's senate passed SB 53, mandating AI companies disclose safety protocols and protect whistleblowers. Governor Newsom can still veto as he did last time, but the bill could reshape AI regulation.

AI Minister Takes Charge — Albania appoints AI bot Diella as a minister to oversee public procurement, aiming to curb corruption. Prime Minister Edi Rama says Diella is immune to bribery.

Nvidia Faces Antitrust Heat — China's State Administration for Market Regulation ruled Nvidia violated antitrust laws in its 2020 acquisition of Mellanox Technologies. This complicates U.S.-China trade talks on AI chip sales.

Google's AI Defense — Google defends its AI Overviews against lawsuits from publishers like Penske Media. VP Markham Erickson claims user preferences are changing to contextual answers, raising concerns over digital ad sustainability.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PACASO

Learn From This Investor’s $100M Mistake

Grammy-winning artist will.i.am passed on investing $200K in Airbnb in 2010. It’d be worth $100M+ today. 

Now, the investors behind Venmo and Uber are backing another real estate disruptor. And this time, you can invest. 

Meet Pacaso. Created by a former Zillow exec who sold his first venture for $120M, Pacaso brings co-ownership to the $1.3T vacation home industry. 

They’ve generated $1B+ worth of luxury home transactions across 2,000+ owners. That’s good for more than $110M in gross profits in under 5 years. They’ve even reserved their Nasdaq ticker, PCSO. 

And you can join them today for just $2.90/share. But don’t wait too long. Pacaso’s investment opportunity closes for good after Thursday night.

*Disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso's Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving the ticker is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.

The Future Of Transport Is in Motion

TB Editorial

The past week has offered a glimpse of the future of mobility taking shape. Washington just embraced flying taxis as Uber moved into the market, Palmer Luckey test flew a star wars speeder bike, and VW announced a massive $1.2B commitment to AI. Besides that and other major autonomous transport updates, we look into China’s looming EV shakeout, East Asia’s maglev corridors, hyperloops, and what may be coming next in the West. 

Washington Clears Takeoff for Air Taxis

In the USA, air mobility moved closer to reality last week. A White House and FAA pilot program will fast-track the integration of eVTOL aircraft into the national airspace. The program is designed to clear regulatory bottlenecks and provide launch corridors for companies like Joby Aviation and Archer.

Dubai is already set to host Joby’s first commercial service in 2026, but the new U.S. framework could accelerate domestic launches. By elevating eVTOLs from speculative ventures to recognized infrastructure, Washington is signaling that cities and investors can begin planning around them with greater certainty.

Robotaxis and the Vertical Shift

Autonomous mobility reached several other milestones in the last week or so that show a trend underway. 

Uber is expanding laterally and vertically at once. Its partnership last week with Joby will bring the helicopters it added by acquiring Blade’s passenger business — and soon Joby’s eVTOLs — into the world’s largest personal mobility app. A separate collaboration with China’s Momenta will also bring robotaxi trials to Munich via a JV trial. This looks like a strong starting point for further EU robotaxi expansion.

Speaking of eVTOLs, Palmer Luckey’s Jetson One test flight in California highlighted the rise of personal aerial vehicles, Not many CEOs are so confident of their product as Luckey, who is willing to put skin in the game, literally. Elsewhere, Hyundai’s Supernal eVTOL project has paused U.S. ops after leadership departures and now looks to delay its rollout.

Meanwhile, Tesla secured testing rights in Nevada, advancing its plan for a nationwide ride-hailing fleet. And, Lyft opened a pilot in Atlanta using May Mobility’s shuttles, choosing a cautious rollout with safety drivers on board. 

Together, these developments show a maturing market as the concept of robo ride-hailing is stretching beyond the street to the skies.

Volkswagen’s AI Play

German auto giant Volkswagen just announced a $1.2 billion commitment to embed AI throughout its operations by 2030. The investment spans vehicle platforms, manufacturing processes, and driver assistance systems.

The company frames this as both a modernization effort and a competitive response. Chinese manufacturers are integrating advanced software into EVs, and U.S. tech companies increasingly treat vehicles as extensions of their AI ecosystems. VW’s wager is that AI can reduce design cycles, increase precision in production, and allow its vehicles to compete as software-driven platforms.

The Shakeout in China’s EV Market

Speaking of that Chinese expansion, market leader BYD continues to expand into Europe, opening thousands of outlets to rival Volkswagen. Even so, earnings guidance is being adjusted downward. The reason seems to be that the surge in Chinese EV production is colliding with economic reality as both the U.S. and Europe finally kick into first gear with their until now, somewhat hesitant and reluctant autonomous vehicle experiments.

More than 130 Chinese manufacturers already compete in a market that may only sustain a fraction of that number. Price cuts, debt burdens, and shrinking margins are already forcing consolidation. Increased western competition likely means further pressure offsetting a massive head start and cost advantages, leading to the culling. 

Another notable Chinese trend to watch is the popularity of extended-range EVs (EREVs) — plug-in hybrids with a gasoline generator for backup. U.S. automakers have been slow to move into this space (with some notable failed experiments), leaving a potentially significant gap in their product lines… one wide enough to drive an EREV through?

Asia Pulls Ahead in Maglev

Meanwhile, aside from leading the personal vehicle modernization, China and Japan continue to treat high-speed magnetic levitation as a cornerstone of national strategy. Beijing’s rail projects are pushing toward 600 km/h, an achievement that places entire megacity clusters within commuting distance. Tokyo’s superconducting Chūō Shinkansen will link the capital with Nagoya at unprecedented velocity.

In the West, comparable projects remain mired in delay. U.S. proposals cycle through feasibility studies and lawsuits, while the EU struggles to prioritize advanced rail funding in its broader transport agenda despite a historic legacy of significantly larger investment than the US. Musk’s Boring Company has faced regulatory challenges and lack of interest. The result is not only a slower build-out, but also a growing divergence in how different regions imagine long-term mobility infrastructure.

But progress is still happening. Dutch company Hardt has set a new EU speed record after its hyperloop transport system reached nearly 53 miles per hour and successfully performed a lane-switch maneuver during recent testing. Hardt believes there are no technical barriers preventing it from reaching speeds of up to 435 mph.

The Future Of Mobility

U.S. firms are busily layering autonomy with new aerial models and relying on AI to hold industrial ground, while slowly advancing more experimental approaches like Maglev and Hyperloops. Across these arenas, governments are beginning to play a more active role, either by underwriting ambitious projects or by clearing regulatory paths. The future is emerging in pieces — high-speed rail here, vertical mobility there, AI-driven vehicles elsewhere. Every piece matters, because the direction we choose now will determine not only how people travel, but how industries and cities align for decades to come. The companies that play this right will thrive.

COMPANIES TO WATCH

[Open Deal] Mercor — An AI training startup connecting firms like  OpenAI and Meta with domain experts is seeking a $10B valuation. $450M ARR. Expanding to software infrastructure for reinforcement learning. Faces legal challenge from Scale AI.

PsiQuantum — A CA-based quantum computing firm raised $1B, boosting its valuation to $7B. It aims to deliver a 1M-qubit quantum computer by 2027, collaborating with Nvidia for integration with AI chips.

Divergent Technologies — The LA-based company secured a $290M round, valuing it at $2.3B. Known for its advanced 3D printing capabilities, it aims to expand production of military components, addressing defense supply chain vulnerabilities.

Robinhood — Filed an SEC application to create Robinhood Ventures Fund I, offering 24M users access to pre-IPO startup investments in sectors like aerospace, AI, and fintech. This move aims to democratize startup investing.

Apex — The LA-based company secured a $200M Series D led by Interlagos, elevating its valuation above $1B. Boosts production capacity and vertical integration, with plans to expand its LA facility and increase spacecraft production by 50%.

Lila Sciences — The US/UK-based autonomous research labs startup raised a $235M Series A to automate drug discovery. Founded by Geoffrey von Maltzahn, Lila's technology is advancing discoveries in life and materials sciences.

Brain Co. — A Jared Kushner co-founded startup focuses on integrating AI into large businesses and governments. Based on strategic partnerships with OpenAI, it raised $30M to develop applications that address AI adoption challenges.

Paramount Skydance — The newly merged entity is now preparing a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. The potential acquisition faces regulatory and financing hurdles, with discussions still in the preliminary stages and no formal talks yet.

MarqVision — An AI-powered computer vision startup combating counterfeiting co-founded by Mark Lee raised $48M to enhance tech and expand globally, targeting larger brands with over 350 customers. Aims for $100M ARR by mid-2027.

SignalPulse — Read the Top signals, Startups + Deals From Last Week

TECH BUZZ DIRECTORY
Featured Products*

SEO Bot — A fully autonomous "SEO Robot" with AI agents for busy founders.

Memelord — Meme Software for marketing memes, tech memes, & sales memes.

Otonomos — Incorporate your Delaware C-corp or tax advantaged foundation and get 5% OFF.

BUZZY TOOLS

Buzzy Tech Tools To Watch & Use

Google — VaultGemma privacy-AI model + AI co-scientist research assistant.

Meta — Leaks Ray-Ban Display + Oakley Sphaera, with AR, sports-focus.

Apple — watchOS 26 with wrist flick gestures + iOS 26 Liquid Glass design.

Microsoft — Free AI chat features in Office apps boost productivity, UX.

SK hynix — HBM4 chips set to double bandwidth for AI data centers.

xAI — Grok 4 Fast in beta is 10x faster, optimizing for quick, simple tasks.

Snap OS 2.0 — Enhances AR glasses apps with AI features, WebXR support.

BUZZY TECH

The Latest Deep Technology & Trends To Watch

Quantum Entanglement in Polaritons — Simulations show entanglement.

SpikingBrain 1.0 — Neuromorphic AI operates 100x faster, uses less data, energy.

Levita Magnetics MARS — AI camera aids less invasive surgery; FDA cleared.

PDGrapher — Model outperforms traditional drug discovery for complex diseases.

PDGrapher AI — IDs multiple disease drivers for individualized cancer therapies.

Clone Robotics — Protoclone V1 androids use fluidic muscles for lifelike movement.

CRYPTO WATCH

Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Push — Advocates like Michael Saylor urge legislation for a US strategic Bitcoin reserve, aiming for 1M bitcoins over five years. Senator Lummis reintroduced the BITCOIN Act to classify Bitcoin as a reserve asset.

PayPal Links — PayPal introduces PayPal Links for p2p payments, enabling users to create personalized, one-time links for transactions. Supporting Bitcoin and Eth, it's initially available in the U.S., with links expiring after 10 days if unclaimed.

Base Token Plans — Coinbase may launch a native Base network token, announced Jesse Pollak. This shift from earlier no-token plans aims to strengthen its Ethereum connections, following others like Kraken's Ink.

Polymarket x Chainlink — Polymarket integrates Chainlink for faster asset price settlements, boosting accuracy amid its governance challenges. Raising funds at a potential $10B valuation, it maintains $1B monthly volume despite declining activity.

Eth Stablecoin Surge — Ethereum's stablecoin supply hit a record $166B, with USDT at $87.8B and USDC at $48B. This surge underscores growing confidence in Ethereum's DeFi infrastructure, potentially boosting DeFi activity and ETH price.

Bitwise AVAX ETF — Bitwise plans to launch an ETF for AVAX, Avalanche's native token, registered in Delaware. With Coinbase as custodian, it will use the CME CF Avalanche–Dollar Reference Rate. Competing firms include Grayscale and VanEck.

MetaMask mUSD — MetaMask has launched mUSD, a stablecoin fully backed by dollar-equivalent assets, with a $18M circulating supply. Users can manage mUSD in-app, with plans for spending via the MetaMask Card by year-end.

SPACE_RACE

SpaceX_Fully reusable Starship planned for 2026, 100 tons to orbit

York Space_Delivered 21 satellites for U.S. military's largest batch

Firefly_Alpha rocket cleared after thermal protection upgrades.

Apex_$200M for satellite production w/ Phase 4 propulsion tech

FOR INVESTORS
Open Deals
Investors– request an intro to startups - invest@techbuzz.ai.

Before we restart our placements of raising startups, we’re sharing an open call to send in your own company. Just shoot us an email with a deck and we may feature you in this bulletin.

For detailed pitch materials, please email invest@techbuzz.ai with your deck.
🔥 — hot deal!
⏰ — leaving soon.

FOR EMPLOYERS
Job Candidates

Employers– request an intro to candidates - jobs@techbuzz.ai