Stableton Navigator | SpaceX’s Mars Plan, OpenAI’s Potential $2,000 Model Rollout, and Safe Superintelligence Raises $1B

The pace of change is relentless. This week, we explore SpaceX's ambitious plans, OpenAI’s bold moves in AI pricing, and a $1 billion raise that’s setting the stage for safer AI. Big shifts are happening across industries, and the impact is hard to ignore. Let’s dive into the stories shaping the future…

THIS WEEK’S BREAKING NEWS

We're going to Mars—soon!

Elon Musk revealed that SpaceX’s Starship aims to begin human missions to Mars by 2026. The ambitious timeline hinges on successful Starship launches, including plans for multiple test flights. Musk believes the key to sustainable Mars colonization lies in rapid Starship innovation and scaling reusable spacecraft technology. (1)

MARKET UPDATE

Can $1 billion solve AI’s biggest safety concerns?

OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever’s new AI safety-focused startup, SSI, has raised $1 billion in funding. The venture aims to ensure AI advancements prioritize safety and ethical development. Investors are drawn by the urgency to address AI risks as the technology scales rapidly, especially with the backing of such a prominent AI leader​. (2)

AI startups falling behind as Big Tech dominates

AI startups are struggling to compete with the massive spending by Big Tech on AI development. Companies like Microsoft and Google dominate with investments in infrastructure, talent, and research, leaving smaller AI firms struggling to scale. The growing resource gap could hinder innovation and market competitiveness in the AI space. (3)

PORTFOLIO & CO-INVESTMENT UPDATE

Discover opportunities to connect with leading global pre-IPO unicorns

Through Stableton’s portfolio products and co-investment program, you can explore some of the most promising unicorns before they go public.

Contact us today to learn more about accessing pre-IPO deals and portfolios.

PORTFOLIO NEWS

New AI models likely won’t be cheap

OpenAI’s next-generation AI models could cost users as much as $2,000 per instance. These advanced models promise significant performance boosts but come with higher infrastructure demands. As AI becomes more critical across industries, rising costs could limit access for smaller companies, emphasizing the growing divide in AI affordability and scalability. (4)

$450M-backed Claude takes on OpenAI in enterprise

Anthropic's new Claude Enterprise targets businesses, offering enhanced security and reliability. The AI startup, which recently raised $450 million, aims to compete with OpenAI in the enterprise sector. Claude promises better data protection, appealing to organizations concerned about privacy, as Anthropic seeks to capitalize on the growing corporate demand for AI solutions. (5)

Revolut launches new BillPay tool for businesses

Revolut Business, now generating €461 million in global annual revenue, has launched its Billpay feature for Irish businesses. With €774 million in monthly transactions processed in Ireland and onboarding over 550 new businesses each month, Revolut continues to expand its services, streamlining payments and financial operations for its growing user base of 28 million globally. (6)

AI in gaming: a16z says Discord is the future

Andreessen Horowitz’s partner Joshua Lu highlights how AI is radically transforming the video game industry, while predicting that Discord will be the future hub for gaming communities. AI is enhancing game development and player interaction, and Discord's AI-driven tools are set to lead the evolution of immersive, social gaming experiences, placing the platform at the heart of gaming's AI revolution. (7)

STABLETON NEWS

We celebrate a year of enhanced private market access with fundcraft 

We’re proud to mark the first anniversary of our partnership with fundcraft, a collaboration that has transformed how we provide access to private market investments. Over the past year, fundcraft’s cutting-edge platform has allowed us to simplify the investment process, making it easier and more transparent for you to invest in late-stage growth companies.

Together, we’ve made significant strides, investing in over 25 tech unicorns and bringing us closer to democratizing private market opportunities for all.

Learn more about our Unicorn Top 20 Strategy here.

CHART OF THE WEEK

Fundraising for secondaries is hitting new highs, with 2024 predicted to reach a record $140 billion. While primary buyout capital has seen some ups and downs over the years, secondary capital is steadily gaining momentum. The sharp increase in secondary fundraising, especially in the last few years, signals growing investor confidence in the secondary market as a smart place to allocate capital. It’s clear that more and more capital is flowing into secondaries, making it a key area to watch in the private equity landscape.

THE UNTOLD UNICORN STORY

From frustration to fortune: How Canva simplified design for all

Canva was born from Perkins’ frustration with cumbersome design tools while teaching design at university. She envisioned a platform that would simplify the process for non-designers. Starting with a focus on creating school yearbooks, Canva evolved into a global design platform, now valued at over $40 billion. The company offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, with millions of templates and design elements available for everything from social media posts to marketing materials. Canva's rapid rise is a testament to its mission of making design accessible, attracting over 170 million users globally.

Fun Fact: In 2012, Canva co-founder Melanie Perkins learned kiteboarding just to attend Bill Tai's MaiTai event in Maui, where networking and sports mix. Her efforts paid off—she connected with investors, including Hollywood stars Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson, and secured a $3 million seed round for Canva. (9)

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Are Morningstar Indexes or Swissquote invested in Stableton?

No, Morningstar Indexes and Swissquote are not invested in Stableton. It is a purpose-driven collaboration focused on innovation. The Stableton Unicorn Index combines Stableton’s experience in VC-backed growth equity and institutional-grade investment solutions with Morningstar’s expertise in data and analytics, whereas Swissquote is Stableton’s strategic partner to launch the Stableton Unicorn Index AMC. 

Learn more about the Stableton Unicorn Index AMC here.

EVENTS

Will you be around?

Let us know so we can say hello!

• Invest Europe VC Forum - Amsterdam (September 25-26)

• Private Equity Insights DACH - Munich (October 8)

• UAE - Abu Dhabi/Dubai (October 22-24)

And, of course, we’re always happy to have you over at our main office in Zurich, Switzerland.

WHAT'S NEXT

Want to get ahead of the curve and transform your portfolio?

For more information on how we provide access to growth equity and pre-IPO investments, visit our website.

Sources

1 - Space, 2 - Reuters, 3 - Bloomberg, 4 - Inc, 5 - TechCrunch, 6 - Silicon Republic, 7 - TechCrunch, 8 - Medium, 9 - Yahoo Finance

*Available only to qualified investors under Swiss law. This opportunity is available solely to investors meeting the criteria of qualified investors as defined by Swiss financial regulations. Additional details will be provided upon verification of this status.