Startup ecosystem, venture capital, and tech entrepreneurship in APAC
Elon Musk is reportedly in talks to merge SpaceX, xAI, and Tesla - a move that would create a $800B founder-controlled empire spanning rockets, AI, and EVs. It's the inverse of what public markets have demanded for decades: GE, J&J, and others split up to escape the "conglomerate discount." The difference? Private capital structures let billionaire founders avoid that penalty.
Tesla will end production of its Model S and Model X in Q2 2026, reallocating Fremont factory capacity to Optimus humanoid robots. The move comes as automotive revenue declined 3% year-over-year to $24.9B in Q4 2025, with the company planning to double CapEx to $20B - entering negative cash flow territory.
KeySmart's Gen 3 SmartCard supports both Apple FindMy and Google Find Hub, addressing a real cross-platform problem. The rechargeable card lasts 11 months and costs $40 - notable given most wallet trackers lock users into one ecosystem. Worth watching if enterprise mobility teams manage mixed device fleets.
The Renpho Lynx joins a crowded field of Oura alternatives targeting users tired of recurring fees. At $170 with no subscription, it's cheaper than RingConn ($299) or Ultrahuman ($349). The trade-off: basic sleep and heart rate tracking with minimal insights.
Elon Musk is reportedly in talks to merge SpaceX, xAI, and Tesla - a move that would create a $800B founder-controlled empire spanning rockets, AI, and EVs. It's the inverse of what public markets have demanded for decades: GE, J&J, and others split up to escape the "conglomerate discount." The difference? Private capital structures let billionaire founders avoid that penalty.
Tesla will end production of its Model S and Model X in Q2 2026, reallocating Fremont factory capacity to Optimus humanoid robots. The move comes as automotive revenue declined 3% year-over-year to $24.9B in Q4 2025, with the company planning to double CapEx to $20B - entering negative cash flow territory.
KeySmart's Gen 3 SmartCard supports both Apple FindMy and Google Find Hub, addressing a real cross-platform problem. The rechargeable card lasts 11 months and costs $40 - notable given most wallet trackers lock users into one ecosystem. Worth watching if enterprise mobility teams manage mixed device fleets.
The Renpho Lynx joins a crowded field of Oura alternatives targeting users tired of recurring fees. At $170 with no subscription, it's cheaper than RingConn ($299) or Ultrahuman ($349). The trade-off: basic sleep and heart rate tracking with minimal insights.
SpaceX is in advanced merger discussions with xAI, according to Bloomberg sources, with Nevada entities formed January 21 to facilitate the deal. Elon Musk confirmed via X, marking his latest consolidation play after Tesla-SolarCity and xAI-X. Combined with potential Tesla involvement ahead of SpaceX's 2026 IPO, the stack could hit $3T valuation.
WIRED's annual Valentine's roundup follows the standard playbook: Lego sets, digital frames, and flowers. The list reflects broader consumer tech trends - interactive gifts are up, affiliate revenue drives recommendations, and the $450B global gifting market increasingly favors experiences over objects. Worth noting: what's missing tells you as much as what's included.
Entry-level mechanical watches from Hamilton, Orient, and Seiko are finding an audience among buyers tired of smartwatch obsolescence. The trend mirrors the mechanical keyboard movement - people paying for objects that don't need charging. Worth noting: this is a consumer preference shift, not a technology story.
D-Wave completed its acquisition of Yale spinout Quantum Circuits for $550M on January 20, adding error-corrected gate-model quantum systems to its commercial annealing platform. The move positions D-Wave as the only vendor offering both quantum approaches, with gate systems targeting 2026 availability alongside $30M in recent enterprise deals.
Ian's Shoelace Site is a 20-year-old hobby project about tying shoes faster. No funding, no enterprise angle, no APAC tech story. The search results contain zero developments relevant to our readership.
Amazfit's Active Max delivers multi-week battery life and offline mapping for $170, directly challenging Garmin's sub-$200 dominance. For enterprise wellness programs seeking Android wearables without iOS lock-in, the trade-offs matter: no LTE, single size only, advanced features paywalled.