SoftBank and Nvidia circle Skild AI at a $14B valuation
SoftBank and Nvidia are reportedly in talks to invest >$1 billion in Skild AI at about a $14 billion valuation, nearly triple its mid-2025 level. Skild builds “foundation models for robots” rather than hardware. If it closes, Skild joins the top tier of robotics-AI platforms. Evidence: sourced media reporting; no official announcement yet.
What happened
SoftBank + Nvidia are discussing a >$1b round valuing Skild AI at ~$14b.
Skild (founded 2023) by ex-Meta AI researchers, focused on general-purpose AI for robots.
Existing backers include Amazon and Lightspeed; step-up from ~$4.7b valuation earlier this year.
Why it matters
Capital is paying software-style multiples for “robot brains”, not just hardware.
Nvidia deepens its role as core robotics infrastructure; SoftBank gets another flagship AI asset.
A handful of model platforms could become standards for industrial/consumer robots, concentrating data and bargaining power.
For investors
Direct exposure to Skild is limited; theme accessed via Nvidia, cloud platforms, industrial adopters.
The valuation step-up becomes a benchmark when pricing other robotics-AI deals.
Platform dependence risk rises as robots rely on few model providers; diversified AI-stack exposure looks more prudent.
Read more: Reuters (Dec 8, 2025)
Radiant raises $300m+ to mass-produce portable microreactors
Radiant has raised >$300m just six months after its Series C to scale 1MW portable microreactors and build its first factory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Targets: defence, disaster response, remote industry, and digital infrastructure (including data centers). First reactor tests are planned for 2026. Evidence: company announcement + Reuters; no commercial deployments yet.
What happened
Radiant raised $300m+ new capital to accelerate commercialisation.
Funding supports an R-50 microreactor factory in Oak Ridge and Kaleidos 1MW testing at Idaho National Lab in 2026.
Signed deals include 20 reactors for Equinix and a first-of-its-kind U.S. military base deployment.
Why it matters
One of the largest raises in microreactors, moving from concepts to factories.
Target customers—defence, disaster response, data centers—tie nuclear directly to energy security and AI power demand.
If successful, Radiant could make “nuclear as a product” (repeatable units) rather than bespoke megaprojects.
For investors
For LPs, Radiant is a live example of venture-scale capital backing licensed nuclear assets.
Public exposure is indirect: component suppliers, HALEU fuel, defence primes, data-center operators.
Key diligence: licensing milestones, cost vs diesel, and credit quality of defence/digital infra offtakers.
Read more: Radiant Nuclear (Dec 17, 2025)
Blue Current, Gridware, ZincFive: $165m+ into grid & battery plumbing
A December roundup highlights three notable raises: Blue Current’s $80m+ Series D for silicon solid-state batteries, Gridware’s $55m Series B for continuous grid monitoring, and ZincFive’s $30m Series F for nickel-zinc batteries serving AI data centers and mission-critical power. Evidence: trade-press aggregator summarising company announcements.
What happened
Blue Current: >$80m Series D extension led by Amazon for silicon composite solid-state batteries (EV + stationary).
Gridware: $55m Series B (incl. Tiger Global, Generation IM) for pole-mounted grid sensors and analytics.
ZincFive: $30m Series F for nickel-zinc battery systems backing data centers and critical infrastructure.
Why it matters
Battery capital is shifting toward stationary storage, data centers, and grid resilience, not just EV range.
Investors are seeding multiple chemistries and grid tools—solid-state, NiZn, grid sensing—rather than one “winner.”
AI infrastructure and climate adaptation are converging: power for compute and fire-prone grids is the same problem.
For investors
Climate exposure now spans storage hardware, power electronics, and grid software, beyond classic solar/wind.
Public angles: utilities, hyperscale data-center operators, and listed suppliers to these platforms.
Watch customer mix, manufacturing scale-up risk, and how “climate” revenue performs in downturns.
Read more: Battery Power Online (Dec 23, 2025)
“Craziest IPO ever?” SpaceX hype, Google's stake, and the IPO window
Investors are calling a potential SpaceX 2026 IPO—rumoured $25–30b raise at $1T+ valuation—the “craziest IPO ever.” Alphabet’s ~$900m, ~7% stake from 2015 could be worth ~$111b at a $1.5T price. Bloomberg suggests a successful listing may help unlock up to $2.9T of other long-private “centicorns.” Evidence: media reporting; no IPO filing yet.
What happened
Reports point to a 2026 SpaceX IPO, raising $25–30b at $1T+ valuation.
Alphabet’s ~$900m stake (~7%) could be worth ~$111b at $1.5T.
Bloomberg estimates the deal could reopen the IPO window for ~$2.9T of large private companies.
Why it matters
SpaceX now sits valuation-wise alongside top AI and cloud platforms, blurring space vs “core tech.”
Listed space names have already traded on IPO sentiment rather than fundamentals.
A SpaceX listing could reset LP expectations on liquidity timing for big private holdings.
For investors
For LPs, this is a test of mark-to-cash conversion: how quickly and at what final multiple.
Public allocators should expect tight allocations and high volatility if/when the deal prices.
Indirect exposure runs through Alphabet, suppliers, ground infrastructure, and other SpaceX-adjacent platforms.
Read more: Business Insider (Dec 11, 2025), Bloomberg via Yahoo Finance (Dec 10, 2025)
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