Issue #11

Alibaba wants to deliver via rocket, Europe places faith in Hyperloop, Abu Dhabi building eSports island, and more.

News from April 4 - April 11, 2024

Alibaba Wants To Deliver Via Rocket 

Alibaba has teamed up with Space Epoch, a Chinese rocket company, to enable worldwide deliveries in under an hour via rocket.

The proposed “Yuanxing-1” rocket could carry up to ten tons of cargo, with early tests suggesting potential for offshore recovery.

Skepticism remains over the economic viability and technical feasibility of rocket deliveries, especially for low-value items. Actualizing this plan would require a number of major breakthroughs, effectively leapfrogging SpaceX’s established tech.

Source

Abu Dhabi Building eSports Island 

Abu Dhabi is set to host the world’s first eSports island after receiving a $280 million investment from the company True Gamers.

The island, located between Al Bandar and Al Dana along Al Raha beach, will feature luxury hotels, high-tech gaming venues, and professional training facilities. 

The initiative aims to attract international talent and support local gamers, with facilities featuring state of the art gaming PCs, rest areas, and access to balanced and nutritional food. Over 60% of Abu Dhabi’s population are gamers, resulting in the Middle East having one of the highest gaming mobile app downloads in the world.

Anton Vasilenko, CEO of True Gamers: “True Gamers conducted a comprehensive market analysis of the MENA region’s eSports landscape and the global eSports industry’s growth trajectory before developing plans for the eSports island. This in-depth analysis gives us confidence that the proposed business model will be instrumental in bringing eSports Island to life.”

Source

Europe Places Faith In Hyperloop

Europe’s longest center to test hyperloop has opened in the Netherlands, potentially ushering in a new era in transportation.

Hyperloop involves capsules floating on magnetic fields in low-pressure tubes, offering speeds of around 435 miles per hour. That would mean a trip from London to Edinburgh would take just 40 minutes, compared to an 8 hour drive.

The technology has long been a subject of contention, with some, such as Elon Musk, praising it as the future. Others are more pessimistic and say it’s unfeasible, pointing to its slow development. The new center in the Netherlands signals that the transportation may come sooner than expected.

Center’s Director: “I expect by 2030 you will have the first hyperloop route, maybe five kilometers (three miles) in which people will actually be transporting passengers.”

Source

Bulletin Board

• Boeing: We’re Sorry, Take $160M. Boeing is paying Alaska Airlines $160 million due to the infamous 737 Max door issue that grounded planes, affecting the airline’s operations and financial performance. Alaska Airlines predicts its quarterly losses will double, attributing part of the financial strain to the month it took to get the grounded planes back in service. Source  
• Tesla Will Unveil Robotaxi. Elon Musk plans to unveil a Tesla robotaxi on August 8, marking Tesla's first fully autonomous vehicle amidst promises of self-driving capabilities that currently need driver supervision. This reveal comes as Waymo, a competitor in autonomous driving, is already expanding its self-driving taxi service in Los Angeles and Northern California. Source
• New Subscription Service: EVs. Starting in 2025, a new subscription service in Southeast Asia will provide electric vehicles (EVs) for just $6 a day, beginning with a pilot in Singapore. Helixx Technologies’ innovative approach ensures affordable access to electric cars and vans, complete with insurance and maintenance, without any upfront fees. The service features instant vehicle replacement and swappable battery packs, catering especially to businesses requiring constant vehicle use, such as delivery and taxi services. Analysts believe this model could significantly disrupt the automotive industry by enhancing mobility for underprivileged communities. Source
• Solar Power From Space May Happen. Space Solar, a UK startup, is advancing space-based solar power, aiming to beam clean energy to Earth from orbit. They've achieved a "world first" in 360-degree wireless power transmission, using satellites with solar panels and mirrors to convert sunlight to radio waves. Despite challenges like scale and safety, the project has UK government and European Space Agency support. Paul Bate, UK Space Agency's chief, called this "a game-changer" in harnessing space power for Earth's benefit. Source
• Moon Mining Is Becoming Reality. Interlune, a startup co-founded by an astronaut, is set to mine Helium-3 from the moon, a key atom for nuclear fusion and quantum computing, abundant on the moon but rare on Earth. With $18 million in funding, Interlune plans a 2026 prospecting mission to gauge Helium-3 levels, aiming for full operations by 2030. Alexis Ohanian, venture capitalist and Interlune investor: “the space economy is something we can actually talk about with a straight face now, and I think some of the smartest people on the planet are making those efforts.” Source

Disclaimer: This blog offers insights into international business and global events for informational purposes only. It is not intended as investment or business advice. WeavePay is not liable for any decisions made based on the content provided.

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