Stableton Navigator | Databricks Partners with Amazon, Revolut Launches New Terminal, OpenAI & Bain & Co Expand AI Partnership

Databricks’ new AI partnership is slashing costs, Revolut’s latest gadget processes payments faster than ever, and Europe’s IPO market is back with a bang. But that’s just scratching the surface. With private giants like OpenAI, Stripe, and Plaid are gearing up for big moves, the most exciting developments are still flying under the radar. Let’s dive in…

THIS WEEK’S BREAKING NEWS

Amazon and Databricks join forces

Amazon and Databricks have forged a five-year partnership focused on reducing AI development costs by utilizing Amazon’s in-house Trainium AI chips. These chips offer about 40% cost savings compared to Nvidia’s GPUs, which currently dominate AI infrastructure. Databricks will incorporate Trainium into its Mosaic AI platform, which allows businesses to build or customize large language models (LLMs) efficiently. This partnership also expands existing integrations, enabling businesses to scale their AI applications on AWS while retaining control over their data. Databricks, which acquired MosaicML for $1.3 billion in 2023, aims to provide affordable alternatives for generative AI applications, helping companies optimize AI deployments without sacrificing intellectual property control. This move positions both companies to compete with Microsoft, Snowflake, and Nvidia in the growing AI market. (1)

MARKET UPDATE

IPO revival: Europe back in the game

Europe’s IPO market rebounded strongly in 2024, with H1 proceeds hitting €11.4 billion—more than four times the €2.5 billion raised in 2023. Key listings include Puig Brands (€2.6 billion) and CVC Capital (€2 billion), with London contributing via the Raspberry Pi IPO and new regulatory reforms. Improved investor sentiment and reduced volatility support the momentum, contrasting with weaker IPO activity in Eastern markets. (2)

Generative AI startups get 40% of all VC investment in cloud

Out of the $79.2 billion raised by cloud firms this year, 40% went to generative AI startups, according to Accel. AI “majors” like OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI are leading the charge, raising billions to build foundational models. OpenAI alone secured $18.9 billion, cementing U.S. dominance with 80% of global AI investment. (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

Revolut unveils fast terminal in UK and Ireland

Revolut's new payment terminal, Revolut Reader, offers fast processing times under 3 seconds and settles funds within 24 hours, outperforming typical competitors like Stripe, which settle in 1-3 days. With low transaction fees and Bluetooth connectivity through the Revolut Business app, it aims to attract small businesses and mobile merchants looking for convenient, low-cost solutions for handling payments on the go. (4)

NASA bets on SpaceX, Boeing’s Starliner grounded until 2025

NASA has extended its reliance on SpaceX, ordering additional Crew Dragon flights, while Boeing’s Starliner faces further delays, now postponed until late 2025. The delay stems from technical issues, including thruster overheating and software challenges. SpaceX continues to meet NASA's requirements, providing critical transport services to the International Space Station (ISS) during this period, ensuring no disruption to astronaut missions. (5)

SpaceX pulls off groundbreaking Super Heavy booster catch

SpaceX's fifth Starship launch successfully tested the aerial capture of the Super Heavy booster using the "chopsticks" mechanism, a vital advancement for rapid reusability. This achievement marks a significant milestone in space travel economics, demonstrating the booster's durability and efficiency. The mission underscores SpaceX's commitment to revolutionizing space travel through more frequent and cost-effective launches, paving the way for innovative space logistics. (6)

SpaceX wins $733M Space Force launch contract

SpaceX secured an eight-launch, $733 million contract from the U.S. Space Force as part of its National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 program. The contract, covering fiscal years 2025-2029, involves seven launches for the Space Development Agency and one for the National Reconnaissance Office. The total program, valued at $5.6 billion, includes future bidding opportunities, with SpaceX competing against United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin for these lower-risk missions into near-Earth orbits. The competition is expected to increase as more providers join the bidding. (7)

Preventing rogue AI—Anthropic’s new safety benchmark

Anthropic has introduced an enhanced safety policy aimed at mitigating the risks associated with advanced AI models. The updated Responsible Scaling Policy (RSP) introduces AI Safety Levels (ASLs) to classify risks, ranging from benign models (ASL-1) to those requiring heightened security (ASL-3) due to potential misuse, such as autonomous systems or bioweapon threats. The policy emphasizes pre-deployment testing, intensive red-teaming, and continuous threat modeling to ensure models are responsibly scaled. By establishing these strict safety protocols, Anthropic aims to prevent catastrophic scenarios while maintaining innovation momentum. (8)

Plaid’s new tool accelerates brokerage transfers

Plaid is streamlining the traditionally complex process of moving investments between brokerage platforms with its new “Investments Move” technology. This tool eliminates the need for manual entry via ACATS, reducing transfer times and increasing approval success rates. Already adopted by firms like Public.com and Robinhood, the technology supports firms in retaining assets amid growing competition. It expands Plaid’s financial network, which now encompasses not only bank connections but also comprehensive consumer financial data, further positioning the company as a key player in open finance. (9)

OpenAI and Bain & Co expand AI partnership to sell ChatGPT to businesses

OpenAI, now boasting 1 million business customers including Bain's 13,000 consultants, collaborates with Bain & Co. to develop bespoke AI tools for sectors like retail and life sciences. This partnership sees Bain contributing 50 employees towards creating solutions such as AI-assisted shelf planning and automated document creation, reflecting a growing intersection of technology and industry-specific demands. Bain expects its tech-related revenue, currently at 30%, to reach 50% in the near future, underscoring the strategic emphasis on AI integration. (10)

Stripe reportedly acquires Bridge for $1.1 billion

Stripe has reportedly acquired the stablecoin platform Bridge in a $1.1 billion deal, marking one of the largest acquisitions in the cryptocurrency space. Bridge, founded in 2022, allows businesses to create, store, and send stablecoins, positioning itself as a Web3 alternative to traditional financial systems like SWIFT. This acquisition aligns with Stripe's recent move into supporting stablecoin payments, reinforcing its ambitions to expand crypto-based payment services. The deal signals Stripe's deeper commitment to stablecoin ecosystems and could reshape how businesses handle cross-border transactions using stablecoins. (11)

CHART OF THE WEEK

As companies remain private longer, the U.S. inventory of venture-backed firms has surged past 57,000, signaling a robust pipeline of potential IPOs. The graph shows steady growth across all stages—pre-seed, early-stage, late-stage, and venture growth—highlighting the accumulation of firms delaying public market entry.

While early-stage companies experienced significant expansion between 2015 and 2020, the continued rise in late-stage and growth-stage firms reflects a strategic shift toward larger private rounds or acquisitions before going public. This extended timeline presents both opportunities and challenges, as it builds a backlog of IPO-ready firms but risks market saturation.

With so many companies staying private longer, pre-IPO investments and secondaries offer a compelling opportunity to capture value during these prolonged private phases.

THE UNTOLD UNICORN STORY

Revolut: From travel card to global financial super-app

Revolut's founding story centers on solving a personal frustration with international banking. In 2015, Nikolay Storonsky and Vlad Yatsenko launched the startup with a simple goal: eliminate hidden fees and poor exchange rates. Their MVP, a digital app linked to a payment card offering real-time currency conversion, quickly gained traction. By continuously iterating and adding features—like cryptocurrency trading—they expanded their user base and market reach. Today, Revolut stands as a fintech leader, valued at over $45 billion, thanks to their agile approach and focus on user needs. (13)

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What happens to Stableton’s funds and its investments, the AIF, in the case of a default by Stableton?

Stableton is an established and well-funded specialist investment firm. If Stableton were to cease operations, the AIF’s activities would continue.

Stableton serves as the advisor to the AIF, which is managed by a CSSF-regulated Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) in Luxembourg. The AIFM would act in the best interest of AIF’s investors—even if Stableton could no longer fulfill its role as the advisor.

Furthermore, pursuant to the AIFM Directive on asset segregation, investors’ assets are legally separated from both entities the advisor and the AIFM. This means that investor assets are always held segregated, ensuring there is no commingling of assets and no risk association between AIF’s assets, investors investments, Stableton, and the AIFM. Additional backup measures are in place to ensure continuity.

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WHAT'S NEXT

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Sources

1 - Wall Street Journal, 2 - Finimize, 3 - CNBC, 4 - Silicon Republic, 5 - Boston Herald, 6 - Space News, 7 - Techopedia, 8 - VentureBeat, 9 - Bloomberg, 10 - Wall Street Journal, 11 - Silicon Republic, 12 - CNN, 13 - Thought and Function,

*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.