Startup Mars

Strap on the tinfoil folks, because if there is one conspiracy theory that I am 100% onboard with (aside from the near undeniable fact that Teams changes my Zoom default settings and vice versa), it’s that Elon Musk’s vast array of seemingly disparate startups is actually a deliberate, aligned strategy focused on a singular goal – the colonization of Mars.

Musk talks about Mars a ton – that isn’t news to anyone. But the current narrative around the variety of his endeavors is that he is easily distracted, too smart for his own good, politically compromised, etc etc etc.

I am not an Elon apologist by any means (ask anyone who is or feels obligated to suffer my rantings), but when I sit down and look at all he is trying to do at the same time, I can’t help but think that someone so obviously intelligent wouldn’t be doing something so obviously inefficient without a plan.

That plan is Mars.? And everything – everything – he is doing is based on that singular, human-species altering goal.

The Why

Imagine telling investors, "I need billions (trillions?) of dollars to colonize Mars." It’s absurd.

But what if you did it piecemeal?? More importantly, what if there was one operator out there that has cultivated just enough of a cult of personality within the Silicon Valley cult of personality (so meta!) that could convince hundreds of billions of dollars to back a variety of core necessary technologies without shackling it to the greater, seemingly unattainable vision?

Let's break it down, one by one

SpaceX: Getting There

SpaceX is the most obvious piece of the puzzle. It's no secret that Musk's goal with SpaceX is to make humanity a multi-planetary species. The development of the Starship—a fully reusable (and enormous) spacecraft—aims to make space travel affordable and sustainable. It's designed specifically to transport large numbers of people and cargo to Mars, laying the groundwork for future colonies.

Without SpaceX, the dream of Mars colonization remains just that—a dream.

Tesla: Moving Stuff

Mars, a planet devoid of breathable air and lacking (traditional Earth) natural resources necessitates electric transportation. With Tesla, Musk has been perfecting electric vehicles and energy solutions that could function in harsh Martian environments. The company's work on battery technology, energy storage, and solar power integration isn't siloed to usefulness on Earth.

Transportation is fundamental to a Mars colony, and there isn’t any way to do that on Mars without an efficient EV (or at least alternative power) fleet.

SolarCity: Go Juice

Obviously, energy is a critical component for survival on Mars. With SolarCity, now a part of Tesla, Elon has been focusing on solar energy solutions. Solar panels, roof tiles and Power Walls provide the foundation for the energy needed to power habitats, vehicles, and infrastructure on Mars.

Given the planet's lack of traditional energy sources and the distance from the Sun, optimizing solar technology is crucial, and SolarCity's innovations are steps toward making that a reality.

The Boring Company: Real Estate

Mars' surface, lacking the Van Allen belts and a functional atmosphere, ?is bombarded with radiation, making underground habitats the only option for long-term survival. The Boring Company, Musk's tunnel construction venture, could be key to building subterranean living spaces.

Perfecting the modular tech on Earth under the auspices of reducing traffic congestion, the technology is easily adapted for creating habitats and infrastructure beneath the Martian surface.

Starlink: Comms are King

There are no telephone wires, railroad right-of-way, fiber network, or communications towers on Mars.? Colonizing Mars would require robust communication systems, not just with Earth but also between Martian settlers. Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet constellation, aims to provide global internet coverage. Using Earth as the ultimate demo day, Starlink is proving out the feasibility and robustness of a massive non-terrestrial communications system.?

On Mars, a similar network will ensure communication across the colony and with Earth, making it easier to manage resources, relay information, and maintain connections.

X: People Need People Too

Then there is everyone’s favorite lightening rod – X. Musk has made no secret of his vision for a "master app" that combines short-form communication, new media, journalism,? and person-to-person (at least) transaction capabilities. Drawing inspiration from Chinese super-apps like WeChat, X could serve as a vital platform for the Martian colony, facilitating everything from social interaction to news dissemination to financial transactions.

On Mars, where traditional infrastructure is limited, legacy media is non-existent, and comms will be expensive and therefore necessarily brief, such a versatile app could become the backbone of Martian existence, helping centralize multiple aspects of daily life.

Neuralink, Robotics, and Grok: Someone Has to Do All the Work

Having a functional society poses numerous challenges, from limited resources to harsh conditions. Neuralink, Musk's neurotechnology venture, aims to develop brain-machine interfaces that could enhance human capabilities. While the company's immediate goals are medical, if you combine that technology with Tesla’s humanoid robotic program, Optimus, the functional capacity magnification will be critical to over-indexing productivity in a brute force environment, let alone the ability to undertake tasks that are too dangerous for humans given the harsh environment.

Additionally, Musk's interest in AI and robotics could lead to the development of autonomous systems that can provide an exponential assist in building and maintaining the colony.

Cryptocurrency: Money Never Sleeps

One of the biggest challenges of establishing a colony on Mars is the lack of traditional financial infrastructure. With no central bank or Federal Reserve, Mars would need a unique economic system that can operate independently from Earth's financial systems. This is where cryptocurrencies come into play. Every Sci-fi world incorporates a concept of “space credits”, which if you fundamentally break it down, means an unassailable currency, disconnected from the homeworld.? Sounds like the purest expression of DeFi to me.

On Mars, a dedicated cryptocurrency could provide a means for trade and transactions among settlers. The use of blockchain technology would ensure transparency and security, crucial in an environment where trust and resources are scarce. Moreover, with the significant time lag in communication between Earth and Mars, a cryptocurrency-based economy could function autonomously, allowing for seamless transactions without waiting for confirmation from Earth-based financial systems.

?Musk has famously endorsed Dogecoin, playfully referring to it as the "people's crypto."? The most important aspect there is that, Dogecoin, founded as a joke, is imminently malleable.? If your founding principles are a written as a joke, what is stopping anyone from coming in an changing the rules to fit a new, greater purpose?

Fertility: People Beget People

Tech companies aside for a moment, Elon has often expressed concern about declining birth rates on Earth, highlighting the need for population growth to sustain human civilization. This concern naturally extends to the vision of a Martian colony. A sustainable colony on Mars requires not just technological infrastructure but also a robust population willing to reproduce well above the replacement rate - which, given the challenges of an austere environment, are well above the 2.1 seen on Earth.

Without a growing population, the colony would struggle to maintain its workforce, expand its infrastructure, and develop a thriving self-sustaining society.

Where to next? MOAR POWER

So, something this complex isn’t simple enough to be boxed out in total so quickly – there are more holes to fill.

Looking forward, one of the next critical steps for Musk's vision of a sustainable Martian colony could involve modular nuclear power. Energy is the linchpin of any long-term settlement, and while solar power can provide significant energy, it may not be sufficient for all needs, especially during long Martian nights or dust storms that can obscure the Sun for extended periods.

Modular nuclear reactors offer a compact, reliable, and efficient energy source that could complement solar installations. Free of Earth-bound environmental regulations, these small-scale reactors can be transported and installed more easily than traditional nuclear power plants, providing a stable power supply essential for maintaining life support systems, industrial processes, and scientific research on Mars.

Given Musk's focus on cutting-edge technology and sustainable solutions, a foray into nuclear power seems a logical next step in his interplanetary ambitions.

Masking (Musking?) the Master Plan

Musk's public persona is as (generously) eclectic as his business ventures. He's known for his unconventional behavior, from smoking weed on a podcast to selling flamethrowers. I believe his cultivating this quirkiness serves as a smokescreen, making it easier for him to pursue his ambitious goals without attracting undue skepticism.? ?

By presenting his businesses as separate entities, each focused on a specific technological challenge, Musk has attracted funding and talent from across the globe. Investors and the public are more likely to support a company focused on electric vehicles, space exploration, or renewable energy than a single, audacious mission to colonize Mars.?

His ultimate Keyer Soze trick was to convince everyone he could somehow do everything all at once, without sacrificing performance along the way.

A strategic blueprint, disguised as entrepreneurial hubris.

While the "Startup Mars" theory might sound like a conspiracy, it’s grounded in Musk's known ambitions and the technologies his companies are developing. Each venture addresses a critical aspect of living on Mars—transportation, energy, infrastructure, communication, and even human adaptation.

In reality, building a colony on Mars will require an unprecedented level of collaboration, innovation, and funding. Musk has always emphasized the importance of making life multi-planetary, not as a whimsical dream but as a necessary step for the survival of humanity.

Whether or not you buy into the "Startup Mars" theory, one thing is clear: Elon Musk is tackling seemingly insurmountable challenges and his companies are pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation, paving the way for a future that, just a few decades ago, would have been considered pure science fiction.

Leonid Capital Partners invests vital capital into critical National Security initiatives. LCP is a US Department of Defense Trusted Capital Provider investing in start-ups, small- and medium-sized businesses across all industries within the United States. Our commitment is to use our cutting-edge approach to fund businesses working on critical National Security work quickly, safely, and reliably.