The SPAC Comeback, Military AI, & Future of Defense Tech 8/22/25
SPACs, or Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, are back – with aerospace & defense tech startups embracing the moment. Merlin, a startup focused on deploying AI into cockpits, is the latest to do so. The company announced a reverse merge with a SPAC led by Inflection Point Asset Management, valuing the company at $800 million pre-money and raise hundred of millions of dollars in proceeds. CEO Matt George joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the prospects of going public.
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Hyperscalers for the Edge, Movable Data Centers, & The AI Arms Race with Armada CEO Dan Wright 8/21/25
Armada is a startup focused on movable data center systems in AI computing in remote locations. It all started with a close collaboration with SpaceX, using the Starlink broadband network for connectivity. Co-founder & CEO Dan Wright joins Morgan Brennan to discuss edge computing, partnerships with energy producers and the AI arms race.
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Impulse Space’s Geosynchronous Update, $300M Series C Round & IPO Prospects with Impulse Space CEO Tom Mueller 8/7/25
Impulse Space is expanding further into space. The in-space services startup has two space tugs in low earth orbit, but an upgraded spacecraft capable of going to geosynchronous orbit will launch this fall. Founder & CEO Tom Mueller was a founding member of SpaceX where his work on propulsion led the way for reusable rocket engines. He joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the new frontier, the startup’s $300M Series C funding round, and the potential for an IPO.
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Firefly Aerospace CEO Jason Kim on IPO debut, pathway to profitability 8/7/25
The IPO market heads to space today as Firefly Aerospace, a small & medium launch rocket maker, debuts on the Nasdaq. In what’s expected to be 2025’s biggest American space tech listing, the company is looking to list between $41 and $43 apiece for a $6.3 billion valuation. CEO Jason Kim joins Morgan Brennan ahead of trading to discuss the IPO, the company’s pathway to profitability, and how lunar missions play a role.
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Apple’s Emergency Services, Physical AI & The Fight for Spectrum with Globalstar CEO Paul Jacobs 7/31/25
Apple's had its biggest revenue growth since December 2021—but it also has a space play in its back pocket. Apple owns a 20% stake in Globalstar, the satellite company that gives iPhones their space-based emergency service communications. Globalstar CEO Paul Jacobs joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the promise of satellite communications, physical AI and the fight for spectrum.
“Manifest Space” hosted by CNBC’s Morgan Brennan focuses on the billionaires and brains behind the ever-expanding opportunities beyond our atmosphere. Brennan features conversations with the mega moguls, industry leaders, and startups in today’s satellite, space, and defense industries looking to invest in the next frontier and guides listeners on how to get in. Sit back, relax, and prepare for liftoff in “Manifest Space.”
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