Elon’s go-to banker leads SpaceX IPO, SaaSination, Bejing’s robot Boom | Diet TBPN

11 Feb 2026 · 30 min
Episode

11 Feb 2026 · 30 min

0:00

In this episode the hosts riff on a wide‑range of tech‑business news. They start with Michael Grimes – the longtime “go‑to banker” for Elon Musk – who has rejoined Morgan Stanley as chairman of investment banking, a move they argue is the strongest signal that a massive SpaceX IPO could happen this year, with potential fees of $400 million and a $40 billion raise. The conversation then drifts to the recent wave of departures from XAI, including co‑founders and senior safety researchers, and what those exits say about the culture of frontier AI labs. The panel shifts to the broader impact of AI on SaaS and private‑equity firms, noting Apollo’s avoidance of software exposure, the “SaaS apocalypse” narrative, and how AI‑driven agents could upend seat‑based pricing models. A large chunk is devoted to China’s aggressive push into humanoid robotics – detailing joint counts, heights, market maps, funding of $26 billion, and projected shipment volumes that could push the industry into a multi‑billion‑dollar market. Interspersed are lighter‑hearted sidebars: a viral video of streamer Braden Peters being out‑classed by a fraternity leader, Chipotle budgeting jokes, Alphabet’s 100‑year bonds, and a gold‑melting ATM in China. Throughout the episode the hosts blend factual reporting, speculative forecasting, and humor, painting a picture of a tech ecosystem in rapid transition and full of both opportunity and uncertainty.

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