News & Updates
The latest news and updates from companies in the WLTH portfolio.
Polymarket prices US-Iran ceasefire by Aug 31 at 53.5% as Knesset dissolves
Israel Election Catalyst Hits Polymarket Ceasefire Ladder -- How Traders Reprice "Effective Ceasefire by Aug 31" On Polymarket's "US x Iran Effective Ceasefire by...? (2 week pause)" ladder market, the leading rung sits at 53.5% for "by August 31," with $543,019 matched and a flat last print. The trigger backdrop is Israel's parliament dissolving ahead of an October election, but the pricing lens here is how traders are distributing probability across the earlier date strikes. Key Takeaways * Polymarket's leading outcome is "Effective ceasefire by August 31?" at 53.5% Yes (46.5% No). * Despite the election catalyst in the news cycle, the market is not paying up for near-term ceasefire timing: July 18 is just 4.7% Yes and July 24 is 15.0% Yes. * The market's resolution date is 2026-08-31 23:59 UTC, with a flat 24h and 7d change (0.0 pp) in the summary stats. Israel's parliament dissolved, setting an October 27 national election. The report frames the vote as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political survival and the wars on Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, and says the Knesset passed late-session laws including party funding and changes to media regulation and conscription policy. Odds Curve & Liquidity Snapshot: 53.5% by Aug 31 on $543K Matched vs 35.0% by Aug 14, 21.5% by Jul 31, 4.7% by Jul 18 This is a price-ladder market: each date is its own binary "by X date?" contract, so "Yes" means an effective ceasefire is achieved by that strike, not that the market settles at a single date. Traders currently imply 53.5% Yes / 46.5% No for "by August 31," versus 35.0% Yes / 65.0% No for "by August 14," and just 21.5% Yes / 78.5% No for "by July 31" (with the shortest-dated "by July 18" at 4.7% Yes / 95.3% No). Even with $543,019 matched, the contract-level move is flat at 53.5% right now, while the historical summary flags a bearish trend with moderate momentum and a reversal_detected=true -- consistent with earlier intraperiod strength fading back below the last-five average (latest 53.5% vs avg_last_5 of 56.7). The contrast is what prediction markets do well: instead of a single headline-driven "ceasefire likely/unlikely" narrative, the ladder forces traders to price the timing curve, and the curve remains heavily discounted for the next one to two weeks despite the broader political catalyst in the background. Watch whether odds migrate from the August 31 rung into earlier strikes (Aug 14 or Jul 31) as new, time-specific signals emerge; a shift there would indicate traders are upgrading near-term timing rather than just maintaining a vague end-of-month probability. Cross-Market Watchlist: How a Shift Into Earlier Strikes Signals Spillover Into Other Polymarket Macro & Crypto Contract If you're tracking whether timing risk is getting pulled forward on Polymarket, it also pays to scan adjacent contracts where traders express broader macro spillovers in cleaner, single-outcome terms. The biggest liquidity is sitting in "Will the U.S. invade Iran before 2027?" (77.0% No, $43,683,415 volume) and "Iran leader end of 2026?" (78.25% Mojtaba Khamenei, $30,175,653), while operational-risk pricing shows up in "Strait of Hormuz traffic returns to normal by July 31?" (98.9% No, $17,359,367). For shorter-dated signal checks, "Iran full airspace closure by...?" (42.5% August 31, $4,254,351) and "Iran announces withdrawal from MOU negotiations by...?" (21.5% August 15, $6,501,894) can move on discrete headlines even when the broader curve stays rangebound. Odds Trend By the Numbers * Platform: Polymarket * Market: US x Iran Effective Ceasefire by...? (2 week pause) * Contract type: Price strike ladder: each rung has separate Yes/No; Yes means the spot price is above that USD strike at settlement. * Resolution window: Aug 31, 2026 (UTC) * Status: Active (open for trading) * Volume: ~$543,019 Top strike rungs +1 more strikes not shown
SpaceX IPO earns millions for US Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler
WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - U.S. Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler multiplied the value of her investment in Elon Musk's SpaceX after she was nominated for the job, earning millions of dollars from the company's record initial public offering, a Reuters review of her financial disclosures showed. Loeffler invested between $1 million and $5 million as of January 3, 2025, in xAI, Musk's AI and social media firm that has since merged with SpaceX, according to a required financial disclosure submitted before she became SBA's administrator. Later in 2025, Loeffler invested again in SpaceX and xAI between $1 million and $5 million, according to a separate financial disclosure covering her investments for all of 2025 that she signed on May 14, 2026. Reuters obtained the form from the SBA on June 12. Loeffler's second investment has not been previously reported. Two independent government ethics attorneys agreed with Reuters' assessment of Loeffler's disclosure. Cabinet members use ranges to declare the value of their assets on their required financial disclosure forms, and they do not disclose the dates of their investments before taking office. SpaceX is a military contractor for the U.S. government. Federal law prohibits cabinet members from participating in decisions involving a company in which they have a financial interest. Public records do not show a financial relationship between SBA and xAI or SpaceX. xAI was not included on the public list of AI tools used by SBA employees in 2025. Loeffler and her team did not respond to multiple requests for comment about her SpaceX investment. VALUE OF SPACEX INVESTMENT SOARS Loeffler's bet on SpaceX paid off. The company priced the biggest-ever U.S. IPO on June 12, valuing the space, satellite and AI provider at $1.77 trillion. Her first investment in xAI would have been worth between $7 million and $2.6 billion on the day of the IPO, depending on the exact amount she invested and the date she made it, said Franco Granda, analyst at data provider PitchBook. The second investment would have been worth between $2.2 million and $25.4 million that day, he said. The earlier the investment, the more it would have been worth at the IPO, he said. xAI's valuation increased by more than 7,000% between its first investment round and January 5, 2025. SpaceX's valuation more than doubled in 2025. At least 10 Trump administration officials listed investments in SpaceX or xAI on their 2025 financial disclosure forms. None of those officials works for the Defense Department. Billionaire Musk, a former Trump adviser, is the founder and CEO of SpaceX. Loeffler initially invested in xAI via a private placement, according to her disclosure form. Private placements are typically open to select individuals and institutions with significant financial resources. Loeffler is a wealthy businesswoman. She was the founding chief executive at Bakkt, a bitcoin trading platform, and spent 16 years working at Intercontinental Exchange, the firm that owns the New York Stock Exchange, according to her LinkedIn profile. She is married to Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeffrey Sprecher. Loeffler briefly represented Georgia in the Senate. The SBA helps entrepreneurs start and build their small businesses, according to the agency website. It connects business owners with lenders and funding to help them recover from natural disasters, among other responsibilities. The Senate confirmed Loeffler as SBA administrator on February 19, 2025. (Reporting by Courtney RozenEditing by Chris Sanders and Rod Nickel)
Polymarket odds: Vance 19.85% in 2028 race as China denies Trump claim
predict.info -- Premium Domain For Sale Domain only: USD 200,000. Prediction platform technology priced separately. predict.info Polymarket Tests 2028 Winner Pricing After China Rejects Trump "Election Interference" Claim On Polymarket's "Presidential Election Winner 2028" market, pricing has shifted toward a slightly weaker front-runner even as the contract remains highly fragmented across candidates and has amassed $662,388,758 in volume. The latest trigger in the news cycle is a report that China rejected Donald Trump's election-interference claim, offering a clear test of how quickly traders translate headline risk into long-dated probabilities. Key Takeaways * Prediction: JD Vance leads the 2028 winner market at 19.85% (Yes 19.85% / No 80.15%) on $662,388,758 volume. * Basis: Despite the Trump-related catalyst, the market's recent tape shows weakening pricing and low volatility rather than a decisive repricing toward any single name. * Timing: This multi-outcome contract resolves on 2028-11-07, while recent performance shows -3.6 pp over both 24h and 7d in the summary stats. A recent article reports that China rejected Donald Trump's claim of election interference, calling the allegation "groundless accusations." The item frames the dispute as a response to Trump's public assertion, with China's denial serving as the central update. 2028 Winner Market Snapshot: $662.4M Volume, Vance 19.85% vs Rubio 14.05% vs Newsom 11.85% as Odds Drift -3.6pp (24h/7d) This is a multi-outcome winner market, so each candidate is its own Yes/No contract and prices should be read as implied probabilities of that specific person winning in 2028 -- not as a single binary on a broader thesis. At the top of the board, JD Vance is priced at Yes 19.85% / No 80.15%, ahead of Marco Rubio at Yes 14.05% / No 85.95% and Gavin Newsom at Yes 11.85% / No 88.15%, which signals dispersion rather than a tight consensus around one clear favorite. The historical summary points to a weakening tape (trend bearish, consensus weakening) with -3.6 pp over both 24h and 7d and an average of 18.2 over the last five observations, consistent with drift lower rather than a sharp headline-driven spike. Even with very large cumulative volume ($662,388,758), the stated low volatility and no reversal_detected suggest traders are updating incrementally, which is typical for long-dated election markets where settlement is far out and day-to-day catalysts often have limited mechanical impact. For a lower-probability tail like Donald Trump, the market is still assigning Yes 1.55% / No 98.45%, indicating that this specific news hook is not being translated into a large near-term jump in his 2028 win probability inside this contract's pricing. Watch whether the bearish/weakening summary persists (another step down from the recent avg_last_5 of 18.2) or whether the leader re-extends toward the prior 19.85% level; either outcome would show whether traders are treating the latest headline cycle as signal or noise in a market that does not settle until 2028-11-07. Beyond 2028: Other Polymarket Contracts Traders Watch for Macro/Crypto Spillovers Into Election Odds Beyond the 2028 winner board, traders often cross-check how Polymarket is pricing nearer-dated political and event risk that can bleed into macro narratives and, eventually, election sentiment. On "Republican Presidential Nominee 2028," Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leads at 49.0% with $675,734,232 in volume, while the leadership-stability market "Next leader out of power before 2027? (No Orban)" has Starmer - UK PM at 98.85% on $66,518,317. For a very different kind of headline-driven flow, "Trump out as President by July 31?" sits at 99.45% (No) and "Will Trump meet with Netanyahu by...?" prices August 31 at 79.5%, showing where traders see short-horizon catalysts versus long-horizon positioning. Odds Trend By the Numbers * Platform: Polymarket * Market: Presidential Election Winner 2028 * Contract type: Price strike ladder: each rung has separate Yes/No; Yes means the spot price is above that USD strike at settlement. * Resolution window: Nov 07, 2028 (UTC) * Status: Active (open for trading) * Volume: ~$662,388,758 Top strike rungs +33 more strikes not shown
SpaceX IPO earns millions for US Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler - AOL
WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - U.S. Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler multiplied the value of her investment in Elon Musk's SpaceX after she was nominated for the job, earning millions of dollars from the company's record initial public offering, a Reuters review of her financial disclosures showed. Loeffler invested between $1 million and $5 million as of January 3, 2025, in xAI, Musk's AI and social media firm that has since merged with SpaceX, according to a required financial disclosure submitted before she became SBA's administrator. Later in 2025, Loeffler invested again in SpaceX and xAI between $1 million and $5 million, according to a separate financial disclosure covering her investments for all of 2025 that she signed on May 14, 2026. Reuters obtained the form from the SBA on June 12. Loeffler's second investment has not been previously reported. Two independent government ethics attorneys agreed with Reuters' assessment of Loeffler's disclosure. Cabinet members use ranges to declare the value of their assets on their required financial disclosure forms, and they do not disclose the dates of their investments before taking office. SpaceX is a military contractor for the U.S. government. Federal law prohibits cabinet members from participating in decisions involving a company in which they have a financial interest. Public records do not show a financial relationship between SBA and xAI or SpaceX. xAI was not included on the public list of AI tools used by SBA employees in 2025. Loeffler and her team did not respond to multiple requests for comment about her SpaceX investment. VALUE OF SPACEX INVESTMENT SOARS Loeffler's bet on SpaceX paid off. The company priced the biggest-ever U.S. IPO on June 12, valuing the space, satellite and AI provider at $1.77 trillion. Her first investment in xAI would have been worth between $7 million and $2.6 billion on the day of the IPO, depending on the exact amount she invested and the date she made it, said Franco Granda, analyst at data provider PitchBook. The second investment would have been worth between $2.2 million and $25.4 million that day, he said. The earlier the investment, the more it would have been worth at the IPO, he said. xAI's valuation increased by more than 7,000% between its first investment round and January 5, 2025. SpaceX's valuation more than doubled in 2025. At least 10 Trump administration officials listed investments in SpaceX or xAI on their 2025 financial disclosure forms. None of those officials works for the Defense Department. Billionaire Musk, a former Trump adviser, is the founder and CEO of SpaceX. Loeffler initially invested in xAI via a private placement, according to her disclosure form. Private placements are typically open to select individuals and institutions with significant financial resources. Loeffler is a wealthy businesswoman. She was the founding chief executive at Bakkt, a bitcoin trading platform, and spent 16 years working at Intercontinental Exchange, the firm that owns the New York Stock Exchange, according to her LinkedIn profile. She is married to Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeffrey Sprecher. Loeffler briefly represented Georgia in the Senate. The SBA helps entrepreneurs start and build their small businesses, according to the agency website. It connects business owners with lenders and funding to help them recover from natural disasters, among other responsibilities. The Senate confirmed Loeffler as SBA administrator on February 19, 2025. (Reporting by Courtney RozenEditing by Chris Sanders and Rod Nickel)
Starship launch fails to take off as SpaceX stock plunges to new low
SpaceX was forced to abort its latest Starship launch just seconds before lift off on Thursday after some of the engines on the world's biggest rocket failed to start. The scrubbed launch came just hours after SpaceX shares fell below their initial public offering (IPO) price of $135 for the first time, marking a 40 per cent drop in value over the last month. The share price fell a further 6 per cent in pre market trading in the minutes following the Starship launch failure. The IPO on 12 June saw SpaceX founder Elon Musk become the world's first trillionaire, though the latest stock slide has seen his net worth slip to $833 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. SpaceX's valuation is strongly tied to the success of Starship, though it is yet to prove itself to be mission ready. The company is relying on the rocket to fulfill a multi-billion-dollar contract with Nasa to send astronauts to the Moon, as well as to grow its own Starlink internet network, which is SpaceX's largest source of revenue. Thursday's launch attempt from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas was the first to carry a payload of next-generation Starlink V3 satellite, which are twice as big as earlier versions and capable of delivering more than 10 times the capacity. "Starship is planned to deploy 20 satellites which will extend solar arrays and antennas and will attempt to connect with the larger Starlink constellation via high-capacity lasers," SpaceX wrote in its mission brief. "The Starlink satellites will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship and are expected to demise upon reentry approximately 20 minutes after deployment." The most recent Starship launch in May saw the 124-metre-tall rocket lift off successfully, before the second stage deployed dummy versions of the Starlink V3 satellites. During the descent of the first stage, multiple engine failures meant the giant rocket crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, leading the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to order an investigation into public safety. The latest engine failure will require some of the engines on Starship's Super Heavy booster to be replaced, according to Mr Musk. "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort," the SpaceX CEO wrote on X following the failed launch attempt. "To be confident of a good flight, two Raptors will be removed and replaced." SpaceX said the next Starship launch attempt will take place "as early as next week", though no specific date has been set.
Starship launch fails to take off as SpaceX stock plunges to new low
SpaceX was forced to abort its latest Starship launch just seconds before lift off on Thursday after some of the engines on the world's biggest rocket failed to start. The scrubbed launch came just hours after SpaceX shares fell below their initial public offering (IPO) price of $135 for the first time, marking a 40 per cent drop in value over the last month. The share price fell a further 6 per cent in pre market trading in the minutes following the Starship launch failure. The IPO on 12 June saw SpaceX founder Elon Musk become the world's first trillionaire, though the latest stock slide has seen his net worth slip to $833 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. SpaceX's valuation is strongly tied to the success of Starship, though it is yet to prove itself to be mission ready. The company is relying on the rocket to fulfill a multi-billion-dollar contract with Nasa to send astronauts to the Moon, as well as to grow its own Starlink internet network, which is SpaceX's largest source of revenue. Thursday's launch attempt from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas was the first to carry a payload of next-generation Starlink V3 satellite, which are twice as big as earlier versions and capable of delivering more than 10 times the capacity. "Starship is planned to deploy 20 satellites which will extend solar arrays and antennas and will attempt to connect with the larger Starlink constellation via high-capacity lasers," SpaceX wrote in its mission brief. "The Starlink satellites will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship and are expected to demise upon reentry approximately 20 minutes after deployment." The most recent Starship launch in May saw the 124-metre-tall rocket lift off successfully, before the second stage deployed dummy versions of the Starlink V3 satellites. During the descent of the first stage, multiple engine failures meant the giant rocket crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, leading the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to order an investigation into public safety. The latest engine failure will require some of the engines on Starship's Super Heavy booster to be replaced, according to Mr Musk. "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort," the SpaceX CEO wrote on X following the failed launch attempt. "To be confident of a good flight, two Raptors will be removed and replaced." SpaceX said the next Starship launch attempt will take place "as early as next week", though no specific date has been set.
Starship launch fails to take off as SpaceX stock plunges to new low
SpaceX was forced to abort its latest Starship launch just seconds before lift off on Thursday after some of the engines on the world's biggest rocket failed to start. The scrubbed launch came just hours after SpaceX shares fell below their initial public offering (IPO) price of $135 for the first time, marking a 40 per cent drop in value over the last month. The share price fell a further 6 per cent in pre market trading in the minutes following the Starship launch failure. The IPO on 12 June saw SpaceX founder Elon Musk become the world's first trillionaire, though the latest stock slide has seen his net worth slip to $833 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. SpaceX's valuation is strongly tied to the success of Starship, though it is yet to prove itself to be mission ready. The company is relying on the rocket to fulfill a multi-billion-dollar contract with Nasa to send astronauts to the Moon, as well as to grow its own Starlink internet network, which is SpaceX's largest source of revenue. Thursday's launch attempt from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas was the first to carry a payload of next-generation Starlink V3 satellite, which are twice as big as earlier versions and capable of delivering more than 10 times the capacity. "Starship is planned to deploy 20 satellites which will extend solar arrays and antennas and will attempt to connect with the larger Starlink constellation via high-capacity lasers," SpaceX wrote in its mission brief. "The Starlink satellites will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship and are expected to demise upon reentry approximately 20 minutes after deployment." The most recent Starship launch in May saw the 124-metre-tall rocket lift off successfully, before the second stage deployed dummy versions of the Starlink V3 satellites. During the descent of the first stage, multiple engine failures meant the giant rocket crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, leading the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to order an investigation into public safety. The latest engine failure will require some of the engines on Starship's Super Heavy booster to be replaced, according to Mr Musk. "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort," the SpaceX CEO wrote on X following the failed launch attempt. "To be confident of a good flight, two Raptors will be removed and replaced." SpaceX said the next Starship launch attempt will take place "as early as next week", though no specific date has been set.
SpaceX postponed a crucial launch - now its stock is set to slide even further below the IPO price
SpaceX's planned 13th Starship V3 rocket launch was scrubbed during its 90-minute take-off window. Shares in SpaceX were set to slide further below their initial public offering price after the spacecraft manufacturer aborted an attempt to launch its Starship rocket. The Texas-headquartered company's stock (SPCX) declined just over 3% in premarket trading on Friday, on the heels of a 3% slide on Thursday, bringing its price down to $126.58 - almost $9 lower than when it launched on the Nasdaq on June 12. The stock is set to lose steam for the fifth day in a row in what was to be the first flight since going public. SpaceX shares ended at $131.11 a share on Thursday, closing the $135 per-share IPO price for the first time. SpaceX's Starship was due for take-off 90 minutes after its launch window opened at 6:45 p.m. Eastern on Thursday. Ten minutes later, CEO Elon Musk confirmed the mission was postponed, following an announcement during a livestream of the event that it had been cut short. "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort. Now offloading propellant. Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days," he wrote in a post on X. Musk later added: "To be confident of a good flight, 2 Raptors will be removed & replaced. Most probable launch timing is early next week." The plan for Starship's 13th flight was to address problems seen during its previous flight, and to carry and deploy 20 Starlink "Version 3" (V3) satellites. The Federal Aviation Administration gave SpaceX the go-ahead for its launch on Monday after closing an investigation into the company's 12th flight, which following a safe lift-off, saw its Super Heavy booster crash into the Gulf of Mexico. The body ordered SpaceX to carry out an investigation that concluded with four actions, including software and hardware updates, to be completed. Analysts at Bernstein, led by Douglas Harned, wrote in a note on Friday that they view Starlink as "the key enabler" of SpaceX's growth in the future, but that it also represents a point of risk. They expect 3,543 launches of the 400-foot rocket in 2031, with about nine in 10 for the purpose of Musk's proposed orbital data centers. -Nora Redmond This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal. (END) Dow Jones Newswires 07-17-26 0605ET Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Leaving Blue Origin for SpaceX? Jeff Bezos Reportedly Puts Employees in 'Golden Handcuffs' With New Equit
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin has reportedly introduced a new equity scheme for its employees that includes an unusual non-compete clause. The clause does not apply to employees in California and Washington due to strict laws against non-competes. However, it still impacts a significant portion of the company's workforce, primarily based in Florida, Texas, and Alabama. Two former SpaceX employees who later joined Blue Origin told Business Insider that their SpaceX stock option agreements did not contain non-compete clauses. Blue Origin did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comments. Blue Origin Employees Disappointed This non-compete clause, which is not common in fast-growing private startups, has raised eyebrows among employment attorneys and wealth managers. It also presents a dilemma for Blue Origin employees, as they risk losing all their gains if they decide to leave for a competitor. Bezos Takes on Musk Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Image via Shutterstock Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.
SpaceX IPO earns millions for US Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler
WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - U.S. Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler multiplied the value of her investment in Elon Musk's SpaceX after she was nominated for the job, earning millions of dollars from the company's record initial public offering, a Reuters review of her financial disclosures showed. Loeffler invested between $1 million and $5 million as of January 3, 2025, in xAI, Musk's AI and social media firm that has since merged with SpaceX, according to a required financial disclosure submitted before she became SBA's administrator. Later in 2025, Loeffler invested again in SpaceX and xAI between $1 million and $5 million, according to a separate financial disclosure covering her investments for all of 2025 that she signed on May 14, 2026. Reuters obtained the form from the SBA on June 12. Loeffler's second investment has not been previously reported. Two independent government ethics attorneys agreed with Reuters' assessment of Loeffler's disclosure. Cabinet members use ranges to declare the value of their assets on their required financial disclosure forms, and they do not disclose the dates of their investments before taking office. SpaceX is a military contractor for the U.S. government. Federal law prohibits cabinet members from participating in decisions involving a company in which they have a financial interest. Public records do not show a financial relationship between SBA and xAI or SpaceX. xAI was not included on the public list of AI tools used by SBA employees in 2025. Loeffler and her team did not respond to multiple requests for comment about her SpaceX investment. VALUE OF SPACEX INVESTMENT SOARS Loeffler's bet on SpaceX paid off. The company priced the biggest-ever U.S. IPO on June 12, valuing the space, satellite and AI provider at $1.77 trillion. Her first investment in xAI would have been worth between $7 million and $2.6 billion on the day of the IPO, depending on the exact amount she invested and the date she made it, said Franco Granda, analyst at data provider PitchBook. The second investment would have been worth between $2.2 million and $25.4 million that day, he said. The earlier the investment, the more it would have been worth at the IPO, he said. xAI's valuation increased by more than 7,000% between its first investment round and January 5, 2025. SpaceX's valuation more than doubled in 2025. At least 10 Trump administration officials listed investments in SpaceX or xAI on their 2025 financial disclosure forms. None of those officials works for the Defense Department.
Microsoft CEO Questions Anthropic's Request Restrictions on Fable AI
Satya Nadella occupies the position of Chairman at The Business Council and Chief Executive Officer & Non-Independent Director at Microsoft Corp. He is also on the board of Starbucks Corp., The University of Chicago and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He previously occupied the position of Member-Technology Staff at Sun Microsystems, Inc. Mr. Nadella received an MBA from The University of Chicago, a graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an undergraduate degree from Mangalore University.
Neural4D AnimeArt Redesigned with Try-Before-Login, Unified Text and Image Input, and Discord Community
Neural4D updates its AI AnimeArt generator with a friction-free try-before-login experience, unified text and image inputs, and a new Discord community. With this redesign, AnimeArt becomes a destination. Creators can explore the full interface, combine text and image prompts, and start tracking motion within minutes, without hitting a paywall." -- Feihu, CEO of Neural4D NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, July 17, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Neural4D, the AI creative platform developed by DreamTech, has launched a comprehensive redesign of AnimeArt, its AI-powered anime character generator. The update introduces a try-before-login experience, a unified input system supporting Text Generation, Image Generation, and Mixed Generation, a new onboarding guide, on-screen credit display, and an official Discord community. What Is AnimeArt AnimeArt is Neural4D's AI anime character generator, built to turn text descriptions and reference images into fully rigged anime-style 3D characters in VRM format. Users can generate characters, apply real-time motion capture through a standard webcam with the built-in Tracking module, and export production-ready models for VTubing, game development, and animation projects. The module sits inside Neural4D Studio, the platform's unified workspace for AI-powered 2D and 3D creation, alongside Image Generation, Video Generation, Text to 3D, and Image to 3D. The redesign touches every part of the AnimeArt experience: how users enter the product, how they compose prompts, how they learn the interface, and how they connect with other creators. Each change addresses a friction point identified from user behavior data and community feedback over the past several months. Try Before You Login The most visible change in this redesign is the removal of the mandatory login wall. Previously, visiting the AnimeArt page meant hitting a sign-in prompt before seeing anything. That barrier is now gone. Any visitor can browse the full interface, zoom and rotate the 3D scene, load sample models, type a prompt, and upload reference images without creating an account. The login prompt now appears only when the user takes a high-commitment action: clicking Generate, hitting Download, switching Background scenes, or changing character outfits. When users do log in, the system preserves everything they have already set up: the prompt text stays, uploaded images remain, and the current model state carries through. There is no reset, no lost work, and no need to start over. This change reflects a broader pattern across creative tools: users want to see the canvas before they commit. For creators evaluating whether AnimeArt fits their workflow, the try-before-login model removes the biggest hurdle to a first impression. One Input Field, Three Generation Ways The previous version of AnimeArt split generation into two separate tabs: one for text and one for images. Users had to choose a path before they could start. The redesign merges both into a single unified input field. Users can now type a descriptive prompt for Text Generation, upload a reference image for Image Generation, or combine both in a single request for Mixed Generation. The last option is the most significant addition: supplying a reference photo alongside a text description lets the model anchor its output to the image while following the style, pose, or detail cues from the prompt. For character designers iterating on a specific look, this removes the need to choose between fidelity and creative direction. The unified input also simplifies the interface. Instead of switching contexts, creators stay in one place and build their prompt incrementally: start with text, add an image, or the other way around. The model resolves the intent from whatever combination the user provides. Onboarding Guide and Tracking Redesign New users arriving in AnimeArt can now access a guided onboarding tour. The entry point is a question-mark icon in the top-right corner of the navigation bar. Clicking it opens a guided modal that walks through the core features: character generation, scene controls, model selection, and the Tracking workflow. The Tracking function itself has received a visual overhaul. The core motion-capture flow remains direct: enter Tracking mode, toggle the control to activate webcam capture, move in front of the camera, and watch the generated character mirror the motion in real time. The updated visual design clarifies each step, making the path from camera input to character animation easier to follow for first-time users. Credit Display and Discord Community Two smaller but practical additions round out the redesign. The top-right corner of the AnimeArt interface now shows the user's credit balance and avatar at all times, removing the need to navigate back to the main site to check remaining credits before generating. This keeps creators focused on their work rather than on account management. Neural4D has also launched an official Discord server for AnimeArt, accessible from the top-left corner of the interface. The server provides a direct channel for feedback, product discussion, and sharing work with other creators. For users who want to go deeper into the 3D creation ecosystem, browse print-ready 3D models from the DIY3D community to find base meshes and printable assets that complement their AnimeArt characters. The redesigned AnimeArt experience is live now at https://www.neural4d.com/anime-art-generator. New users receive 50 free Power credits per week to try all features, including the redesigned AnimeArt module and its Tracking function. Paid plans offer higher concurrency and full commercial usage rights. The official Discord community is open at https://discord.com/invite/hKkrdXntCP. Learn more: https://www.neural4d.com/anime-art-generator Product Hunt: https://www.producthunt.com/products/neural4d About Neural4D Neural4D is an AI-powered creative platform developed by DreamTech, offering a full suite of generative tools including Image Generation, Text to Video, Text to 3D, Image to 3D, and AnimeArt. Built on proprietary spatial intelligence technology, the platform serves creators and businesses across gaming, e-commerce, AR/VR, design, and digital entertainment. Neural4D's mission is to empower creators worldwide to bring their ideas to life, from the first visual concept to the final production-ready asset. DreamTech Company Neural4D email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube TikTok X Other Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
SpaceX Shares Slip Below IPO Price After Starship Launch Abort
New York: SpaceX shares slipped below their initial public offering (IPO) price for the first time after the company aborted the launch of its flagship Starship rocket, extending the stock's losing streak since its market debut. The shares closed at $131.11, down 3.08 per cent for the day and below the IPO price of $135. The decline marked the fifth consecutive losing session since the aerospace company's June 12 listing, which became the largest IPO in history by raising around $86 billion. The selling pressure intensified in after-hours trading, with the stock falling as low as $124 after SpaceX called off the planned launch of its Starship rocket from the company's Starbase facility in South Texas. The Starship test flight was scheduled to lift off during a 90-minute launch window that opened at 6:45 p.m. ET on Thursday. However, minutes after the launch window began, the company announced it was "standing down for the day" after the launch sequence was aborted while the rocket's engines were igniting. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk later said on X that the launch was automatically aborted because some of the engines failed to start. "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort. Now offloading propellant. Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days," Musk said. In a subsequent post, Musk said two Raptor engines would be removed and replaced, with the next launch attempt most likely to take place early next week. The mission marked the 13th test flight of Starship and the second test of the upgraded V3 version of the rocket, which stands about 400 feet tall. The previous V3 test flight in May achieved liftoff, but several engines on the rocket's lower stage failed to reignite, causing the vehicle to fall into the Gulf of Mexico before completing its mission.
Neural4D AnimeArt Redesigned with Try-Before-Login, Unified Text and Image Input, and Discord Community
Neural4D updates its AI AnimeArt generator with a friction-free try-before-login experience, unified text and image inputs, and a new Discord community. With this redesign, AnimeArt becomes a destination. Creators can explore the full interface, combine text and image prompts, and start tracking motion within minutes, without hitting a paywall." -- Feihu, CEO of Neural4D NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, July 17, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Neural4D, the AI creative platform developed by DreamTech, has launched a comprehensive redesign of AnimeArt, its AI-powered anime character generator. The update introduces a try-before-login experience, a unified input system supporting Text Generation, Image Generation, and Mixed Generation, a new onboarding guide, on-screen credit display, and an official Discord community. What Is AnimeArt AnimeArt is Neural4D's AI anime character generator, built to turn text descriptions and reference images into fully rigged anime-style 3D characters in VRM format. Users can generate characters, apply real-time motion capture through a standard webcam with the built-in Tracking module, and export production-ready models for VTubing, game development, and animation projects. The module sits inside Neural4D Studio, the platform's unified workspace for AI-powered 2D and 3D creation, alongside Image Generation, Video Generation, Text to 3D, and Image to 3D. The redesign touches every part of the AnimeArt experience: how users enter the product, how they compose prompts, how they learn the interface, and how they connect with other creators. Each change addresses a friction point identified from user behavior data and community feedback over the past several months. Try Before You Login The most visible change in this redesign is the removal of the mandatory login wall. Previously, visiting the AnimeArt page meant hitting a sign-in prompt before seeing anything. That barrier is now gone. Any visitor can browse the full interface, zoom and rotate the 3D scene, load sample models, type a prompt, and upload reference images without creating an account. The login prompt now appears only when the user takes a high-commitment action: clicking Generate, hitting Download, switching Background scenes, or changing character outfits. When users do log in, the system preserves everything they have already set up: the prompt text stays, uploaded images remain, and the current model state carries through. There is no reset, no lost work, and no need to start over. This change reflects a broader pattern across creative tools: users want to see the canvas before they commit. For creators evaluating whether AnimeArt fits their workflow, the try-before-login model removes the biggest hurdle to a first impression. One Input Field, Three Generation Ways The previous version of AnimeArt split generation into two separate tabs: one for text and one for images. Users had to choose a path before they could start. The redesign merges both into a single unified input field. Users can now type a descriptive prompt for Text Generation, upload a reference image for Image Generation, or combine both in a single request for Mixed Generation. The last option is the most significant addition: supplying a reference photo alongside a text description lets the model anchor its output to the image while following the style, pose, or detail cues from the prompt. For character designers iterating on a specific look, this removes the need to choose between fidelity and creative direction. The unified input also simplifies the interface. Instead of switching contexts, creators stay in one place and build their prompt incrementally: start with text, add an image, or the other way around. The model resolves the intent from whatever combination the user provides. Onboarding Guide and Tracking Redesign New users arriving in AnimeArt can now access a guided onboarding tour. The entry point is a question-mark icon in the top-right corner of the navigation bar. Clicking it opens a guided modal that walks through the core features: character generation, scene controls, model selection, and the Tracking workflow. The Tracking function itself has received a visual overhaul. The core motion-capture flow remains direct: enter Tracking mode, toggle the control to activate webcam capture, move in front of the camera, and watch the generated character mirror the motion in real time. The updated visual design clarifies each step, making the path from camera input to character animation easier to follow for first-time users. Credit Display and Discord Community Two smaller but practical additions round out the redesign. The top-right corner of the AnimeArt interface now shows the user's credit balance and avatar at all times, removing the need to navigate back to the main site to check remaining credits before generating. This keeps creators focused on their work rather than on account management. Neural4D has also launched an official Discord server for AnimeArt, accessible from the top-left corner of the interface. The server provides a direct channel for feedback, product discussion, and sharing work with other creators. For users who want to go deeper into the 3D creation ecosystem, browse print-ready 3D models from the DIY3D community to find base meshes and printable assets that complement their AnimeArt characters. The redesigned AnimeArt experience is live now at https://www.neural4d.com/anime-art-generator. New users receive 50 free Power credits per week to try all features, including the redesigned AnimeArt module and its Tracking function. Paid plans offer higher concurrency and full commercial usage rights. The official Discord community is open at https://discord.com/invite/hKkrdXntCP. Learn more: https://www.neural4d.com/anime-art-generator Product Hunt: https://www.producthunt.com/products/neural4d About Neural4D Neural4D is an AI-powered creative platform developed by DreamTech, offering a full suite of generative tools including Image Generation, Text to Video, Text to 3D, Image to 3D, and AnimeArt. Built on proprietary spatial intelligence technology, the platform serves creators and businesses across gaming, e-commerce, AR/VR, design, and digital entertainment. Neural4D's mission is to empower creators worldwide to bring their ideas to life, from the first visual concept to the final production-ready asset. DreamTech Company Neural4D email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube TikTok X Other Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
SpaceX aborts Starship launch seconds before liftoff
WASHINGTON: SpaceX's Starship rocket aborted its 13th flight test just seconds before liftoff from its launch site in Texas on Thursday after several of its 33 Raptor engines failed to ignite during the final countdown. CEO Elon Musk said the company was assessing the issue but expected to make another launch attempt early next week, provided the necessary checks were completed. Shares of SpaceX, which went public last month, fell about 3% in aftermarket trading following the scrubbed launch. The stock ended at US$131.11 on Thursday, closing below its IPO price of US$135 for the first time since listing. "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort," Musk said in a post on X, without disclosing the number of engines on the Super Heavy rocket that did not start. "To be confident of a good flight, 2 Raptors will be removed & replaced. Most probable launch timing is early next week." The launch abort came less than a second before Starship's planned liftoff from Starbase, SpaceX's company town in south Texas, at 5:45pm CT (2245 GMT). The rocket's engines ignited but cut off shortly after. "We did trigger a hold on the booster that aborted our liftoff as we were starting to light those Raptor engines," said SpaceX spokesman Dan Huot, speaking on the company's live stream after the launch was scrubbed. - Reuters
SpaceX IPO earns millions for US Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler By Reuters
WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - U.S. Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler multiplied the value of her investment in Elon Musk's SpaceX after she was nominated for the job, earning millions of dollars from the company's record initial public offering, a Reuters review of her financial disclosures showed. Loeffler invested between $1 million and $5 million as of January 3, 2025, in xAI, Musk's AI and social media firm that has since merged with SpaceX, according to a required financial disclosure submitted before she became SBA's administrator. Later in 2025, Loeffler invested again in SpaceX and xAI between $1 million and $5 million, according to a separate financial disclosure covering her investments for all of 2025 that she signed on May 14, 2026. Reuters obtained the form from the SBA on June 12. Loeffler's second investment has not been previously reported. Two independent government ethics attorneys agreed with Reuters' assessment of Loeffler's disclosure. Cabinet members use ranges to declare the value of their assets on their required financial disclosure forms, and they do not disclose the dates of their investments before taking office. SpaceX is a military contractor for the U.S. government. Federal law prohibits cabinet members from participating in decisions involving a company in which they have a financial interest. Public records do not show a financial relationship between SBA and xAI or SpaceX. xAI was not included on the public list of AI tools used by SBA employees in 2025. Loeffler and her team did not respond to multiple requests for comment about her SpaceX investment. VALUE OF SPACEX INVESTMENT SOARS Loeffler's bet on SpaceX paid off. The company priced the biggest-ever U.S. IPO on June 12, valuing the space, satellite and AI provider at $1.77 trillion. Her first investment in xAI would have been worth between $7 million and $2.6 billion on the day of the IPO, depending on the exact amount she invested and the date she made it, said Franco Granda, analyst at data provider PitchBook. The second investment would have been worth between $2.2 million and $25.4 million that day, he said. The earlier the investment, the more it would have been worth at the IPO, he said. xAI's valuation increased by more than 7,000% between its first investment round and January 5, 2025. SpaceX's valuation more than doubled in 2025. At least 10 Trump administration officials listed investments in SpaceX or xAI on their 2025 financial disclosure forms. None of those officials works for the Defense Department. Billionaire Musk, a former Trump adviser, is the founder and CEO of SpaceX. Loeffler initially invested in xAI via a private placement, according to her disclosure form. Private placements are typically open to select individuals and institutions with significant financial resources. Loeffler is a wealthy businesswoman. She was the founding chief executive at Bakkt, a bitcoin trading platform, and spent 16 years working at Intercontinental Exchange, the firm that owns the New York Stock Exchange, according to her LinkedIn profile. She is married to Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeffrey Sprecher. Loeffler briefly represented Georgia in the Senate. The SBA helps entrepreneurs start and build their small businesses, according to the agency website. It connects business owners with lenders and funding to help them recover from natural disasters, among other responsibilities. The Senate confirmed Loeffler as SBA administrator on February 19, 2025.
SpaceX falls further in premarket after Starship test flight aborted
SpaceX's stock fell further on Friday, a day after it aborted a test flight for its Starship rocket at the last second, and amid choppy post-IPO trading. The aerospace giant was expected to launch its Starship mega rocket within a 90-minute window at 5:45 p.m. in Texas on Thursday, but an engine ignition failure forced SpaceX to scrub the launch. "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort," billionaire founder Elon Musk said in a post on X. "Now offloading propellant. Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days." SpaceX was last seen down 3.5% in premarket trading, after falling more than 3% in after hours trading. Musk later added in a post that 2 Raptors will be removed and replaced, and that a launch is planned again for early next week. Investors are watching the company's rocket tests more closely after it raised a record $85.7 billion in the biggest initial public offering ever in June, pricing shares at $135. SpaceX's shares have soared and dipped since its stock market debut.
SpaceX IPO earns millions for US Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler
WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - U.S. Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler multiplied the value of her investment in Elon Musk's SpaceX after she was nominated for the job, earning millions of dollars from the company's record initial public offering, a Reuters review of her financial disclosures showed. Loeffler invested between $1 million and $5 million as of January 3, 2025, in xAI, Musk's AI and social media firm that has since merged with SpaceX (SPCX.O), opens new tab, according to a required financial disclosure submitted before she became SBA's administrator. Later in 2025, Loeffler invested again in SpaceX and xAI between $1 million and $5 million, according to a separate financial disclosure covering her investments for all of 2025 that she signed on May 14, 2026. Reuters obtained the form from the SBA on June 12. Loeffler's second investment has not been previously reported. Two independent government ethics attorneys agreed with Reuters' assessment of Loeffler's disclosure. Cabinet members use ranges to declare the value of their assets on their required financial disclosure forms, and they do not disclose the dates of their investments before taking office. SpaceX is a military contractor for the U.S. government. Federal law, opens new tab prohibits cabinet members from participating in decisions involving a company in which they have a financial interest. Public records do not show a financial relationship between SBA and xAI or SpaceX. xAI was not included on the public list of AI tools, opens new tab used by SBA employees in 2025. Loeffler and her team did not respond to multiple requests for comment about her SpaceX investment. VALUE OF SPACEX INVESTMENT SOARS Loeffler's bet on SpaceX paid off. The company priced the biggest-ever U.S. IPO on June 12, valuing the space, satellite and AI provider at $1.77 trillion. Her first investment in xAI would have been worth between $7 million and $2.6 billion on the day of the IPO, depending on the exact amount she invested and the date she made it, said Franco Granda, analyst at data provider PitchBook. The second investment would have been worth between $2.2 million and $25.4 million that day, he said. The earlier the investment, the more it would have been worth at the IPO, he said. xAI's valuation increased by more than 7,000% between its first investment round and January 5, 2025. SpaceX's valuation more than doubled in 2025. At least 10 Trump administration officials listed investments in SpaceX or xAI on their 2025 financial disclosure forms. None of those officials works for the Defense Department. Billionaire Musk, a former Trump adviser, is the founder and CEO of SpaceX. Loeffler initially invested in xAI via a private placement, according to her disclosure form. Private placements are typically open to select individuals and institutions with significant financial resources. Loeffler is a wealthy businesswoman. She was the founding chief executive at Bakkt, a bitcoin trading platform, and spent 16 years working at Intercontinental Exchange, the firm that owns the New York Stock Exchange, according to her LinkedIn profile. She is married to Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeffrey Sprecher. Loeffler briefly represented Georgia in the Senate. The SBA helps entrepreneurs start and build their small businesses, according to the agency website. It connects business owners with lenders and funding to help them recover from natural disasters, among other responsibilities. The Senate confirmed Loeffler as SBA administrator on February 19, 2025. Reporting by Courtney Rozen Editing by Chris Sanders and Rod Nickel Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * Suggested Topics: * Artificial Intelligence Courtney Rozen Thomson Reuters Courtney Rozen reports on the world's largest technology companies from Washington, D.C., focusing on the relationship between the tech industry and the U.S. government. She reported on DOGE and the federal workforce during the first year of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term. Prior to joining Reuters, she was a White House correspondent at Bloomberg Government. She graduated from American University with a master's degree in journalism.
SpaceX IPO earns millions for US Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler
Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - U.S. Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler multiplied the value of her investment in Elon Musk's SpaceX after she was nominated for the job, earning millions of dollars from the company's record initial public offering, a Reuters review of her financial disclosures showed. Loeffler invested between $1 million and $5 million as of January 3, 2025, in xAI, Musk's AI and social media firm that has since merged with SpaceX, according to a required financial disclosure submitted before she became SBA's administrator. Later in 2025, Loeffler invested again in SpaceX and xAI between $1 million and $5 million, according to a separate financial disclosure covering her investments for all of 2025 that she signed on May 14, 2026. Reuters obtained the form from the SBA on June 12. Loeffler's second investment has not been previously reported. Two independent government ethics attorneys agreed with Reuters' assessment of Loeffler's disclosure. Cabinet members use ranges to declare the value of their assets on their required financial disclosure forms, and they do not disclose the dates of their investments before taking office. SpaceX is a military contractor for the U.S. government. Federal law prohibits cabinet members from participating in decisions involving a company in which they have a financial interest. Public records do not show a financial relationship between SBA and xAI or SpaceX. xAI was not included on the public list of AI tools used by SBA employees in 2025. Loeffler and her team did not respond to multiple requests for comment about her SpaceX investment. VALUE OF SPACEX INVESTMENT SOARS Loeffler's bet on SpaceX paid off. The company priced the biggest-ever U.S. IPO on June 12, valuing the space, satellite and AI provider at $1.77 trillion. Her first investment in xAI would have been worth between $7 million and $2.6 billion on the day of the IPO, depending on the exact amount she invested and the date she made it, said Franco Granda, analyst at data provider PitchBook. The second investment would have been worth between $2.2 million and $25.4 million that day, he said. The earlier the investment, the more it would have been worth at the IPO, he said. xAI's valuation increased by more than 7,000% between its first investment round and January 5, 2025. SpaceX's valuation more than doubled in 2025. At least 10 Trump administration officials listed investments in SpaceX or xAI on their 2025 financial disclosure forms. None of those officials works for the Defense Department. Billionaire Musk, a former Trump adviser, is the founder and CEO of SpaceX. Loeffler initially invested in xAI via a private placement, according to her disclosure form. Private placements are typically open to select individuals and institutions with significant financial resources. Loeffler is a wealthy businesswoman. She was the founding chief executive at Bakkt, a bitcoin trading platform, and spent 16 years working at Intercontinental Exchange, the firm that owns the New York Stock Exchange, according to her LinkedIn profile. She is married to Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeffrey Sprecher. Loeffler briefly represented Georgia in the Senate. The SBA helps entrepreneurs start and build their small businesses, according to the agency website. It connects business owners with lenders and funding to help them recover from natural disasters, among other responsibilities. The Senate confirmed Loeffler as SBA administrator on February 19, 2025. (Reporting by Courtney RozenEditing by Chris Sanders and Rod Nickel)
SpaceX IPO earns millions for US Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler
Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - U.S. Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler multiplied the value of her investment in Elon Musk's SpaceX after she was nominated for the job, earning millions of dollars from the company's record initial public offering, a Reuters review of her financial disclosures showed. Loeffler invested between $1 million and $5 million as of January 3, 2025, in xAI, Musk's AI and social media firm that has since merged with SpaceX, according to a required financial disclosure submitted before she became SBA's administrator. Later in 2025, Loeffler invested again in SpaceX and xAI between $1 million and $5 million, according to a separate financial disclosure covering her investments for all of 2025 that she signed on May 14, 2026. Reuters obtained the form from the SBA on June 12. Loeffler's second investment has not been previously reported. Two independent government ethics attorneys agreed with Reuters' assessment of Loeffler's disclosure. Cabinet members use ranges to declare the value of their assets on their required financial disclosure forms, and they do not disclose the dates of their investments before taking office. SpaceX is a military contractor for the U.S. government. Federal law prohibits cabinet members from participating in decisions involving a company in which they have a financial interest. Public records do not show a financial relationship between SBA and xAI or SpaceX. xAI was not included on the public list of AI tools used by SBA employees in 2025. Loeffler and her team did not respond to multiple requests for comment about her SpaceX investment. VALUE OF SPACEX INVESTMENT SOARS Loeffler's bet on SpaceX paid off. The company priced the biggest-ever U.S. IPO on June 12, valuing the space, satellite and AI provider at $1.77 trillion. Her first investment in xAI would have been worth between $7 million and $2.6 billion on the day of the IPO, depending on the exact amount she invested and the date she made it, said Franco Granda, analyst at data provider PitchBook. The second investment would have been worth between $2.2 million and $25.4 million that day, he said. The earlier the investment, the more it would have been worth at the IPO, he said. xAI's valuation increased by more than 7,000% between its first investment round and January 5, 2025. SpaceX's valuation more than doubled in 2025. At least 10 Trump administration officials listed investments in SpaceX or xAI on their 2025 financial disclosure forms. None of those officials works for the Defense Department. Billionaire Musk, a former Trump adviser, is the founder and CEO of SpaceX. Loeffler initially invested in xAI via a private placement, according to her disclosure form. Private placements are typically open to select individuals and institutions with significant financial resources. Loeffler is a wealthy businesswoman. She was the founding chief executive at Bakkt, a bitcoin trading platform, and spent 16 years working at Intercontinental Exchange, the firm that owns the New York Stock Exchange, according to her LinkedIn profile. She is married to Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeffrey Sprecher. Loeffler briefly represented Georgia in the Senate. The SBA helps entrepreneurs start and build their small businesses, according to the agency website. It connects business owners with lenders and funding to help them recover from natural disasters, among other responsibilities. The Senate confirmed Loeffler as SBA administrator on February 19, 2025. (Reporting by Courtney RozenEditing by Chris Sanders and Rod Nickel)