Starcloud (@Starcloud_Inc1) recently made history by launching a satellite with an NVIDIA H100 into orbit — the first time a GPU that powerful has ever operated in space. It's the first step toward building AI data centers in orbit, powered by continuous sunlight and cooled by radiating heat into deep space. Their approach could one day rival the world's biggest data centers while using less energy, zero fresh water, and far lower emissions. YC's @aaron_epstein visited Starcloud's HQ, where co-founders @philipjohnston, @EzraFeilden, and @Adi_Oltean explained how they built a working prototype in just 15 months — and why big tech is racing to space for AI compute.

Jupiter captured by JWST

Fable is so insanely good. Deserves the hype.

$NVDA is hiring an Orbital Datacenter System Architect. Probably nothing.

SpaceX has a heavy-lift monopoly for 5 years, full stop. In 10, no. On Moonshots #268, Starcloud CEO Philip Johnston @PhilipJohnston gives host Peter Diamandis @PeterDiamandis a precise window. Falcon 9 is already booked out to 2028. The US government reserved 20 launches and pushed commercial customers out. Right now there is no alternative for heavy payloads. Johnston names only one credible challenger to the upper stage: Stoke Space. Everyone else is further behind. Gwynne Shotwell @Gwynne_Shotwell has guided the Starship cadence that extends the lead, but Johnston is explicit that the moat is time-boxed. For investors, that is a trade with an expiry. The monopoly rent is real for 5 years, then the landscape opens. Anyone underwriting SpaceX-dependent launch access should price that cliff Philip @ 92:23. The monopoly with an expiry date: podcastalpha.substack.com/p/… Source: Moonshots with Peter Diamandis - youtube.com/watch?v=XjOLz--C…

Doing my part to contribute to the advent of orbital datacenters

One Starship launch equals 10 megawatts of compute in orbit. On Moonshots #268, Starcloud CEO Philip Johnston @PhilipJohnston tells host Peter Diamandis @PeterDiamandis the math for Star Cloud 3: a 200-kilowatt, three-ton spacecraft built to fit Starship's payload ejection dispenser. Fifty units fit per launch. The chassis is already welded, and Johnston shows it on camera. This is where Starcloud's roadmap couples directly to SpaceX. Gwynne Shotwell @Gwynne_Shotwell has guided Starship toward high launch cadence, and every flight at that cadence adds 10 MW of orbital data center capacity. The investable milestone is not the 50-year vision. It is SC3 proving unit economics by 2030 to 2032, the window that fits an institutional fund's life. Starship cadence is the variable that makes or breaks the ramp Philip @ 79:45. The roadmap that fits a fund: podcastalpha.substack.com/p/… Source: Moonshots with Peter Diamandis - youtube.com/watch?v=XjOLz--C…

Thanks for the merch! @Starcloud_

Thanks for the merch! @Starcloud_

Dyson Swarms remain the default outcome for the Solar System.

I came to the US for the first time 20 years ago. Grateful to now call this exceptional country home🙏 Happy Birthday America! 🇺🇸🚀 (At the time I thought this was the White House😅)

In 10 years, most new compute gets built in space. In 50, nearly all of it. On Moonshots #268, Starcloud CEO Philip Johnston @PhilipJohnston gives host Peter Diamandis @PeterDiamandis a tiered timeline. Within 10 years, most new compute capacity deploys to orbit, yet under 5% of the installed base is there, the same curve as Norway's EV fleet: most new car sales electric while the total fleet is still mostly gas. In 50 years, 99% of compute is in space. Eric Schmidt @ericschmidt has argued AI's energy demand will outrun what terrestrial grids can supply, which is the exact pressure that pushes compute off-planet. The near-term claim, not the 50-year one, is the investable part. SC3 must show economics by 2030 to 2032 to anchor institutional capital to the migration Philip @ 90:48. The migration timeline: podcastalpha.substack.com/p/… Source: Moonshots with Peter Diamandis - youtube.com/watch?v=XjOLz--C…

Almost 90 new unicorns have been minted so far this year — here they are techcrunch.com/2026/07/05/al…

We need more teracorns!

While we’re on the subject of overtaxation leading to revolutions 🇺🇸… youtu.be/YhCS1vB5aFI?is=SqGL…

Thanks for choosing America @PhilipJohnston! 🫡🙏🏼🦅 And congratulations to @StephenM for transitioning to Czar of highly-skilled immigration — now go find us more of these brilliant future Americans Stephen! 😂😂😂😂