Share

cover art for Will Helsing's $18 Billion Valuation Reshape Defense Tech?

GREY Journal Daily News Podcast

Will Helsing's $18 Billion Valuation Reshape Defense Tech?

CNBC reported that Helsing raised $1.8 billion at an $18 billion valuation, positioning the company as a European counterpart to Anduril. The funding equips Helsing to finance research and development, certifications, field trials, and working capital for milestone based government contracts. Anduril Industries, founded by Palmer Luckey, provides a comparison point for venture backed defense software outcomes. Rising European defense budgets and NATO’s two percent of GDP guideline are shaping demand for software centric systems. Startups face long sales cycles and strict security requirements, often partnering with primes like BAE Systems, Airbus, Thales, Leonardo, and Rheinmetall. The round sets a visible benchmark for late stage defense software valuations in Europe and heightens expectations for delivery capacity and security readiness.

Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/



More episodes

View all episodes

  • Will Quantum IPOs Finally Arrive After Earnings?

    01:06|
    Quantinuum emphasized adoption of its trapped-ion hardware and software stack and highlighted enterprise use through Azure Quantum and Amazon Braket. Infleqtion reported growth in quantum sensing, clocks, networking, and neutral-atom computing with ongoing government contracts. Public comparables IonQ, Rigetti, and D-Wave face investor focus on backlog conversion, margins, and cash discipline. Cloud marketplaces remain central to demand aggregation and procurement. A balanced customer mix and increasing software and services contribution support more predictable revenue. Investors will prioritize recurring revenue indicators, partner ecosystems, and milestones that translate technical progress into business KPIs.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/
  • Will Palantir's GSA Challenge Reshape Federal AI Procurement?

    01:11|
    GSA published a draft AI acquisition rule to standardize federal procurement of AI systems, including documentation, testing, and data governance clauses. Palantir asked GSA to withdraw the draft, citing risks to proprietary information and concerns about data rights. The company urged outcome-based requirements focused on performance, limitations, and safeguards. GSA requested public input on scoping disclosures and aligning the draft with existing cybersecurity and software assurance requirements. Procurement experts warned about potential conflicts across agencies and pricing risks tied to data rights. The final rule will influence proposal strategies, compliance investments, and pricing models for government contractors. Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/
  • What Do Airbnb's Earnings Signal for Travel Demand?

    01:16|
    Airbnb reported a revenue and earnings beat and issued strong third quarter guidance, according to CNBC, sending shares up about 9 percent after hours. Investors will watch nights and experiences booked, average daily rate, gross booking value, and take rate to assess momentum. The outlook implies resilient summer demand that can support host occupancy and pricing. Competitive responses from Booking Holdings, Expedia Group, and hotels will indicate whether strength is sector wide. Cost discipline and an asset light model position Airbnb to invest in trust and host tools. Founders should monitor regulatory risk, currency effects, and consumer price sensitivity as the season unfolds.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/
  • Can States And VC Rebuild Americas Defense Industrial Base?

    01:11|
    States are offering grants, tax credits, site support, and workforce programs to recruit and scale defense tech manufacturing. Venture firms including a16z, Lux Capital, DCVC, and Founders Fund are investing alongside state incentives, aligning with Pentagon initiatives like the Defense Innovation Unit, the Office of Strategic Capital, and Replicator. The CHIPS and Science Act’s $52.7 billion and Defense Production Act Title III funding are expanding supplier and manufacturing capacity. Companies such as Anduril Industries, Shield AI, and Skydio are integrating autonomy software with production lines and navigating ITAR, testing, and cybersecurity. States are providing SBIR matching and university labs to bridge prototyping to low-rate production. Founders are advised to secure testing access, align early with acquisition pathways, and build exportability and CMMC compliance into products.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/
  • What Will SpaceX's First Earnings Signal For Starlink?

    01:12|
    SpaceX is set to release its first earnings report as a public company. Investors will watch Starlink metrics such as subscriber growth, churn, and average revenue per user, as well as equipment subsidies and payback periods. They will examine launch cadence, reuse economics, and pad capacity to assess margin durability. Management updates on Starship testing, regulatory approvals, and capital expenditures will shape cash flow expectations. Revenue mix across government and commercial customers will indicate concentration risk. Competitive pressure from Project Kuiper and others, plus regulatory variables, will remain execution factors.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/
  • Will Rising Treasury Yields Pressure Startup Valuations Next Quarter?

    01:14|
    CNBC reported that a chief investment officer warned rising U.S. bond yields could derail the stock rally. Higher Treasury yields lift discount rates, compress equity valuations, and raise borrowing costs tied to SOFR and prime. Venture-backed startups face pricier venture debt with more warrants and tighter covenants, while equity rounds can turn flat or down as public comps reset. IPO timing may slip as investors favor cash-generative companies, shifting boards toward runway extensions and selective M&A. Corporate treasury teams are moving more cash into short-term Treasury bills and government money market funds to earn yield with liquidity. Founders are watching the Federal Reserve's policy path, inflation data, labor reports, and Treasury issuance, since moves in the 2-year and 10-year Treasurys shape financing conditions and exit windows.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/
  • Will Skinny Fed Accounts Open Payments to Fintechs?

    01:00|
    The Federal Reserve controls master account access to payment services like Fedwire and ACH, with 2022 guidelines creating a three tier review for insured banks, uninsured but supervised institutions, and novel charters. A Congressional Research Service report describes a skinny master account concept that would grant limited services to certain nonbanks under strict limits and collateral. Courts have upheld the Fed’s discretion in access decisions, including in the Custodia Bank case. FedNow launched in 2023 and RTP continues to grow, giving operators more connectivity options. For founders, direct access could cut costs and counterparty risk but would require strong compliance and could face caps and collateral. Congress may consider legislation or policy to define skinny accounts, and Reserve Banks would implement procedures if adopted.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/
  • Will SpaceX's AI Spend Squeeze Post IPO Margins?

    01:02|
    Bloomberg reported that SpaceX’s first earnings after its IPO showed higher AI spending that narrowed margins. Management said the investments fund compute clusters and model development to improve Starlink routing, operations, and manufacturing. Starlink growth and a strong launch backlog continued, but near term profitability reflected AI costs. Space constraints include chip supply and power needs for data centers. The company outlined targeted goals in network performance and factory throughput. Investors will watch how quickly AI translates into efficiency, higher ARPU, and margin recovery.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/
  • How Would a Strait of Hormuz Reopening Move Markets?

    01:02|
    U.S. equities hit record levels as investors priced in a potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, reducing perceived energy supply risk. The S&P 500 closed at a record, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite also advanced. Oil benchmarks Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate edged lower, and energy volatility indicators cooled. Lower fuel costs could aid airlines and logistics operators and reduce surcharges across freight. Finance and procurement teams are reassessing hedges and contracts, and investors are watching inflation data and Federal Reserve commentary later this month for rate signals.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/