Science Business Today
Intuitive Machines to go public at $1B valuation via SPAC:
Space company Intuitive Machines and SPAC Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. have signed a deal that takes Intuitive Machines public on the NASDAQ with a valuation of $1 billion, according to CNBC.
“As the United States plans its return to the Moon after a 50-year absence, Intuitive Machines is excited to play a critical role in providing technologies and services to establish long-term lunar infrastructure and commerce,” Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Intuitive Machines Kam Ghaffarian says in a statement. “What’s different this time is that the U.S. government has astutely chosen to utilize partnerships with the private sector to accomplish its goals more quickly and more cost-effectively.”
The company is developing advanced space technologies including propulsion systems, lunar mobility vehicles, power plants, and human systems.
“We are in a leading position in the development of lunar space, to be for the Moon what steamships, toll roads and rail companies were to Earth economies,” says Steve Altemus, Co-Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Intuitive Machines.
The company projects annual revenue of $102 million for 2022 up to $291 million for 2023.
“We are building on a nearly 10-year operating history, a solid foundation of contracted business, a highly capital efficient model and fiscal discipline, hallmarks we intend to continue,” says Erik Sallee, company CFO.
BCG to take enviro consultancy Quantis:
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is buying Quantis, an environmental consultancy that focuses on sustainability.
“Bringing together Quantis and BCG is an exciting step in strengthening our ability to help clients protect our planet and transform sustainably,” says BCG CEO Christoph Schweizer in a statement. “Many of the CEOs I speak to want to take action but are looking for the kind of deep expertise our Quantis team offers to solve their complex problems. I am proud to welcome this accomplished and passionate team to BCG.”
Quantis, founded in 2006 , now has over 250 environmental experts and transformation specialists in Europe and the US.
“Combining BCG’s extensive industry knowledge and transformation capability with Quantis’ deep scientific expertise and solid sustainability reputation will create an unstoppable force to drive the shift from business as usual to business at its best,” says Quantis CEO Dimitri Caudrelier.
Besides the Quantis buy, says Schweizer, “we plan to recruit thousands more climate and sustainability experts over the coming years and continuing to expand our network of partners.”
Uber hacked:
Uber was hacked late Thursday afternoon.
Screenshots seem to show full access to much of Uber's systems including security software, Windows domain, Amazon Web Services console, VMware vSphere/ESXi virtual machines, and the Google Workspace admin dashboard for managing the Uber email accounts, according to The New York Times.
The hacker told the paper he was 18 years old.
The hack was via the Slack system and before it was taken down, the hacker sent a message, according to the paper, that said, “I announce I am a hacker and Uber has suffered a data breach.”
In his message, the hacker also said that Uber drivers should be paid more.