SPACs, or Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, are back – with aerospace & defense tech startups embracing the moment. Merlin, a startup focused on deploying AI into cockpits, is the latest to do so. The company announced a reverse merge with a SPAC led by Inflection Point Asset Management, valuing the company at $800 million pre-money and raise hundred of millions of dollars in proceeds. CEO Matt George joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the prospects of going public.

Armada is a startup focused on movable data center systems in AI computing in remote locations. It all started with a close collaboration with SpaceX, using the Starlink broadband network for connectivity. Co-founder & CEO Dan Wright joins Morgan Brennan to discuss edge computing, partnerships with energy producers and the AI arms race.

Impulse Space is expanding further into space. The in-space services startup has two space tugs in low earth orbit, but an upgraded spacecraft capable of going to geosynchronous orbit will launch this fall. Founder & CEO Tom Mueller was a founding member of SpaceX where his work on propulsion led the way for reusable rocket engines. He joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the new frontier, the startup’s $300M Series C funding round, and the potential for an IPO.