SpaceX’s True Value Debate, Microsoft’s New Front in Agent Data Wars, Mercury CEO on $200M Raise

Corporate data wars are intensifying as tech giants like Microsoft restrict third-party access to semantic layers, impacting how enterprise software providers like Databricks integrate with tools like Power BI. These semantic layers, which standardize data definitions, are becoming critical for AI agents to operate accurately and cost-effectively. Meanwhile, SpaceX’s valuation remains a point of contention; a bottoms-up analysis suggests a valuation closer to $678 billion, significantly lower than the $1.7 trillion figures circulating in some markets. In the fintech sector, Mercury recently secured $200 million in Series D funding, highlighting a broader shift toward multi-product platforms. Despite market volatility affecting public fintech companies, the startup ecosystem in San Francisco remains energized by the rapid development of AI, with expectations that upcoming mega-IPOs will drive further liquidity and innovation across the industry.