Don Tappan

🚗 Mobility, AI & Systems Digest From 🤖 robotaxi scale to 🧬 regenerative biology and 🌍 infrastructure shifts — this week shows something important: Scale is replacing speculation. 💬 Quote of the Week “We are called to be architects of the future, not its victims.” — R. Buckminster Fuller 🚖 Future of Mobility 🚕 Waymo CEO predicts 1 million weekly rides by the end of the year. – The Verge 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eV8nVMPA 🏎️ Ferrari Luce: a first look at the Jony Ive and Marc Newson-designed EV – Wallpaper* 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ej9FbFvZ 🚦 Glydways to ‘redefine mass transit’ with autonomous EVs – Electrek.co 🔗 https://lnkd.in/erf5EhFE 🚗 Hyundai is reportedly looking to supply Waymo with 50,000 IONIQ 5 for robotaxis – Electrek.co 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eFr8x5hj 🚖 Pony AI and Toyota roll out mass-produced robotaxis in China – South China Morning Post SCMP 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ecTwkSmJ 💻 Software & Platform Shift 🧠 Rivian was saved by software in 2025 – TechCrunch 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eukcnyFy 📊 Geotab Is Moving From Tracking Fleet Vehicles To Tracking Everything – Forbes 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e9X2dGpa 🌐 Google Chrome ships WebMCP in early preview – VentureBeat 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ebMgRHY8 🔘 Human Factors 🔘 Physical Buttons Are Making a Comeback in EVs – Business Insider 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eMnVk_Yk 🚪 Carmakers Rush to Remove Chinese Code Under New Federal Rules – Autoblog 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ePMqzDCv 🧬 Science & Systems 🧠 Scientists Grew Mini Human Spinal Cords, Then Made Them Repair After Injury – ScienceAlert 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e4Ek6p4h 🌲 Forests are changing fast and scientists are deeply concerned – ScienceDaily 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eyfzWcZH ⚛️ Europe Launches Euro-Q-Exa Quantum Computer – Quantum Computing Report 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eYPcMXt7 📊 Stat of the Week 📈 Global equity funds saw a net inflow of $25.54 billion last week, led by record inflows into European equity funds. Reuters 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eNjzcgsD

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AI isn’t just a computing story. It’s becoming an energy story. This piece looks at the proposed ~9 GW gas power project in Ohio tied to AI data center demand. The scale is staggering. Projects like this highlight how quickly electricity demand from AI could reshape power infrastructure planning and economics. One point that stands out: the cost of reliable, large-scale power for AI may be far higher than many expect. As hyperscalers push for dedicated generation and firm capacity, the traditional model of grid expansion and cost sharing starts to break down. It raises a bigger question for the energy transition: Who ultimately pays for the massive power buildout required to support AI? Worth the read. https://lnkd.in/e36NsBd5

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There’s a massive opportunity in automating industrial manufacturing processes. That’s why we’re backing RobCo in their series C as they scale their physical AI driven robotics platform and expand their U.S. presence. As global labor supply continues to tighten, automation in manufacturing is shifting from “nice to have” to essential. RobCo's Robotics-as-a-Service model removes traditional friction, enabling rapid deployment and real production output in weeks – faster than most B2B software implementation timelines. In Roman Hölzl we immediately saw that rare leader – one who pairs a bold, long-term vision for transformative AI with a relentless focus on real-world productivity today. We couldn’t be more excited to back RobCo as they execute on an ambitious roadmap! Press release: https://lnkd.in/euCx6WX2 Roman Hölzl, Dennis Hauser, Arjan van Staveren, Stefan F. Heidenreich Lightspeed, Sequoia Capital, Kindred Capital VC, Greenfield Partners, Leitmotif, The Friedkin Group, Alexander Schmitt, Luciana Lixandru, Leila Rastegar Zegna, Marc Sieberger, Raz Mangel #Lingotto #LingottoInnovation #PhysicalAI cc Clemente Dadoo Lomeli

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🔌 Even after the One Big Beautiful Bill… I’m doubling down on electrification. Because policy is only the spark — infrastructure writes the future. As an investor, I’ve been tracking the collision of four megatrends: EVs, AI compute, data centers, and grid modernization. And it's clear they all intersect at one bottleneck: shared power infrastructure. 💡 Just look at GM and Redwood Materials. They’re turning EV batteries — both new and second-life — into grid-scale storage to power energy-hungry data centers. Their first installation? A 12 MW / 63 MWh battery system running a 2,000-GPU AI data center in Nevada. It’s now the largest second-life battery deployment in the world. That’s not just innovation — that’s infrastructure arbitrage: Recycled batteries lower cost and emissions Faster deployment bypasses grid bottlenecks Modular systems offer uptime and flexibility for compute loads This reflects the exact thesis I’m backing: the unsexy but essential layer where: Power supply meets compute demand Grid resilience supports 24/7 AI EVs become the backbone of energy storage If you're building solutions around interconnection, modular storage, intelligent load management, or second-life asset reuse — let’s talk. ⚡ Electrification is just getting started. I’m investing where energy meets reality. https://lnkd.in/d7Wk7jAe #OneBigBeautifulBill #Electrification #AIInfrastructure #EnergyStorage #ClimateTech #HardTech #GridModernization #EVBatteries #DataCenters #VentureCapital #PowerTheFuture

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I’m lucky to work alongside colleagues like Richard Fruehauf, who constantly push my thinking. His latest piece unpacks why U.S. robotics and drone manufacturing faces uphill economics, and how public policy can help turn the tide. One key takeaway: 232 tariffs on robotics imports could help reset the economics that are holding back U.S. investment and production. It’s a sharp perspective on how policy can shape the future of advanced tech here at home. Well worth a read: https://lnkd.in/edMPTQPQ Richard Fruehauf, Robert J. Szczerba, Michael Lutzky, Edward Ovando, Karl Sanchack, Herman Herman, Jeff Legault, Phil English, Richard Fruehauf, Ryan Aument, Michael Guido, Sheila Fitzgerald Sterrett, David McCormick

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