News Summary

Boom Supersonic, an aircraft startup known for developing the world’s fastest airliner, has raised $300 million in a funding round led by Darsana Capital Partners, with participation from Altimeter Capital, Ark Invest, Bessemer Venture Partners, Robinhood Ventures, and Y Combinator. The funds will be used to commercialize its 42-megawatt natural gas turbine, named Superpower, for AI data centers. Crusoe, a data center startup, serves as the launch customer, purchasing 29 turbines for over $1.25 billion to generate more than a gigawatt of power. The turbines, sharing 80% of their parts with Boom’s Symphony jet engine, will provide reliable energy for AI data centers and aid in the return of supersonic travel. The turbines are expected to start delivery in 2027, with production goals set to increase from 1 gigawatt in 2028 to 4 gigawatts by 2030. Profits from the Superpower units will fund further development of Boom’s Overture supersonic aircraft, likened to SpaceX’s Starlink model where profitable ventures fund ambitious projects.