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🎙EP 19: While We Argue About Electricity, Google Is Moving Compute to Space. Southeast Asia Has 36 Months to Wake Up.
THIS WEEK'S REALITY CHECK
Google just published research that makes every data center in Southeast Asia look obsolete.
Project Suncatcher: Space-based AI data centers hitting cost parity with terrestrial operations by 2035. Launch costs dropped from $10,000 to $1,500 per kilogram. SpaceX is targeting $200/kg.
This isn't science fiction. It's a $100 billion economic shift happening right now—and Southeast Asia has exactly 24-36 months to position itself as the ground station hub or watch the value flow elsewhere.
This episode breaks down why orbital compute is inevitable, what it means for AI and agriculture in the region, and the moves founders need to make before the infrastructure moats lock in.
WHAT WE COVER
🚀 The Economics That Just Flipped
Launch costs: $10K → $1.5K per kg (and falling to $200/kg by 2035)
Why Google's betting on orbital over terrestrial
8x more solar efficiency + free cooling in vacuum of space
How SpaceX made the impossible economically viable
☀️ Project Suncatcher Breakdown
What Google's actually building (and why now)
Technical challenges: maintenance, thermal radiation, data latency
Why StarCloud just launched NVIDIA-powered mini data center into orbit
The radiation hardening problem (and how it's getting solved)
🌾 The $400B Agriculture Angle Nobody's Connecting
How satellite-based Earth observation transforms Southeast Asian farming
Thailand could gain $8-12B annually from precision agriculture
Real-time insights: soil health, planting windows, pest prediction
Why AcerX raised $30M+ to build this infrastructure now
🏗️ Infrastructure Gets Its God's-Eye View
Mining companies using orbital imaging for mineral exploration
Utilities gaining real-time grid monitoring capabilities
Why Southeast Asia's equatorial position = massive strategic advantage
Ground station networks as the next critical infrastructure moat
💰 Who's Building What (And Who's Getting Funded)
AcerX (Singapore): $30M+ for satellite data platforms
One Orbit: $12M for environmental monitoring
LunaSat (Malaysia): Affordable small satellite manufacturing
Planet Labs: $500M raised, largest Earth observation constellation
⏰ The 24-36 Month Window
Why regional coordination matters right now
What happens when infrastructure moats lock in
Five tactical moves for AI, agriculture, and infrastructure founders
Policy frameworks that need to exist yesterday
KEY QUOTES
"While Malaysia debates water usage for data centers and Singapore worries about electricity grids, Google's preparing to bypass all of it with orbital compute." - Kim
"Southeast Asia is either positioning itself as the ground station hub for the orbital economy, or it's watching $100 billion in economic value flow elsewhere." - Kevin
"Agriculture in this region is a $400 billion industry that's been fundamentally inefficient for centuries. Space-based analytics running in orbit and beaming down real-time insights changes everything." - Kim
"The window for Southeast Asia to position itself in this ecosystem is 24-36 months. After that, the players are locked in and we're customers, not builders." - Kevin
"I have to give credit where it's due: Elon Musk basically came in and inspired everyone to look at space as economically viable. Nobody was thinking about private sector space before SpaceX." - Kevin
FEATURED DATA POINTS
🚀 Launch cost trajectory: $10,000/kg (2005) → $1,500/kg (2025) → $200/kg target (2035)
☀️ Solar collection efficiency: 8x more productive in space than terrestrial panels
💰 Economic opportunity: $100B+ potential GDP contribution to Southeast Asia
🌾 SEA agriculture market: $400B annually
📊 Thailand agriculture gains: $8-12B potential annual productivity increase
⚡ Power advantage: Constant solar (if positioned in dawn-dusk synchronous orbit)
❄️ Cooling advantage: Thermal radiation in vacuum = no water consumption
💸 Funding activity:
AcerX: $30M+ raised (Singapore satellite data platforms)
One Orbit: $12M raised (environmental monitoring)
Planet Labs: $500M raised (largest Earth observation constellation)
⏱️ Latency advantage: 1-7ms orbital (vs 150ms trans-Pacific)
🛰️ StarCloud: NVIDIA-powered orbital data center launched November 2025
TACTICAL TAKEAWAYS FOR FOUNDERS
If you're building AI:
Map which workloads could migrate to orbital compute (training jobs especially)
30-40% cost reduction potential on frontier model training
Build relationships with space tech companies now (AcerX, One Orbit)
Factor orbital into your Series B infrastructure assumptions
If you're in agriculture:
Pilot satellite data integration immediately (don't wait for perfect tech)
Partner with companies deploying Earth observation analytics
Operational knowledge compounds—5-year head start matters
Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia = massive precision agriculture TAM
If you're infrastructure/utilities:
Real-time satellite analytics for grid monitoring, pipeline integrity
Ground station partnerships should be strategic priority
Asset tracking, disaster resilience, environmental compliance
Government engagement needed now for spectrum/site allocation
For all founders:
Don't assume compute stays terrestrial forever
Engage policy conversations on orbital infrastructure early
Build optionality: not all-in on space, but not ignoring it
The companies learning to operationalize space-based insights now win in 2030
For VCs:
Space tech is no longer government-only domain
Launch costs dropped to venture-backable levels
Regional companies competing against Silicon Valley with 1/10th the capital
Ground station infrastructure = strategic moat worth backing
RESOURCES MENTIONED
📄 Google X: Project Suncatcher Research Paper
📄 SpaceX Launch Cost Analysis 2025
📄 Southeast Asia Agriculture Market Report
📄 Singapore Space Agency: Industry Updates
📄 StarCloud: NVIDIA Orbital Data Center Launch Announcement
📄 Planet Labs: Southeast Asia Partnership Programs
📄 AcerX: Satellite Data Platform for SEA Supply Chains
📄 One Orbit: Environmental Monitoring Constellation
📄 Malaysia LunaSat: Small Satellite Manufacturing
COMPANIES TO WATCH
Building in Southeast Asia:
AcerX (Singapore): $30M+ raised, satellite data platforms for supply chains & agriculture
One Orbit: $12M raised, AI-powered environmental monitoring constellation
LunaSat (Malaysia): Affordable small satellite manufacturing for regional deployment
Global Players Seeking SEA Partnerships:
Planet Labs: $500M raised, largest Earth observation network, actively seeking SEA partnerships
StarCloud: Just launched NVIDIA-powered orbital data center (Nov 2025)
SpaceX: Targeting $200/kg launch costs by 2030
Blue Origin: Ramping up commercial launch operations
🔗 CONNECT WITH US
📧 Newsletter: https://seaofstartups.substack.com
💼 LinkedIn:
Kim (WeiiSyuen) Yeoh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weiisyuenyeohacmacgma/
Kevin Brockland: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbrockland/
🎧 Listen:
Spotify: [Link]
Apple Podcasts: [Link]
YouTube: [Link]
💬 Comment below: Is your five-year plan accounting for orbital compute? Or are you assuming infrastructure stays terrestrial forever?
TAGS
space tech, orbital computing, Google Project Suncatcher, AI data centers, SpaceX, satellite technology, Southeast Asia startups, agriculture technology, precision farming, infrastructure innovation, venture capital, deep tech, AcerX Singapore, space industry, renewable energy, AI infrastructure, LEO satellites, Earth observation, ground station networks, digital infrastructure, ELon Musk, Steve Jobs
WHAT'S NEXT
Next episode: Interviewing the CEO of a solar company that just IPO'd—directly relevant to space-based power infrastructure discussion.
Upcoming: More deep dives on infrastructure shifts reshaping Southeast Asia's tech ecosystem.
📌 PIN THIS: If you're building in AI, agriculture, logistics, or infrastructure in Southeast Asia, this episode is required listening. The decisions made in the next 24-36 months determine who participates vs. spectates in the $100B orbital economy.
Share this with:
Founders building deep tech or AI infrastructure
VCs evaluating space tech investment opportunities
Government officials planning digital infrastructure policy
Anyone who thinks data centers will stay on Earth forever
⚡ VIRAL SHARE QUOTE:
"Southeast Asia has 24-36 months to position itself as the ground station hub for orbital compute—or watch $100 billion in economic value get built elsewhere while we're still debating cooling systems."
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seaofstartups.substack.com
View all episodes
By Decoding the Pulse of Founders, Capital & Conviction in Southeast Asia.THIS WEEK'S REALITY CHECK
Google just published research that makes every data center in Southeast Asia look obsolete.
Project Suncatcher: Space-based AI data centers hitting cost parity with terrestrial operations by 2035. Launch costs dropped from $10,000 to $1,500 per kilogram. SpaceX is targeting $200/kg.
This isn't science fiction. It's a $100 billion economic shift happening right now—and Southeast Asia has exactly 24-36 months to position itself as the ground station hub or watch the value flow elsewhere.
This episode breaks down why orbital compute is inevitable, what it means for AI and agriculture in the region, and the moves founders need to make before the infrastructure moats lock in.
WHAT WE COVER
🚀 The Economics That Just Flipped
Launch costs: $10K → $1.5K per kg (and falling to $200/kg by 2035)
Why Google's betting on orbital over terrestrial
8x more solar efficiency + free cooling in vacuum of space
How SpaceX made the impossible economically viable
☀️ Project Suncatcher Breakdown
What Google's actually building (and why now)
Technical challenges: maintenance, thermal radiation, data latency
Why StarCloud just launched NVIDIA-powered mini data center into orbit
The radiation hardening problem (and how it's getting solved)
🌾 The $400B Agriculture Angle Nobody's Connecting
How satellite-based Earth observation transforms Southeast Asian farming
Thailand could gain $8-12B annually from precision agriculture
Real-time insights: soil health, planting windows, pest prediction
Why AcerX raised $30M+ to build this infrastructure now
🏗️ Infrastructure Gets Its God's-Eye View
Mining companies using orbital imaging for mineral exploration
Utilities gaining real-time grid monitoring capabilities
Why Southeast Asia's equatorial position = massive strategic advantage
Ground station networks as the next critical infrastructure moat
💰 Who's Building What (And Who's Getting Funded)
AcerX (Singapore): $30M+ for satellite data platforms
One Orbit: $12M for environmental monitoring
LunaSat (Malaysia): Affordable small satellite manufacturing
Planet Labs: $500M raised, largest Earth observation constellation
⏰ The 24-36 Month Window
Why regional coordination matters right now
What happens when infrastructure moats lock in
Five tactical moves for AI, agriculture, and infrastructure founders
Policy frameworks that need to exist yesterday
KEY QUOTES
"While Malaysia debates water usage for data centers and Singapore worries about electricity grids, Google's preparing to bypass all of it with orbital compute." - Kim
"Southeast Asia is either positioning itself as the ground station hub for the orbital economy, or it's watching $100 billion in economic value flow elsewhere." - Kevin
"Agriculture in this region is a $400 billion industry that's been fundamentally inefficient for centuries. Space-based analytics running in orbit and beaming down real-time insights changes everything." - Kim
"The window for Southeast Asia to position itself in this ecosystem is 24-36 months. After that, the players are locked in and we're customers, not builders." - Kevin
"I have to give credit where it's due: Elon Musk basically came in and inspired everyone to look at space as economically viable. Nobody was thinking about private sector space before SpaceX." - Kevin
FEATURED DATA POINTS
🚀 Launch cost trajectory: $10,000/kg (2005) → $1,500/kg (2025) → $200/kg target (2035)
☀️ Solar collection efficiency: 8x more productive in space than terrestrial panels
💰 Economic opportunity: $100B+ potential GDP contribution to Southeast Asia
🌾 SEA agriculture market: $400B annually
📊 Thailand agriculture gains: $8-12B potential annual productivity increase
⚡ Power advantage: Constant solar (if positioned in dawn-dusk synchronous orbit)
❄️ Cooling advantage: Thermal radiation in vacuum = no water consumption
💸 Funding activity:
AcerX: $30M+ raised (Singapore satellite data platforms)
One Orbit: $12M raised (environmental monitoring)
Planet Labs: $500M raised (largest Earth observation constellation)
⏱️ Latency advantage: 1-7ms orbital (vs 150ms trans-Pacific)
🛰️ StarCloud: NVIDIA-powered orbital data center launched November 2025
TACTICAL TAKEAWAYS FOR FOUNDERS
If you're building AI:
Map which workloads could migrate to orbital compute (training jobs especially)
30-40% cost reduction potential on frontier model training
Build relationships with space tech companies now (AcerX, One Orbit)
Factor orbital into your Series B infrastructure assumptions
If you're in agriculture:
Pilot satellite data integration immediately (don't wait for perfect tech)
Partner with companies deploying Earth observation analytics
Operational knowledge compounds—5-year head start matters
Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia = massive precision agriculture TAM
If you're infrastructure/utilities:
Real-time satellite analytics for grid monitoring, pipeline integrity
Ground station partnerships should be strategic priority
Asset tracking, disaster resilience, environmental compliance
Government engagement needed now for spectrum/site allocation
For all founders:
Don't assume compute stays terrestrial forever
Engage policy conversations on orbital infrastructure early
Build optionality: not all-in on space, but not ignoring it
The companies learning to operationalize space-based insights now win in 2030
For VCs:
Space tech is no longer government-only domain
Launch costs dropped to venture-backable levels
Regional companies competing against Silicon Valley with 1/10th the capital
Ground station infrastructure = strategic moat worth backing
RESOURCES MENTIONED
📄 Google X: Project Suncatcher Research Paper
📄 SpaceX Launch Cost Analysis 2025
📄 Southeast Asia Agriculture Market Report
📄 Singapore Space Agency: Industry Updates
📄 StarCloud: NVIDIA Orbital Data Center Launch Announcement
📄 Planet Labs: Southeast Asia Partnership Programs
📄 AcerX: Satellite Data Platform for SEA Supply Chains
📄 One Orbit: Environmental Monitoring Constellation
📄 Malaysia LunaSat: Small Satellite Manufacturing
COMPANIES TO WATCH
Building in Southeast Asia:
AcerX (Singapore): $30M+ raised, satellite data platforms for supply chains & agriculture
One Orbit: $12M raised, AI-powered environmental monitoring constellation
LunaSat (Malaysia): Affordable small satellite manufacturing for regional deployment
Global Players Seeking SEA Partnerships:
Planet Labs: $500M raised, largest Earth observation network, actively seeking SEA partnerships
StarCloud: Just launched NVIDIA-powered orbital data center (Nov 2025)
SpaceX: Targeting $200/kg launch costs by 2030
Blue Origin: Ramping up commercial launch operations
🔗 CONNECT WITH US
📧 Newsletter: https://seaofstartups.substack.com
💼 LinkedIn:
Kim (WeiiSyuen) Yeoh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weiisyuenyeohacmacgma/
Kevin Brockland: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbrockland/
🎧 Listen:
Spotify: [Link]
Apple Podcasts: [Link]
YouTube: [Link]
💬 Comment below: Is your five-year plan accounting for orbital compute? Or are you assuming infrastructure stays terrestrial forever?
TAGS
space tech, orbital computing, Google Project Suncatcher, AI data centers, SpaceX, satellite technology, Southeast Asia startups, agriculture technology, precision farming, infrastructure innovation, venture capital, deep tech, AcerX Singapore, space industry, renewable energy, AI infrastructure, LEO satellites, Earth observation, ground station networks, digital infrastructure, ELon Musk, Steve Jobs
WHAT'S NEXT
Next episode: Interviewing the CEO of a solar company that just IPO'd—directly relevant to space-based power infrastructure discussion.
Upcoming: More deep dives on infrastructure shifts reshaping Southeast Asia's tech ecosystem.
📌 PIN THIS: If you're building in AI, agriculture, logistics, or infrastructure in Southeast Asia, this episode is required listening. The decisions made in the next 24-36 months determine who participates vs. spectates in the $100B orbital economy.
Share this with:
Founders building deep tech or AI infrastructure
VCs evaluating space tech investment opportunities
Government officials planning digital infrastructure policy
Anyone who thinks data centers will stay on Earth forever
⚡ VIRAL SHARE QUOTE:
"Southeast Asia has 24-36 months to position itself as the ground station hub for orbital compute—or watch $100 billion in economic value get built elsewhere while we're still debating cooling systems."
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seaofstartups.substack.com