Tariffs & dire wolfs

Author

Noel Moldvai
April 10, 2025

TL;DR. So, we've come to this point in the simulation... We have an event dubbed “Liberation Day,” which realistically signals complete uncertainty across global economies — but hey, at least the market ended on a high note today. The very next day, we’ve got freakin' dire wolves being born, and the company behind it is aiming for a $10B valuation. I think not. Come back to me when I can have a pet woolly mammoth — then we can talk.

Does Colossal Biosciences’ dire wolf creation justify its $10B+ valuation?

Colossal Biosciences has genetically engineered animals resembling dire wolves using CRISPR and gray wolf DNA, marking a major milestone in biotech. While some scientists dispute whether these are true de-extinctions, Colossal sees conservation and future revenue in biotech spinouts, artificial wombs, and biodiversity credits as key to justifying its massive valuation.

With Trump tariffs, even AI could get more expensive

New tariffs from the Trump administration may raise the cost of AI infrastructure, especially data center construction, which relies on imported materials like steel and transformers. While the impact may be delayed due to pre-purchased inventory, experts warn cloud providers may pass higher costs on to AI users, squeezing enterprise IT budgets.

Anthropic rolls out a $200/mo Claude subscription

Anthropic has launched Claude Max, offering higher usage limits and priority access to cutting-edge features. It’s a strategic revenue play, as Anthropic explores enterprise use cases like Claude for Education. The move mirrors OpenAI’s path and could support model development costs.

Crypto startup Ripple buys Hidden Road for $1.25B

Ripple is making a large acquisition to expand it’s footprint, riding the crypto momentum post-Trump’s re-election. With Hidden Road clearing $3T in transactions annually, Ripple aims to bolster its presence in traditional finance. The deal caps a $3.8B Q1 for crypto VC funding, driven by big-ticket investments despite market volatility.

Why more startups are embracing secondary markets to retain talent

Employee engagement has hit a decade low, leading to higher turnover. Traditional IPOs delay employee rewards, but private secondary markets offer earlier liquidity. Startups using platforms like Augment let employees sell shares pre-exit, boosting morale, loyalty, and retention without affecting cash flow—helping attract and keep top talent in competitive markets.

Quick Takes

Cheerio! Until next week.
-Noel