FTC Clears Elon Musk to Acquire Startup Mesh Optical
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has granted approval for Elon Musk to proceed with the acquisition of Mesh Optical Technologies, a hardware startup specializing in high-speed data center communications. The regulatory body expedited its antitrust review of the deal, according to official agency filings.
Mesh Optical was established last year by three former SpaceX engineers: Travis Brashears, Cameron Ramos, and Serena Grown-Haeberli. The trio previously spearheaded the development of the optical communication links that facilitate the interconnection of thousands of satellites within the Starlink network.
Strategic Focus on Data Infrastructure
The startup exited stealth mode in February, securing $50 million in a Series A funding round led by Thrive Capital. The firm’s core mission centers on developing optical transceivers for terrestrial data centers, leveraging light-based hardware to achieve superior speed and energy efficiency compared to standard electrical systems.
Integrating Mesh Optical into his broader business ecosystem aligns with SpaceX’s evolving infrastructure strategy. The company has recently secured compute-capacity agreements with several major technology entities, including:
- Anthropic
- Reflection AI
These partnerships have opened a significant revenue stream for SpaceX. By acquiring Mesh, the company aims to enhance the performance and efficiency of its data centers—whether those facilities are based on Earth or deployed in space environments in the future.
Further details regarding the Federal Trade Commission filing highlight the rapid pace at which the antitrust review was processed, clearing the path for the integration of the startup’s specialized communication technology.