Daily Tech: UBER Brazil, CRISPR Breakthrough, Perplexity Expands and Nuclear Battery Technology

FutureGate | May 16 2025

Uber & iFood Unify in Brazil: A Strategic Super-App Play

In a notable development for Latin America's digital economy, ride-hailing giant Uber and Brazilian food delivery powerhouse iFood have joined forces to launch a comprehensive all-in-one application in Brazil. This partnership marks a significant step toward the "super app" model already dominant in Asia, blending ride-hailing, food delivery, and e-commerce functionalities under one interface.

From an investment standpoint, this collaboration could unlock powerful cross-platform synergies, increasing customer stickiness and average revenue per user (ARPU). Brazil, with its large digitally native population and rising middle class, offers fertile ground for rapid adoption. The deal also underscores Uber’s strategy of pivoting toward deeper localization and ecosystem integration to drive margin expansion in key international markets.

CRISPR Breakthrough: First-Ever Fix of a Rare Genetic Mutation in a Baby

In a historic moment for biotechnology and precision medicine, scientists have successfully used CRISPR gene-editing technology to correct a unique genetic mutation in a newborn baby—the first such case in the world. The breakthrough, which targeted a rare but life-threatening condition, demonstrates the potential of in vivo editing to treat previously untreatable diseases at the genomic level.

From a market perspective, this event is a major validation point for the CRISPR therapeutic platform, potentially accelerating regulatory momentum and investor confidence in the space. Companies with exposure to this technology—such as CRISPR Therapeutics, Editas Medicine, and Intellia Therapeutics—may see long-term valuation uplift as clinical applications transition from proof-of-concept to reality.

Perplexity AI Expands Into Commerce With PayPal & Venmo Integration

Perplexity, an emerging player in the AI search assistant space, has announced the integration of travel booking, product shopping, and ticketing services directly into its conversational interface. The new offering allows U.S. consumers to complete transactions instantly via PayPal and Venmo, positioning Perplexity as a functional AI commerce engine rather than just a search tool.

This marks a strategic evolution of AI from pure information delivery to transactional utility. For investors, this reflects the next wave of monetization for generative AI—anchoring in commerce and payment rails rather than ads. The collaboration with PayPal not only boosts user trust but also highlights the growing convergence between fintech and AI platforms. This development could potentially pressure traditional search incumbents to accelerate their AI integration efforts or risk disintermediation.

Zeno Power Raises $50M to Advance

Zeno Power, a dual-headquartered startup in Seattle and Washington, D.C., has raised $50 million to fast-track the development of nuclear batteries for use in space and maritime applications. These batteries, which rely on radioisotope thermoelectric generation, are designed for extreme environments where traditional power sources fail.

The funding round—backed by a mix of government contracts and venture capital—signals increasing confidence in next-generation power technologies with long-duration energy capabilities. In particular, Zeno’s batteries could play a critical role in deep space exploration, underwater defense systems, and off-grid Arctic missions.

For institutional investors focused on frontier tech, Zeno represents a long-duration bet on the intersection of energy security, aerospace, and defense innovation. The rise of dual-use technologies (civilian + military) continues to attract cross-sector capital, especially as geopolitical tensions push governments to rethink energy independence at the edge.