Trump Media to merge with fusion energy startup TAE in $6B all-stock deal

**Trump Media & Technology Group to Merge with Fusion Reactor Startup TAE Technologies in $6 Billion All-Stock Deal**

Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. (commonly referred to as TMTG) today announced plans to merge with TAE Technologies Inc., a startup specializing in the development of fusion reactors. The all-stock transaction is valued at $6 billion, with ownership of the combined company set to be evenly split between the shareholders of both TAE and TMTG.

U.S. President Donald Trump indirectly holds a majority stake in TMTG. The company went public last March via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). TMTG operates the Truth Social social network and manages a $2.5 billion fund investing in digital assets such as Bitcoin.

Despite its assets, TMTG has faced financial challenges, reporting a net loss of $54.8 million last quarter on net sales of just $972,900. Similarly, Foothill Ranch, California-based TAE Technologies is also unprofitable, having lost $54.8 million in the third quarter, but it holds $166 million in cash reserves.

The planned merger is expected to provide TAE with access to TMTG’s substantial $3.1 billion balance sheet, significantly extending the fusion startup’s financial runway and supporting its ambitious development goals.

### About TAE Technologies and Its Fusion Reactor Technology

TAE Technologies is developing fusion reactors based on an advanced beam-driven field-reversed configuration system. This approach involves powering the reactor with multiple particle accelerators. According to TAE, its accelerator-driven architecture and other innovations offer advantages over traditional fusion reactor designs.

Unlike standard nuclear reactors, which generate power through nuclear fission (splitting atomic nuclei), fusion energy is produced by fusing two light atomic nuclei into a heavier one. The resulting heavier nucleus has slightly less mass than its components, and this mass difference is converted into energy—the fundamental principle behind fusion power.

Currently, commercial fusion power generation remains a challenge due to significant technical limitations, primarily the difficulty of fusing atomic nuclei which naturally repel each other. Fusion reactors must replicate sun-like conditions within their reaction chambers to overcome this obstacle.

TAE’s reactor uses fuel composed of hydrogen and boron. The process involves converting the fuel into plasma—a cloud of charged particles—held in place by a powerful magnetic field. Unlike some fusion designs that rely exclusively on magnets for containment, TAE’s approach leverages the hydrogen-boron plasma itself to generate a magnetic field, reducing dependency on external magnets.

The system is further stabilized by an array of particle accelerators that inject energetic particles into the plasma to maintain the magnetic containment field. These accelerators are supported by power management systems capable of delivering 750 megawatts of electricity in under a millisecond.

### Expansion Into Medical Applications

In 2017, TAE spun off a subsidiary called TAE Life Sciences to explore medical applications of its particle accelerator technology. This unit is developing a compact particle accelerator designed for hospital installation in radiation therapy.

Earlier this month, TAE Life Sciences partnered with the UK Atomic Energy Authority to commercialize this medical technology, marking an important step towards practical healthcare applications.

### Future Plans and Outlook

TMTG and TAE Technologies expect to complete their merger by mid-2026. Around the same time, TAE plans to commence construction of a 50-megawatt fusion power plant. Further down the line, the company aims to bring up to 500 megawatts of additional fusion capacity online, advancing closer toward viable commercial fusion energy.

This merger represents a significant development at the intersection of emerging media and advanced clean energy technologies, potentially shaping both sectors in the years to come.
https://siliconangle.com/2025/12/18/trump-media-merge-fusion-energy-startup-tae-6b-stock-deal/

Software budgets are being wasted on over-engineered IT tools

**Report Finds More Than Half of Firms Fail to See Expected ROI from Software Rollouts**

A recent study reveals that over half of companies are not achieving the return on investment (ROI) they anticipated from their software implementations. Poor integrations, siloed systems, and clunky user experiences (UX) are frequently cited issues contributing to this shortfall.

According to research conducted by Freshworks, a staggering 20% of software budgets are wasted on unnecessary business complexity, potentially bleeding up to 7% of annual revenue. The survey, which included over 700 IT, customer experience (CX), finance, and operations professionals, found that 53% failed to realize the ROI they hoped for, with 43% reporting projects running over budget and 32% frustrated by inadequate vendor support.

### Overspending on Complex Software

While software is intended to help employees manage various processes efficiently, the study uncovered that the average worker actually loses around seven hours per week due to inefficient tools. Additionally, technological overwhelm is a growing concern — the average employee interacts with 15 different software tools and four communication channels every single day.

Freshworks emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to software; different industries and teams have unique requirements. For example:

– CX teams struggle with non-customizable workflows (42%), excessive tools (36%), and slow routine tasks (33%).
– IT professionals cite poor integrations (36%), siloed software (32%), and outdated or clunky user interfaces (28%).

### Technology Meant to Help Is Holding Businesses Back

Dennis Woodside, CEO of Freshworks, commented, “The very tools meant to help businesses move faster are now holding them back.” Nearly one in five respondents (17%) know someone on their team who has quit or experienced burnout specifically because of software-related frustrations.

Echoing this sentiment, Freshworks Chief Customer and Marketing Officer Mika Yamamoto stated, “Technology should empower people, not overwhelm them. When companies unify systems and processes, taking a people-first approach to eliminate complexity, teams can focus on what matters: building relationships that keep customers happy and businesses growing.”

### The Path Forward: Streamlining Tech Stacks

The report encourages businesses to simplify and streamline their technology stacks. Doing so can not only improve ROI but also boost employee morale, leading to positive ripple effects across the organization.

By cutting unnecessary software and adopting a unified, user-friendly approach, companies can reduce waste, enhance productivity, and foster a healthier workplace culture.

*For more insights and updates on technology trends, follow TechRadar.*
https://www.techradar.com/pro/software-budgets-are-being-wasted-on-over-engineered-it-tools