December Tech Round-Up: 2025 in Review / 2026 in Prospect
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Dear reader,
This month we review the year that was, and opine on what lies ahead in 2026 for the four core verticals we focus on: Software & AI, Aerospace & Defence Tech, Travel Tech and Fintech.
Enjoy the read, may you end the year in style, and enjoy a healthy and prosperous 2026.
From all of us at North Ridge Partners.
Original Thinking From North Ridge Partners
AI may be ubiquitous in corporate pitch decks, but 2026 belongs to those who can turn intelligence into capability, not charisma. Across Software, Aerospace & Defence Tech, Travel Tech and Fintech, the same refrain echoes: AI is abundant, yet trust, governance, skilled labour and data moats remain scarce. Smart itineraries still misfire, copilots outpace compliance, fintech phoenixes meet consolidating capital, and defence ministries spend faster than industry can staff. The winners next year will be the firms that convert AI into outcomes - grounded operators that build capacity, embed governance and own defensible data, rather than those shouting loudest about disruption. Read our year-end analysis and predictions here.
Short of Time? Listen to the Podcast
In this month’s Tech Round-Up podcast, Hillary Hindsight and Nigel Nostradamus, our guest AI podcasters, give you their perspectives across four key tech sectors, covering what they witnessed in 2025 and what 2026 likely holds in store. Buckle up!
Click here or on the banner below to listen. Enjoy.
Big Tech
Is a SpaceX IPO in the wings? Pin your ears back!
eNvy at Nvidia? Alphabet’s AI chips could capture 20% of the AI market.
Channelling Bill Gates’ 1995 Internet tidal wave memo, Sam Altman issues an all-hands code red to the team at OpenAI.
Is Larry Ellison now the Oracle of leverage? The market is watching, closely.
RIP Metaverse? Finally, $70bn in, Zuckerberg cuts spending.
Asia Pacific Tech News
Moore Threads, China’s answer to Nvidia, surges 400% on debut.
Follow the leader. Australia’s pioneering social media ban will spread, say the Aussies.
Singles’ Day heads towards Single Digits - nearly! China’s shopping festival fizzles.
The Empire Strikes Back: DeepSeek unveils new models to compete with the US.
Former Google chief Schmidt says China may not be able to fund its AI ambitions.
Stuff We Found Interesting
Besties under attack. The debate about David Sacks intensifies.
Why is agentic AI, famously prone to dishonesty, unreliability and hallucinations, accelerating so rapidly? Sixty tech industry leaders weigh in.
So much for cybersecurity - quantum computing will make cryptography obsolete.
Australia overhauls defence acquisition.
David v Goliath. David Ellison weighs a hostile counter-bid against Netflix for control of Warner Bros.
Tech Investment Banking Across Asia Pacific
North Ridge Partners advises tech companies across the Asia Pacific on strategy, capital raising and M&A. We’re experienced dealmakers who have built and sold many tech companies. In partnership with GP Bullhound, we have 200 bankers in 17 global offices.
Contact us here.
© North Ridge Partners 2025
Singapore, Australia, New Zealand
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