Alternative Investing Report - May 14, 2026

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*as of 5/13; Sources: S&P, BTC, FTSE, DJRE, GOLD

Power generation startup VoltaGrid just secured $1 billion in funding from funds managed by Blackstone and Halliburton, as energy startups continue to attract capital. With data centers and AI infrastructure rapidly increasing demand for power, the cost of electricity in the U.S. is rising 61% faster than inflation, and institutional investors are seeking out companies that are aiming to produce cheaply. Infrastructure and national resource funds are also benefiting, providing stronger returns versus other asset classes so far in 2026.

➨ TAKEAWAY: A number of startups across the energy spectrum, including nuclear, solar, wind, and geothermal, have all attracted investor attention in the past few months as access to massive amounts of electricity becomes an economic necessity. The widening gap between supply and demand is creating a huge market for any company that can successful deliver cheaper power.

📈 PPI soared in April: The Producer Price Index (PPI) measure of wholesale inflation jumped a staggering 1.4% in April, the highest monthly gain in four years and well above expectations. The metric is up 6% annually, due largely to a spike in energy costs and President Trump’s tariffs. This rise follows the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation report earlier this week that also showed inflation accelerating, and makes any interest rate cuts in the short-term unlikely.

🏡 Still a buyer’s market: There are 46.5% more home sellers than buyers, slightly down from the all-time high of 48.9% in December, and the number of buyers rose by 2% in March. The only seller’s markets in the country are in the Northeast, San Francisco, and Milwaukee, while the strongest buyer’s markets remain in the Sun Belt.

💵 Private credit slashing loan values: Major private credit firms are cutting the value of their funds, with more than 10% of all loans now being marked down at least 50%. This wave represents the highest level of write-downs since just after the pandemic, and is the latest sign of the sector’s recent struggles.

🚀 Helsing fundraise: The European AI-powered drone defense startup is reportedly raising a $1.2 billion round at a $18 billion valuation, up from its $14 billion valuation last June. Investor demand continues to grow for defense tech startups, especially those in the autonomous defense sector.

📊 Small business optimism stable: The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index ticked up slightly in April but remains below its historical average, as business owners continue to worry about inflation.

💎 Record diamond sale: The "Ocean Dream," the largest fancy vivid blue-green diamond known to exist, sold for $17.3 million at Christie’s, well above the high estimate of $13 million and more than double the $8.5 million it sold for in 2014.

If you happen to find yourself in Stockholm, Sweden, you can visit a cafe that is run by an AI agent, Mona, who was created by AI startup Andon Labs and is powered by Google Gemini. The baristas are still human, but Mona is in charge of all operations and communicates with employees via Slack. There have been some hiccups, particularly with ordering inventory, as Mona can forget what she has ordered in the past. The cafe ended up with 6,000 napkins, 3,000 rubber gloves, and canned tomatoes that aren’t used in any dish the cafe serves. The point of the experiment is to stress-test an AI agent in the real world, and see how they act with actual employees and customers. So far, Mona has burned through 75% of its original budget, so the cafe may not be around much longer.