Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has established Privateer with Alex Fielding, founder of robotics start-up Ripcord. EPA
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has established Privateer with Alex Fielding, founder of robotics start-up Ripcord. EPA
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has established Privateer with Alex Fielding, founder of robotics start-up Ripcord. EPA
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has established Privateer with Alex Fielding, founder of robotics start-up Ripcord. EPA

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak launches space start-up Privateer


Alkesh Sharma
  • English
  • Arabic

Apple's co-creator Steve Wozniak has launched a new space start-up called Privateer Space, bringing potential competition to a field dominated by billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson.

Mr Wozniak, who established the new company with Ripcord robotics company founder Alex Fielding, posted a teaser on YouTube revealing scant details.

“A private space company is starting up unlike the others,” Mr Wozniak, who founded Apple with Steve Jobs, said on Twitter.

The global space economy, which has attracted many top companies such as Tesla and Amazon, involves various activities such as research and development, space tourism and the utilisation of space.

Bank of America predicts the space economy will have more than tripled in size by 2030, with a $1.4 trillion market value.

“Together, we will go far … we will look out for one another, solve problems together. This isn't a race. It isn't a competition or a game. We are not one person, one company, one nation. We are one planet,” Privateer’s teaser video said.

“We are explorers, we are dreamers, risk-takers, engineers and stargazers … we are humans and it is up to us to work together to do what is right and what is good. So, here's to taking care of what we have so the next generation can be better together.”

Privateer will be represented at the Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference, scheduled to run from September 14-17 in Hawaii.

“We are in stealth mode,” it added.

Mr Wozniak co-founded Apple Computers in 1976 with fellow college dropout Steve Jobs and businessman Ronald Wayne.

Jobs and Mr Wozniak left Apple in 1985 though they remained shareholders and Jobs later returned to the company.

In 2002, Mr Wozniak co-founded another company called Wheels of Zeus (WoZ) with Mr Fielding. WoZ worked on global positioning system smart tags and was disbanded in 2006.

Super Saturday race card

4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m

A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
  • 2018: Formal work begins
  • November 2021: First 17 volumes launched 
  • November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
  • October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
  • November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Updated: September 14, 2021, 10:54 AM