Now we know. We know why platform can beat pipeline business (source : Platform Revolution). Mainly because a platform integrating other stakeholders is more "creative" than a pipeline, eliminate gatekeepers and create community feedback loops. The successful platform value is partially created by its community of users, with a certain level of openness. Monetization is then about capturing a portion of excess value created without reducing value creation with the right governance. Platform allows engagement in positive behaviors, good interactions using a mixture of law, norm, architecture and markets. It creates networked markets that can be partially designed to create positive externality without reducing innovative capacities.

Elon Musk is already developping several technical platforms : for transportation, for energy, for space. Now we can assume that Elon Musk himself is becoming a platform. He has all the characteristics : a value unit exchanged by participants "on him". Let's look across Musk's platforms !

Battery as a Platform

** Sun & wind, lithium, Gigafactory / Tesla / PowerWall / Solar City / Gigafactory **

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Battery, as the value unit, is produced in the Gigafactory without fossil fuel (tweet before), bringing power to Tesla, then after 20% in reduction capacity at home through PowerWall and Solar City. Recycling in partially integrated today with 60% but progress can be done as quantity and cost of lithium will increase. Lithium exploitation ratio can be considered as the metric.

Best Mobility Experience as a Platform :

** Tesla Over The air / Autopilot for learning / Intelligent Fleets / Shared Mobility with best experience **

Space trip as a platform :

** Dragon / Satellite / Orbital Hotel / Moon - Mars / Space Exploration **

It's just the beginning. SpaceX reusable launch system development program (source) but again the master plan is bigger : "Tickets to orbital hotels, the moon and Mars will be a lot less than people think." (source). The Value Unit is Dragon and metrics can be the number of satellite or human in orbital hotel, in space.

E.Musk as a platform :

** Tesla / Solar City / Space X - Mobility / Energy / Space / Future of Humanity **