Boardroom discussion illustrating tension over the Destination XL merger with FullBeauty Brands

Destination XL Merger Deal Meets Board Resistance

The proposed Destination XL merger with FullBeauty Brands has hit an unexpected roadblock. The company’s own board is now urging shareholders to vote against a share issuance proposal that is required to finalize the deal’s terms. That kind of internal pushback is rare and signals that not everyone at the top agrees the combination makes […]

Construction worker reviewing project bids on a tablet using construction project software

Cascade Raises $3.5M for Construction Software Growth

Fresh venture money is flowing into construction project software, and the latest example comes from Cascade, a startup that just closed a $3.5 million seed round. The company is building tools to help construction firms find new projects and win more bids, a problem that has long been underserved by traditional software vendors. Backers on […]

USPS smart locker service used for secure local package pickup and delivery

USPS Smart Locker Service Enters Local Delivery Market

The United States Postal Service has rolled out a new smart locker service aimed at local marketplace transactions. Branded Local XChange, the USPS smart locker service gives buyers and sellers a secure, contactless way to exchange packages without meeting in person. It is a notable move from the postal agency into a space typically occupied […]

Illustration of GameStop eBay stake growth as part of marketplace acquisition push

GameStop Ups eBay Stake to 10% Amid Buyout Push

GameStop’s growing eBay stake is turning heads across the retail and investment world. The gaming retailer now holds roughly 10% of the marketplace giant, double what it owned back in May when it first floated a massive offer to acquire the company. This move suggests GameStop is not backing away from its marketplace ambitions, even […]

Barge equipped with portable nuclear reactors floating near a coastal industrial site

Bluecore Energy Raises $10M for Portable Nuclear Reactors

Maritime energy startup Bluecore Energy has closed a $10 million pre-seed round to develop portable nuclear reactors mounted on barges, with Slauson & Co. leading the investment. The idea is simple on paper but ambitious in practice: deliver clean, reliable power to places that struggle to get it, without the years-long permitting and construction timelines […]

Aluminum coils in a warehouse representing aluminum tariff relief tied to U.S. onshoring commitments

Aluminum Tariff Relief Tied to U.S. Onshoring Plans

A new proposal from the Trump administration is putting aluminum tariff relief on the table for companies willing to invest in domestic production. Under the plan, firms that commit to breaking ground on expanded aluminum manufacturing facilities before January 20, 2029, would see the current 50% tariff cut in half through a federal program that […]

Worker using a smartphone with shelf-scanning technology to check grocery store inventory

Instacart’s Shelf-Scanning Technology Bet Signals Marketplace Shift

Instacart has acquired Arpalus, a startup that built shelf-scanning technology allowing store workers to record product levels using nothing more than a smartphone camera. The deal is a small one in dollar terms compared to the giants of grocery tech, but it points to something bigger: marketplaces are racing to own the data layer that […]

Illustration representing inference startup funding raised by Infinity from investors

Infinity Raises $15M in Inference Startup Funding Round

The latest round of inference startup funding shows just how much appetite investors still have for the plumbing behind artificial intelligence. Infinity, a company building AI infrastructure focused on inference, announced it closed a $15 million raise at a $100 million valuation. The round drew backing from Touring Capital, Principal VC, and individual researchers connected […]

Delivery truck on highway representing rising fuel surcharges in the shipping industry

Fuel Surcharges Squeeze Shippers as Amazon Gains Ground

Shippers are feeling the pinch as fuel surcharges climb higher, adding pressure to already tight margins across the parcel delivery world. According to data referenced in the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, businesses that rely on FedEx and UPS are facing elevated fees that are prompting many to push back and demand discounts. This tension is […]

Executive reviewing retail technology strategy dashboards for Ulta Beauty growth initiatives

Ulta Beauty Names Domino’s Veteran as New CTO

Ulta Beauty has appointed Kelly Garcia, a former Domino’s executive who has served on the retailer’s board since 2022, as its new Chief Technology Officer. The move comes as Ulta doubles down on a retail technology strategy designed to fuel growth and deliver more personalized shopping experiences to customers. For a company competing in the […]