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 […]

Smartphone scanning a car for damage using AI vehicle inspection software

Sheryl Sandberg Backs AI Vehicle Inspection Startup

A new $10 million funding round led by Sheryl Sandberg is putting fresh attention on AI vehicle inspection technology and what it could mean for fleet operators everywhere. The startup, launched in 2021, allows enterprise customers to use ordinary smartphones to scan vehicles and automatically flag damage. For small business owners who manage cars, vans, […]

Container ship at port illustrating ocean shipping volatility caused by tariffs and geopolitical tension

Ocean Shipping Volatility: Tariffs Reshape Logistics Planning

Ocean shipping volatility is becoming the new normal for companies that move goods across the Pacific and beyond. The Port of Los Angeles just recorded its strongest June ever, moving roughly 1 million TEUs, yet the port’s leadership has been candid that predicting what comes next is harder than ever. Tariff policy shifts and geopolitical […]

Kate Spade storefront representing a brand rethinking its retail marketplace strategy

Kate Spade’s New CMO and the Retail Marketplace Strategy Ahead

Kate Spade has brought in L’Oreal veteran Allison Badea as its new chief marketing officer, a move that lands squarely inside a broader retail marketplace strategy conversation happening across legacy fashion brands. With sales sliding and a long turnaround ahead, the appointment is less about a single hire and more about how heritage labels plan […]

Illustration representing complex startup funding rounds and rising company valuations

What Valar Atomics Reveals About Startup Funding Rounds

Nuclear energy startup Valar Atomics is reportedly in talks to raise new capital at a $6 billion valuation, a figure that has turned heads across the tech and energy sectors. What makes this story worth watching goes beyond the headline number. It points to a broader pattern in how startup funding rounds are structured today, […]

Warehouse worker using AI dashboard to monitor supply chain compliance and supplier performance

Supply Chain Compliance Gets an AI Upgrade

Supply chain compliance is no longer just a back-office checkbox. Renfro, the sock and legwear maker, is widening its use of Inspectorio’s AI-driven tools to keep tighter tabs on regulatory requirements and supplier quality. The move signals a broader shift in manufacturing and retail, where compliance is becoming a strategic lever rather than a cost […]