Small business owner reviewing a health benefits brokerage for SMBs on a laptop

Corridor Raises $25M Seed for SMB Health Benefits

Small business owners have long known that shopping for health insurance can feel like an uphill battle. Corridor, a startup building a health benefits brokerage for SMBs, just raised $25 million in seed funding to change that dynamic. The company argues that traditional brokerages routinely overlook small accounts because they simply do not generate the […]

Freight train tracks symbolizing the UP NS merger review by the Surface Transportation Board

UP, NS Merger Faces Shipper Pushback as STB Presses On

The proposed UP NS merger has cleared another procedural hurdle, but the fight is far from over. The Surface Transportation Board recently rejected calls from shipper trade associations to dismiss the case outright, meaning the review process will continue despite mounting objections from groups representing chemical and fertilizer shippers. For an industry that depends heavily […]

Ethan Allen CEO search launch following activist investor board pressure at furniture retailer

Ethan Allen CEO Search Signals Governance Shake-Up

The Ethan Allen CEO search is officially underway, marking a significant turning point for the long-time furniture retailer. The company confirmed it is looking for new leadership roughly two months after an activist investor called for sweeping changes to its board, including the removal of longtime CEO and board chair Farooq Kathwari. For a business […]

Small business owner reviewing level-funded health insurance options on a laptop

Angle Health Hits $2.7B on Level-Funded Insurance

Small business owners have long faced a frustrating choice when it comes to employee health coverage: pay steep fully-insured premiums or skip benefits altogether and risk losing talent. Angle Health, a Y Combinator alum, just proved there is a better path. The insurance tech company recently reached a $2.7 billion valuation after growing to 5,000 […]

Warehouse workers managing inventory as part of a flexible distribution model strategy

TJX’s Distribution Model Shows Supply Chain Resilience

Weather disruptions are becoming a bigger line item on corporate earnings calls, and TJX just offered a case study in how a smart distribution model can soften the blow. During a recent Q2 earnings call, the off-price retailer’s leadership pointed to its supply chain setup as a key defense against the unpredictability of El Niño […]

Boxes of holiday decorations in a warehouse representing a holiday decor marketplace bankruptcy

Holiday Decor Marketplace Retailer Files Chapter 11

The company behind Christmas Central and Christmas.com, Gordon Brothers Inc., has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection right as the holiday shopping season kicks into gear. For anyone watching the holiday decor marketplace closely, the timing could not be more revealing. A filing this close to peak season suggests the pressure had been building for […]

Illustration representing Manus pursuing a $500M funding round to reach a $4 billion valuation

Manus Eyes $4B Valuation in New $500M Funding Round

Manus is reportedly in talks to close a $500M funding round that would value the company at roughly $4 billion. The move comes just months after the company’s planned merger with Meta collapsed, forcing it to chart its own path forward. For a market that watches every major AI and software deal closely, this signals […]

Cargo plane loading packages, symbolizing new FedEx import surcharges on international shipments

FedEx Import Surcharges Signal Peak Season Cost Shift

FedEx is rolling out new demand surcharges on packages arriving in the United States from Canada, Europe and several other regions, adding another layer of cost to cross-border shipping just as peak season ramps up. The FedEx import surcharges also extend to China-to-U.S. volume, which has already been under pressure from shifting trade rules. For […]

Retail warehouse shelves representing AI inventory replenishment technology in action

Macy’s AI Inventory Replenishment Tool Scales Up

Macy’s is taking its AI inventory replenishment tool out of the testing phase and rolling it out more broadly across its stores. The forecasting system, which had been running as a pilot, is now being positioned as a core part of how the retailer manages stock levels. The move signals growing confidence that machine-driven forecasting […]

Developer reviewing a new AI model for small business software on a laptop screen

AI Model Jev Signals Cheaper Software Intelligence

A fresh AI model called Jev, built by a name closely tied to the origins of ChatGPT, is generating real excitement among developers. Early reactions suggest this AI model for small business applications could make advanced software intelligence dramatically cheaper and faster to deploy. That combination matters a great deal for smaller companies that have […]