Tackling the Trust Factor for Secondhand Watches
Bezel, an online marketplace for pre‑owned luxury watches, announced it now hosts over $1 billion in listings, marking rapid growth since its 2021 launch. Founder Quaid Walker highlighted the platform’s mission to solve pricing opacity and authenticity concerns that have long plagued the secondary watch market. Traditional resale sites like Chrono24 and eBay offer limited guarantees, prompting tech‑savvy startups to introduce verification tools. The influx of these platforms aims to make high‑value watch purchases as frictionless as sneaker resales.
I'm a Millennial Pastor in Hawaii Who Started Renting Out My Car to Pay for Diapers. I Made $3 Million...
Anwar Ali, a Kauai Baptist pastor, turned a single Turo rental into a fleet of 213 cars, earning $2.95 million in revenue in 2025. Starting with a 1998 Isuzu Rodeo in 2014, he leveraged high‑demand vehicles like Jeep Wranglers and strategic...
MREIT and E27 Partners for McKinley Hill’s Digital Park
Real estate investment trust MREIT, the REIT arm of Megaworld, has signed a strategic partnership with Singapore‑based startup media platform E27 to develop the Philippines’ first Digital Park in the McKinley Hill township of Taguig. The 2,000‑square‑meter innovation hub, slated...
Libertario Coffee Eyes Rs 100 Cr in FY28; India Emerges as Highest-Performing Market Globally
Libertario Coffee Co. & Roasters, a Colombian specialty coffee brand, aims to surpass Rs 100 crore (≈$12 million) in revenue by FY 28 as it expands its Indian footprint. The company plans to grow from a single café in FY 26 to at least eight locations...
How Hong Kong Can Beat Singapore as the Launch Pad for Chinese Firms
Chinese firms seeking overseas growth now view Hong Kong and Singapore as competing launch pads. Singapore’s Economic Development Board offers a streamlined “no‑wrong‑door” process that guides entrepreneurs from entry to regional expansion. Hong Kong, despite the GoGlobal Task Force and...
What 5,000 Investors and Founders Agree On About Startup Success
The VC Virtual Conference attracted over 5,000 investors, founders, and partners to discuss AI, robotics, and startup growth strategies for 2026. A breakout session on “Customer Success Due Diligence Test” highlighted the importance of embedding customer success early to curb...
“I Didn’t Quite Understand the Extent of What I Was Working On”: Day 1-1000 of Citizens’ Gavel
Citizens’ Gavel, a Nigerian non‑profit founded by former lawyer Nelson Olanipekun, grew from a social‑media case‑picking service in 2017 to an AI‑driven justice platform. The organization responded to the 2020 #EndSARS protests, handling over 400 interventions that year and expanding...
Guest Post: AI Startup GTM Strategy: Why Trust — Not Reach — Determines Who Reaches $25M
AI founders are hitting a credibility ceiling despite strong product‑market fit, capital, and modern GTM stacks. Buyers in B2B AI are increasingly skeptical, with Gartner noting 57% delay purchases because they can’t verify claims, and AI procurement agents will mediate...
The Self-Taught Advantage: Why People Who Figure Things Out Independently Keep Winning in a World that Won’t Stop Changing
The article argues that self‑taught, curiosity‑driven learning is becoming a decisive competitive edge as the World Economic Forum predicts 39% of core skills will change by 2030. Employers see skill gaps as the top barrier to transformation, with 63% flagging...
Thank You, Partners, For Powering Griffin Retreat 2026
Inc42’s Griffin Retreat 2026 brought together 100 founders whose companies hold roughly $200 bn in combined valuation and $20 bn in revenue. Hosted at the Oberoi Udaivilas on Lake Pichola, the three‑day event emphasized deep, uninterrupted dialogue under Chatham House rules. Speakers...
Europe Is Pouring Tens of Billions of Public Money Into VC. The Hard Part Is Making It Work
Europe is committing over €80 billion (≈$86 bn) of public and mobilised capital to venture and growth investing, highlighted by the EIF’s €15 bn (≈$16.2 bn) ETCI 2 fund, Germany’s WIN €12 bn (≈$13 bn) initiative, France’s Tibi €7 bn (≈$7.6 bn) programme, the Scaleup Europe Fund €5 bn (≈$5.4 bn)...
Google Pixel And Highsnobiety Build A Talent Pipeline For Fashion
Google Pixel and Highsnobiety have launched the Pixel Institute of Fashion and Technology (PIFT), a year‑long incubator aimed at giving emerging designers access to Pixel hardware, AI tools, and editorial mentorship. The inaugural cohort of ten creators, including Ottolinger and...
Cursor Is Raising $2 Billion at a $50 Billion Valuation as AI Coding Tools Become the Fastest-Growing Software Category
AI coding platform Cursor is in talks to raise at least $2 billion, valuing the company at roughly $50 billion—almost double its November 2025 valuation. The startup has accelerated from zero to $2 billion in annualised recurring revenue (ARR) within three years, serving...
The Book Amazon Has Just Banned (and Why It Matters)
Amazon has removed the leadership book "Be More P.U.N.K." from its marketplace, sparking discussion about corporate censorship and cultural preservation. The book, aimed at founders and scale‑up leaders, argues that rapid growth often breeds bureaucracy, slowing decision‑making and diluting a...
Nearly 100 Days in, Emmanuel Durand Sets a New Course for EuraTechnologies
Emmanuel Durand, newly appointed CEO of EuraTechnologies, used the Founder 2 Founder event to unveil a vision that positions Lille as a central hub in a "new Palo Alto" triangle linking Paris, London and Amsterdam. He announced "The Square," a bespoke acceleration...
Up and Atom: Why Ariel Is the Unsung Hero of UK Car Industry
Ariel’s Atom, born from a 1990s design competition, has become the marque’s flagship across four generations. Founder Simon Saunders, a former Coventry University lecturer, built the company by handling everything from design to financing and direct‑to‑consumer sales. Production remains deliberately...
The Souled Store: The Making Of A ₹700 Cr D2C Lifestyle Brand On Fandom Fashion
The Souled Store, founded in 2013, has evolved from a niche licensed‑merch tee seller into a full‑stack D2C lifestyle brand targeting fandom culture. It posted FY25 profit of ₹11 Cr (≈$1.3 M) on revenue that rose 37% to ₹492.4 Cr (≈$59 M) and projects...
From Hosteller To GobbleCube— Indian Startups Raised $60 Mn This Week
Indian startups raised just $60.4 million across 15 deals between April 13‑17, an 83% drop from the previous week’s $361.5 million. AI companies led the funding pool with $23 million, while ecommerce secured only $13 million from six deals. Seed‑stage capital collapsed 86% to $3.3 million,...
7 AI Tools That Run Your Entire One-Person Business While You Sleep (No Staff, No Code)
A new seven‑tool AI system lets solo entrepreneurs run every business layer without human supervision. The stack includes a task‑splitting model, a local file organizer, an always‑on agent, an AI software engineer, a personal‑data brain, a lead‑finding browser agent, and...
Cursor Eyes $50 Billion Valuation as AI Coding Demand Surges
Cursor, the AI‑powered coding platform, is in advanced talks to raise about $2 billion, which would push its valuation past $50 billion. The startup last November closed a $2.3 billion Series D round at a $29.3 billion valuation and reported over $1 billion in annualized revenue....
Why Most High-Growth Businesses Aren’t Built to Scale
Jefferson Dafydd argues that while high‑growth sports ventures can quickly generate revenue, most lack the infrastructure needed to sustain and scale that momentum. He highlights that growth driven by timing, hype, or single channels is fragile without repeatable sales processes,...
SoCal Industrial Veteran Benjamin Miller Launches IOS Firm
Benjamin Miller, a veteran of Southern California industrial real estate, has launched Negresco Property Group to build a $100 million‑plus portfolio of industrial outdoor storage (IOS) assets. The firm’s first acquisition is a $20.4 million, 3.15‑acre site near LAX that includes a...
Domain Listings: Building Trust in Online Directories
Domain Listings, LLC, a Las Vegas‑based business directory founded in 2013, now supports over 150,000 U.S. small businesses. The platform attracts roughly 21,000 unique visitors each month and emphasizes steady growth rather than rapid expansion. Its competitive edge lies in...
Shuttered Startups Are Selling Old Slack Chats and Emails to AI Companies
Defunct startups are monetizing their digital footprints by selling Slack messages, internal emails, and Jira tickets to AI firms. Companies like SimpleClosure have facilitated over 100 such transactions in the past year, with payouts ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per...
Epicor Partner Community
Epicor has unveiled its Partner Community as a strategic, long‑term growth engine rather than a simple reseller network. The program highlights partners that have evolved from startups into multi‑million‑dollar enterprises, underscoring the depth of the ecosystem. Epicor emphasizes that partners...
Molly Sims Says the Secret to YSE Beauty’s Success Isn’t the Product—It’s This Lesson in Extreme Patience
YSE Beauty, the premium skincare line founded by model‑turned‑entrepreneur Molly Sims, raised $3 million in seed capital and closed a $15 million Series A round before securing shelf space at Sephora in June 2025. The brand, which targets women over 35, has earned...
Edmonton Businesses Get Federal Funding to Automate Homebuilding, Manufacturing
The Government of Canada announced an $8.4 million CAD (≈$6.2 million USD) grant through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative to seven Edmonton‑area firms, targeting automation and AI to offset U.S. tariff pressures. Akash Homes will receive $1 million CAD (≈$0.74 million USD) to embed artificial intelligence...
Why Allbirds Failed as a Shoe Company—And Why Crocs and On Are Winning
Allbirds stumbled by prioritizing eco‑friendly materials over performance, leaving it vulnerable in a market that rewards speed and durability. In contrast, On’s engineering‑focused cushioning, born from a garden‑hose prototype, has captured elite endurance athletes, while Crocs capitalized on comfort, broad...
Soft-Top Surfboard Splits for Travel and Stowage
Newave, a French surf‑tech startup, has launched the WRocket – the world’s first splittable soft‑top surfboard – via Kickstarter. The board breaks into three sections that pack into an 85 × 55 × 25 cm bag and weighs 6.4 kg, yet assembles in under a minute...
Founder Liquidity Without Compromising on Growth
Founder liquidity—selling a portion of personal equity—can free up cash without forcing an exit or diluting the company. The article explains that secondary transactions let founders sell shares directly to investors, sidestepping new funding rounds. Structured deals can even preserve...
Sources: Cursor in Talks to Raise $2B+ at $50B Valuation as Enterprise Growth Surges
AI coding startup Cursor is close to a new financing round that could bring in at least $2 billion, valuing the company at roughly $50 billion. The round, led by returning backers Thrive and Andreessen Horowitz with participation from Battery Ventures and...
How Tracee Ellis Ross Used a Meeting With Ulta’s CEO to Finally Launch Pattern Beauty After 10 Years of No
After a decade of stalled attempts, actress‑entrepreneur Tracee Ellis Ross finally launched Pattern Beauty by meeting Ulta’s CEO Mary Dillon, who grasped the $‑billion opportunity in textured‑hair products. Ross bypassed traditional investors, securing direct retail backing and three operational partners...
Zenskar Secures $15 Million Series A
Zenskar, an AI-native billing and revenue automation platform, announced a $15 million Series A financing round. The round was led by Susquehanna Venture Capital with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners, Shine Capital, Rho, Rocketship, J‑Ventures, Future Back Ventures, and Converge. The capital...
Julie Sawaya on the Prenatal Nutrition Gap, Why Depletion Isn’t Normal, and Building a Company Through Four Pregnancies
Julie Sawaya, a Stanford‑trained nutritionist, discovered she was severely depleted despite a health‑focused lifestyle, prompting the creation of Needed, a perinatal nutrition company. The firm challenges the 1941‑based prenatal vitamin standards, noting that 95% of pregnant women remain nutritionally deficient...
Sage Haven Scores $3M Pre-Seed Financing
Sage Haven has launched a safer messaging and voice‑calling app aimed at children after a successful beta phase. The startup secured $3 million in pre‑seed financing, a round led by prominent Silicon Valley investors such as Hustle Fund, a16z Scout Fund,...
Battery Recycling Still Isn’t Easy. Just Ask Ascend Elements.
Ascend Elements, a battery‑disassembly startup that launched a plant near Atlanta in 2023 and is building a Kentucky facility, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 9 after losing $274 million in federal grants and facing delayed buyer commitments. The collapse reflects broader...
Uber Launches $5 Doorstep Return Pickups for Uber Eats Purchases Across 5,000 US Cities
Uber has introduced a $5 "Return a Package" service within the Uber Eats app, offering on‑demand pickup of items for return in roughly 5,000 U.S. cities. The feature works with nine retail partners, including Target, Best Buy and Dick’s Sporting Goods,...
Sportico Transactions: Moves and Mergers Roundup for April 17
The latest Sportico Transactions roundup highlights a wave of executive appointments across major sports entities, including Dan Schoenberg’s launch of Hummingbird Sports & Entertainment and Formula E’s hiring of Will Brown as chief commercial officer. Brands are deepening league ties, with Nike...
Runway Measures Survival, Not Progress. Here’s Why That Distinction Matters More Than You Think.
The article argues that runway is a survival metric, not a growth strategy. While founders obsess over months of cash on hand, cash alone didn’t rescue most 2024 failures; the missing element was a clear, high‑conviction thesis. In today’s AI‑driven,...
Kredete Partners with Visa Africa to Advance Stablecoin-Backed Card Innovation Across Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council
Kredete was highlighted at Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator Cohort 5 Demo Day for launching Africa’s first stablecoin‑backed credit card, co‑developed with Visa. The USDC‑powered card lets users in 50 African countries spend at over 150 million merchants worldwide, eliminating high FX fees...
NorthX Invests $2.2 Million in Trio of BC Wildfire Tech Startups
NorthX Climate Tech announced over $1.6 million USD in follow‑on funding for three British Columbia wildfire‑tech startups—Crwn.ai, Nova, and Skyward Wildfire. Crwn.ai receives about $726k USD to roll out 500 AI‑powered line sensors; Nova gets $444k USD to expand its drone...
Ramp Is Telling Investors It Is About to Hit $1.4 Billion in Revenue a Year, as the Company Prepares to...
Fintech startup Ramp says it will hit a $1.4 billion annual recurring revenue run rate this quarter, up from the $1 billion announced in September. The company, which offers a corporate charge card and expense‑management software, reports a 70% year‑over‑year increase in...
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Understanding Seed Capital: Definition, Process, and Example
Seed capital is the earliest financing round that covers a startup’s basic costs such as business planning, rent, equipment, and R&D. It typically comes from personal networks—family, friends, and high‑net‑worth angels—who accept high risk in exchange for loans or equity....
Naira Volatility Cost His Family. He Built an FX Platform for Businesses.
Shalom Osiadi launched Esca Finance in 2023 to give African firms a hedge against volatile local currencies using stablecoins and crypto‑backed FX services. After pivoting from a food‑delivery platform, Esca now offers automatic conversion of naira, cedi and other emerging‑market...
Expo Secures $45M and Unveils New Expo Agent Tool
Expo, the open‑source leader behind React Native, closed a $45 million Series B round led by Georgian. The funding will fuel its new "agentic" strategy, including the rollout of Expo Agent, an AI‑powered assistant embedded in its CLI to bridge the gap...
Chef Robotics Escaped the Robot Cooking Graveyard and Says It’s Thriving — Here’s Why
Chef Robotics announced it has processed 100 million robot‑deposited servings, marking a key milestone in its pivot from fast‑casual restaurant automation to large‑scale food manufacturing. The company now serves enterprise clients such as Amy’s Kitchen, Chef Bombay, and a major school‑lunch...
Venture Capital Is Missing a Market — And It’s Costing Billions
Eva Longoria announced a $1 million investment to create data infrastructure for Latina entrepreneurs, highlighting a systemic blind spot in venture capital. The article argues that VC funding gaps stem not from a lack of capital but from the absence of...
Designer Travel
Designer Travel, a multi‑award‑winning luxury travel network, supports over 190 self‑employed Professional Travel Experts across the UK from a Lancashire head office. Agents receive a personalised website, marketing tools and a flexible home‑working package that includes a £50 (≈$62) monthly...
Exclusive: David Protein Scales Alt-Fat EPG Capacity, Eyes CPG Deals as CEO Targets $300m Revenues in 2026
David Protein, founded by RXBAR creator Peter Rahal, has quintupled production of its low‑calorie fat replacer EPG after acquiring Epogee. The company aims to generate more than $300 million in revenue by 2026 and is courting major CPG partners while expanding...
Rawcology Scales with AMI Partnership, Niagara Retail Debut
Toronto‑based functional snack brand Rawcology announced a joint venture with AM Ingredients (AMI) that gives it access to a 19,000‑square‑foot manufacturing plant and a 50,000‑square‑foot cross‑docking hub in Niagara‑on‑the‑Lake. The new infrastructure will enable coast‑to‑coast distribution, support a second Costco...