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Ritual reportedly raises $29.8 million CAD following COVID-19 layoffs (BETAKIT)
Toronto-based food ordering and mobile pickup startup Ritual has reportedly raised $29.8 million CAD ($22 million USD) from existing investors.
Amazon reportedly considering $2 billion stake in Indian telecom operator Bharti Airtel (TECHCRUNCH)
Amazon.com may follow its American peer Facebook’s footsteps in securing a slice of India’s booming telecom market.
Pakistan’s Tajir raises $1.8 million for its B2B ecommerce marketplace that helps mom-and-pop stores source inventory (MENABYTES)
The investment came from San Francisco-based Pioneer Fund, Singapore’s Golden Gate Ventures, Pakistan’s Fatima Gobi Ventures, Pakistan-focused VC Karavan, Dubai-based VentureSouq, and different angel investors (with some from the Middle East).
Fashion e-commerce startup BlackCart raises $2.8 million CAD to fast-track platform launch (BETAKIT)
BlackCart, a Toronto-based fashion and e-commerce startup, is coming out of beta with $2.8 million CAD in new seed funding.
Online used car seller Vroom raises IPO price range (FINANCIAL POST)
Online used car seller Vroom Inc on Friday increased the target range for its U.S. initial public offering, looking to raise up to $375 million, as the IPO market gathers steam after the COVID-19 pandemic put several debuts on hold.
Pinterest adds a Shop tab to Lens visual search results (ADWEEK)
Pinterest continued to combine visual search and ecommerce with its introduction of a Shop tab in the results generated by its Lens visual search tool.
Toronto ShopHERE initiative goes national with $1 million investment from Google Canada (BETAKIT)
Google Canada is committing $1 million to Digital Main Street’s ShopHERE program, which will be used to expand the program across Canada.
Portobel turns food producers into direct-to-consumer businesses (TECHCRUNCH)
A startup called Portobel is working to help food producers shift their businesses so they can support direct-to-consumer deliveries.
Alibaba launches credit for SMBs buyers on its platform (PYMNTS)
Alibaba.com is rolling out a new program that aims to make it easier for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to enter the world of global trading.
Ontario enacts temporary change to layoff regulations to help businesses with recovery (BETAKIT)
The Ontario government announced temporary changes to labour laws, hoping to protect employees from permanent layoffs and businesses from potential closures.
Milan-based inVRsion, virtual reality startup, raises €3 million (EU STARTUPS)
These virtual reality services support B2B activities such as trade marketing negotiations, shopper research and training, as well as B2C activities, like virtual reality e-commerce.