The Retail Times is a weekly newsletter covering retail tech news from Canada and around the globe.
Subscribe to R|T using the form at the bottom of this page to ensure you don’t miss out on the most important retail tech news every week!
New partnership allows Shopify merchants to sell products on Walmart website (BETAKIT)
Shopify has partnered with retail giant Walmart to allow Shopify’s merchants in the United States to sell their products on Walmart’s website.
Amazon expands Flex delivery program to more than 35 cities in India (TECHCRUNCH)
The e-commerce giant, which completed seven years in the country this month, launched the Amazon Flex delivery program in India last June.
YouTube leans into shoppable ads ahead of NewFronts panel (ADWEEK)
Amid a pandemic that has wreaked havoc on brick-and-mortar shopping, YouTube wants to make it easier for retailers to display their inventory to online video watchers.
AI startup Rubikloud to be acquired by Ottawa-based Kinaxis for $81.4 million CAD (BETAKIT)
Toronto-based artificial intelligence (AI) startup Rubikloud will be acquired by Ottawa-based software company Kinaxis for $81.4 million CAD.
Zycada raises $19 million for AI that speeds up web content delivery (VENTUREBEAT)
According to a spokesperson, the bulk of the capital will be put toward product development, go-to-market efforts, and the launch of a solution for ecommerce customers.
Helsinki-based Swappie raises $40 million Series B to expand refurbished smartphone marketplace across Europe (TECH.EU)
Founded in 2016 by Sami Marttinen and Jiri Heinonen (CMO), Swappie refurbishes smartphones and sells directly to consumers via its online store.
Federal government launching national contact tracing app in collaboration with Shopify, BlackBerry (BETAKIT)
Canada is set to launch a national app for contact tracing that was developed in partnership with Canadian tech companies Shopify and BlackBerry.
Stockwell, the AI-vending machine startup formerly known as Bodega, is shutting down July 1 (TECHCRUNCH)
TechCrunch has learned and confirmed that Stockwell will be shutting down, after it was unable to find a viable business for its in-building app-controlled “smart” vending machines stocked with convenience store items.
Your brand may be compliant, but are your tech partners? (MYTOTALRETAIL)
After massive data breaches at some of the nation’s largest retailers, today’s retail companies are being held to a higher standard of compliance than ever before.
Outer, a sustainable outdoor furniture startup, raises $4.3M in seed funds (BIZJOURNALS)
Outer, a direct-to-consumer outdoor furniture brand, has raised $4.3 million in seed funds to launch new products and expand its direct-sales retail model.
Construction delivery startup GoFor Industries raises $9.8 million seed round (BETAKIT)
Ottawa-based logistics software startup GoFor Industries has raised a $9.8 million CAD seed round.