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Shopify launches initiative to expand partner program (BETAKIT)
Shopify said the goal of the changes are to help its partners adapt to constant change amid shifting consumer trends and supply chain issues, among other macroeconomic factors impacting retail.
Amazon's corporate employees will be paid up to 50% less in 2023 because of its falling stock price, report says (INSIDER)
Salaries this year are likely 15% to 50% lower than the estimations given to Amazon staff, people familiar with the matter told the Journal. Employees' annual salaries are generally made up of cash compensation and awards of restricted stock units, but because of the 35% decline in Amazon's stock this year, total compensation is set to drop sharply.
Despite market conditions, 2022 second-highest year on record for Canadian venture capital (BETAKIT)
In the fourth quarter, $2.5 billion CAD was invested across 162 deals, closing the year with $10 billion across 706 deals.
In contrast, the third quarter of 2022 showed an annual and quarter-over-quarter decline with just $896 million invested across 144 VC deals.
Calling all hardware and semiconductor-focused startups!
ventureLAB is excited to announce the application call for our Hardware Catalyst Initiative program is now open.
As Canada’s leading Hardware Hub, the Hardware Catalyst Initiative program enables the creation of transformative technologies that will power the products of tomorrow, helping ventures become competitive players in the ever changing global semiconductor industry.
Chosen applicants will have access to state-of-the-art equipment in our $7M+ lab, in addition to tools, resources, expertise, and mentorship to get your product off the ground.
EBay's bleak warning for first half of 2023 slams shares (REUTERS)
Shares fell nearly 6% in trading after the bell, reversing from a 2% rise just after the results. "While we do see potential for an improvement in underlying economic conditions as the year progresses, it is too early to predict the second half recovery," Chief Financial Officer Steve Priest said during a call with analysts.
OMERS Ventures enters 2023 with new playbook as firm looks to launch fifth fund this year (BETAKIT)
Four years after John Ruffolo's departure, OMERS Ventures has built its global venture fund out of Canada. But 2023 has brought more changes for the firm: with plans to launch its fifth fund this year, OMERS Ventures has overhauled its operational structure and unified under one global investment committee.
Indigo employees’ personal information breached as part of ransomware attack on retailer (GLOBE AND MAIL)
Late on Thursday, Indigo president Andrea Limbardi wrote to the company’s staffers with her signature at the bottom of a lengthy memo. “We recently learned that your personal information may have been acquired by an unauthorized third party between Jan. 16, 2023, and Feb. 8, 2023,” Ms. Limbardi said.
Felix Health CFO Paritosh Gupta on why finance leaders need a new approach to risk (BETAKIT)
Speaking on the Float Retained Learnings podcast, Gupta shared more about his belief that CFOs need to learn to experiment more.
E-Commerce Logistics Firm Spreetail Lands Large $208M Raise (CRUNCHBASE)
The Lincoln-based e-commerce logistics and channel management company closed a $208 million funding round, which the company said “was supported by McCarthy Capital, internal management, and other investors.”
Shopify posts 26 percent YoY revenue jump, but growth still below pandemic highs (BETAKIT)
The Ottawa-based e-commerce giant released its Q4 and full-year 2022 financial results today following market close, posting total revenue of $1.7 billion in Q4 and topping analyst expectations.
Amazon backs Indian meat startup FreshToHome in $104 million funding (TECHCRUNCH)
Amazon, through its India-focused Smbhav Venture Fund, has led a $104 million Series D financing round in the Bengaluru-headquartered startup, the two companies said Tuesday. The new round for the startup, which also counts the development arm of the American government among its backers, also saw participation from the government of Dubai and Iron Pillar.
Proposed regulations for Retail Payment Activities Act open for public comment (BETAKIT)
Bank of Canada’s Ron Morrow: “It is your one chance to shape the regime.”
Was the $5bn that VCs plugged into escooters worth it? (SIFTED)
Escooter sharing services have already been banned in Barcelona, while the Netherlands doesn’t permit any escooters on the roads. In many cities around Europe operators now have to gain a licence or win a tender in order to put their vehicles on the streets. In the UK, councils are currently running trials to see how people find shared escooter services on their streets.
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