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Fine jewelry ecommerce startup Mejuri raises $5 million to open physical stores (BETAKIT)
The round was led by London-based venture firm Felix Capital.
DMS Recommends: Digital Main Street Launches Across Ontario to Help Small Businesses Adopt Digital Practices (DIGITALMAINSTREET)
Digital Main Street will expand across the province with the support of the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) and the province of Ontario. The OBIAA said that as of today, Digital Main Street will be live and available through OBIAA to Ontario’s “main street” businesses.
Hubba adds former Amazon lead as CTO (BETAKIT)
Hubba CEO Ben Zifkin said Singh will help in two ways: optimizing Hubba’s data, and building an engineering culture that can scale.
The end of Amazon (BUSINESSOFFASION)
“Amazon, whose market cap crossed $1 trillion last week, is a once-in-a-generation phenomenon that will almost certainly prove to be one of the largest and most powerful companies in the history of the world. And it’s this very fact that should most worry Amazon — and anyone doing business with it.”
Walmart partners with delivery logistics platform Bringg on last-mile grocery delivery (TECHCRUNCH)
Bringg will help Walmart by offering the retailer the ability to optimize driver schedules, automatically dispatch orders, and allow drivers to communicate their availability. It will also send drivers smart alerts to ensure they don’t miss deliveries.
Alibaba’s Jack Ma, China’s richest man, to retire from company he co-founded (NYTIMES)
Alibaba’s co-founder and executive chairman, Jack Ma, said he planned to step down from the Chinese e-commerce giant on Monday to pursue philanthropy in education, a changing of the guard for the $420 billion internet company.
ShipBob brings in $40M to help e-commerce businesses compete with Amazon (TECHCRUNCH)
The funding was led by Menlo Ventures, with participation from Bain Capital Ventures, Hyde Park Venture Partners, Hyde Park Angels, and Y Combinator.
eBay now tells you if that luxury watch you want is real (CNET)
Nearly 7,000 authenticated luxury watches are available on the e-commerce site.
With $4.75 million in funding, thisopenspace team launches retail pop-up brand Uppercase (BETAKIT)
Uppercase helps online brands expand into physical retail.
Instagram is working on a standalone shopping app because of course it is (QZ)
“IG Shopping,” which is sepate from the main Instagram app, will allow people to browse items from businesses and merchants they follow, and buy them directly within the app.
Udaan, the e-commerce startup led by three former Flipkart executives, raises $225M (TECHCRUNCH)
Udaan’s mobile app connects 150,000 traders, wholesalers and retailers in India, enabling small- and medium-sized businesses to do business directly with manufacturers.