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This week brought a mix of serious headlines and splashy moves. On one end, regulators and retailers are making decisions that could directly affect your wallet and grocery cartfrom FICO shaking up how mortgage lenders handle credit scores to Walmart promising cleaner labels on its private-label food. On the other, cultural and corporate forces collided in ways that only 2025 could deliver: Starbucks is closing stores (many of them unionized), and Taylor Swift is rolling out a new album and a three-day movie event thats giving theaters a rare box office jolt. Here are some of the week’s biggest stories. More pasta recalled after deadly listeria outbreak Retailers added new ready-to-eat pasta items to ongoing listeria-related recalls this week, including products from Trader Joe’s and Albertsons. The CDC ties the outbreak back to August 2024. Cases have currently risen to 20 this year, with four fatalities and 19 hospitalizations. Quantum computing stocks leapagain Rigetti, D-Wave, IonQ, and Quantum Computing Inc. notched double-digit daily pops, extending huge 12-month runs. Rigetti landed a $5.7 million order for two upgradable 9-qubit Novera systems; D-Wave touted a U.K. police pilot that sped up response-time modeling. Fans see early commercial traction; skeptics say the hype is still miles ahead of revenues. Big banks eye relief as capital rules get rewritten Trump-era regulators are crafting the most sweeping capital update since 2008, easing parts of the Basel Endgame, recalibrating GSIB surcharges, and tailoring leverage constraints. Industry sources expect systemwide capital to be flat at worstmaybe lower for some mega-banks. Critics warn softer buffers could bite if the economy wobbles. Walmart is cleaning up its private-label ingredients Walmart announced plans this week to eliminate the use of synthetic dyes and 30 additives across its Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed, and Bettergoods brands by January 2027. The move follows federal nudges to phase out dyes and taps consumer demand for simpler labels. Walmart says 90% of its private-label items are already dye-free, with more reformulations rolling out soon. Starbucks closings include 59 unionized stores As part of a $1 billion Back to Starbucks overhaul, the company will close about 1% of North American stores by the end of 2025 while opening others. Starbucks Workers United says 59 of the closing cafés are unionized; the company says union status wasnt a factor and is offering transfers or severance. KB Home hints Florida discounts went too far After cutting hard to revive demand, KB Home says Florida orders bouncedand some communities may now see price increases. Management points to fewer housing starts and cost reductions as tailwinds. Not an all-clear for the whole state, but the tone has shifted from defense to cautious optimism. FICO upends mortgage-score distribution Fair Isaac Corp. will let mortgage lenders license FICO scores directlyskipping the credit bureausand says per-score costs could fall up to 50%. FICO shares ripped higher; Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax slumped on margin worries. The change follows public pressure from housing regulators to boost competition and lower fees. Taylor Swifts 3-day film window = scarcity play Alongside her 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl, Swift is premiering a companion film in AMC, Cinemark, and Regal multiplexes this weekend for just three days (Oct. 35). Its the same scarcity engine behind her limited-edition dropsand a studio-free win for theaters. Great for Swift-level stars; not a plug-and-play model for everyone else. Tesla sued over Cybertruck doors after fatal crash A new suit alleges electronic door releases failed in a fiery crash, trapping a 19-year-old passenger; manual releases require finding concealed cables. It adds to complaints and investigations around Teslas button-operated doors. Tesla has floated redesigns that blend mechanical and electronic releases to address panic scenarios. New Yorks inflation refund checks are in the mail New York is sending onetime checks of $150 to $400 to 8.2 million households through October and November. Eligibility is based on 2023 filing status and adjusted gross income (AGI); no application is needed, but make sure your address is current with the state if you’re a NY resident.
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E-Commerce
In recent years, Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) has become more predominant since it offers more flexibility than the traditional VC model. It is designed perfectly for corporations, family offices, and sovereign wealth funds that want to engage in startup investment without managing a full-fledged VC team. Lets understand the mechanics behind VCaaS and why corporations are embracing it. What is VCaaS? As an innovative, effective model, VCaaS is designed with an established VC firm which works for a corporation or institutional client to invest on its behalf. By using this model, the corporation or client benefits from startup innovation, access to deals, and active portfolio engagement, while avoiding the cost and trouble of setting up its own VC organization. There are a number of unique ways VCaaS works to benefit corporations and startups. Corporations typically want to become more innovative and this model makes this happen. Unique Fund Structure: VCaaS uses a co-investment or Limited Partner focus. By doing so, the corporation involved can set its own priorities, including sectors of investment, technology focus, and area of the world to invest in. This provides a great deal of flexibility to the investing corporation. Dedicated Team (without the hiring headache): A team of experienced investors from the experienced VCaaS firm acts on behalf of the corporate client. By working with such seasoned investors, the corporation benefits from a well-established organization with experts who are looking out for their priorities. Diligence and Deal Sourcing: Since the VC firm involved has strong experience, they can sort out startups based on the corporations goals, deliver strong deal flow, and run due diligencemaking sure all of this goes smoothly. Because VC investors work with startups continuously, they can quickly and effectively find the best fit. Process of Decision-Making Process: This unique model lets corporations make as manyor as fewdecisions as they want to. Some are involved throughout the startup selection process, while others simply want to sign off on final investment decisions. Corporations participate in the process as they want to, without compromise. Management of the Portfolio: Once investments are made, the VC firm makes life easy for the corporation by managing the startup portfolio on a continual basis. They will check on how the startups are doing financially, keep in touch with them, and give the corporation regular updates. This allows for high transparency and flexibility based on how the corporation wants to work. Why VCaaS is Gaining Ground Corporate and institutional investors are increasingly turning to VCaaS because they see its financial and business upside. Investing in startups is an increasingly important practice that is critical for corporations to become more innovative. Corporations count on VCaaS as an effective, reliable, flexible, and affordable model. They appreciate the following benefits: Fast speed to market since there is no need to build an internal VC organization nor hire internal investors Substantial global deal access via the experience VC firm that invests on behalf of the corporation Strong strategic alignment between corporate investment and business priorities High level of operational efficiency with minimal internal cost or burden Brand benefit from being seen as an innovation playerwithout the risk of a mismanaged internal venture effort VCaaS Case Studies Several case studies come to mind that demonstrate the effectiveness of the VCaaS model. These show how corporations can become more innovative by relying on a trusted VC partner. Sunny Health: A diversified Japanese corporation, Sunny Health partnered with Pegasus Tech Ventures to build a 350 billion ($2.4 trillion) innovation fund focused on AI, health technology, renewable energy, and deep tech. By partnering, the company avoided building its own internal VC organization from scratch. Aisin: As a global supplier of car components and systems, Aisin is known for its innovation as an automotive leader. The company relied on VCaaS to invest in electronics and mobility startups while staying aligned with its own R&D. By investing, Aisin accelerates the development of future mobility technologies, allowing the company to grow more quickly and surpass competition. Alchemist Accelerator and Siemens: Working together, Siemens enhanced its startup investment program by working with Alchemist Accelerator using the VCaaS model. Together they focus on startups in the industrial Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence sectors. One example of success is Rigado, a smart city connectivity-focused startup driving unique solutions. Qualcomm Ventures and Tech Mahindra: Indian consulting and IT firm Tech Mahindra worked with Qualcomm Venturesusing the VCaaS modelto invest in telecom and 5G startups. Together they invested in Pensa Systems, a standout in the drone and AI industry. Whats Next in VCaaS The recent growth of Venture Capital-as-a-Service is due to its effectiveness and flexibility for corporations seeking to become more innovative. By using this model, companies experience transparency and benefit from an investment model that aligns with their strategic goals, technical priorities, and timeline, without unnecessary overhead.
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E-Commerce
They made things exciting. You thought you were in love. And now a week has gone by with no reply. Odds are theyre not getting back to you. But dont take it personally: Were all ensnared in a ghosting epidemic. According to the Thriving Center for Psychology, one in four Gen Zers and millennials have been ghosted after just a few dates. And to twist the knife even deeper, one in ten report being ghosted after a couple of months of dating. Tragically familiar, isnt it? Brands like Sweethearts have been quick to capitalize on the reality of today’s dating landscape. In 2024, the heart-shaped candy brand launched “Situationship Boxes,” featuring candies stamped with intentionally misprinted messages that capture the ambiguity of modern relationships. This year, the brand is unveiling “Ghosted Sweethearts.” The all-white conversation hearts are as blank as that text thread youre still waiting on, the brand says. Sweethearts arent just for Valentines Day anymore, said Evan Brock, vice president of marketing at Spangler Candy Co., the 119-year-old confectioner behind Sweethearts. With Ghosted Sweethearts, were poking fun at one of datings spookiest phenomenons and staking our claim on Halloween. Why are brands diving into Gen Zs miserable dating world? The answer lies in the bigger picture: Unrelenting rejection is feeding a generation-wide panic. As reported by Business Insider earlier this year, Gen Z has already been labeled the most anxious, stressed, burned-out, and lonely generationand now its members are facing historic levels of romantic rejection. Infinite possibilities are just a click, swipe, or DM away, but so is infinite rejection. Young adults have more doors to knock on than ever beforefrom jobs to friendships to loveand more doors slammed shut in their faces. Last year, a Hinge survey of 15,000 daters found that 90% of Gen Z respondents want to find love but fear of rejection is holding them back. Nearly half admit they have little to no dating experience. More than half say worrying about rejection has stopped them from pursuing someone, and theyre 10% more likely than millennials to report having missed their shot entirely. Rejection is intimidating for everyone, but Gen Z daters seem to feel it more acutely, said Logan Ury, director of relationship science at Hinge. Sweethearts isnt the first brand to get a laugh out of Gen Zs somber dating scene. In fact, brands have been capitalizing on the struggles of swipe-based dating for years. In 2016, Doritos ran a Super Bowl campaign called “Swipe for Doritos” that poked fun at online dating and rejection. It seems brands have caught on to the despair woven into the tragic love stories of digital-first datersand they’ve wasted no time entering the chat.
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E-Commerce
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