MealMe raised $8M in Series A funding, bringing its total to $16M. Founded as a consumer app in 2019, MealMe has transitioned into a B2B API provider, powering food and retail ordering within apps. The API connects over 1M stores and restaurants across the U.S. and Canada. The company plans to expand into broader e-commerce and AI. Investors include Mercury Fund, Gaingels, and Palm Drive Capital.

San Francisco-based Coframe raised $9.3M from Khosla Ventures and NFDG. The startup’s AI platform optimizes websites, adjusting UX based on user behavior and boosting sales. In testing, Coframe achieved a 42% increase in click-through rates, with one segment seeing a 352% lift. Coframe partners with OpenAI to streamline code for personalized user interfaces.

Klarna now offers payment options on Apple Pay for users in the U.S. and UK, allowing them to buy items now and pay later. Klarna’s “Pay in 4” plan gives customers four installments, interest-free. With iOS 18, shoppers can select Klarna as a payment option online and in-app on Apple devices. Klarna plans to expand to Canada in the coming months.

Optiwise.ai raised $2.4M in seed funding to expand Olivia, an AI assistant designed to enhance listings and ads for Walmart Marketplace sellers. Olivia analyzes product listings, offers tailored keyword and pricing suggestions, and even adapts content from Amazon for Walmart. The funding will support Olivia's growth and enable sellers to maximize holiday sales. StartupXseed Ventures led the funding, betting on Optiwise.ai’s ability to transform Walmart sales through AI-powered automation. With Optiwise.ai’s integrated strategy, sellers are set for increased conversions and smoother compliance with Walmart standards.

DoorDash exceeded Q3 earnings predictions, reporting $2.7B in revenue—a 25% increase year-over-year. With 643M total orders and a partnership with Lyft, the company continues to innovate, drawing closer to its competition, Uber Eats. CEO Tony Xu highlighted their expansion in grocery delivery and the new partnership benefits. DoorDash is also exploring autonomous delivery, though mass deployment isn’t expected soon.

7-Eleven will open 600+ New Standard stores in North America by 2027. This new format offers a broader food and beverage range and aims to strengthen the brand amid declining fuel profits and cigarette sales. The company also plans to close 444 underperforming locations to focus on profitable stores. Initial New Standard stores, which launched in Texas, have shown 11% returns on invested capital and outperformed previous store formats by 30% in sales. 7-Eleven is working to rebuild its financial base, with 115 stores to open by the end of 2024.

Tony Hoggett, Amazon’s SVP of grocery stores, is leaving after nearly three years. His departure marks a pivotal moment as Amazon Fresh rapidly expands, surpassing 50 stores and adopting new designs. Amazon has not announced a successor, but Hoggett's influence has been key, helping Amazon integrate grocery offerings across brands, including Whole Foods. His last day is Nov. 1, 2024, capping off an impactful period of growth and innovation.

Estée Lauder is now on Amazon's Premium Beauty Store, allowing customers to shop its skincare and makeup products with added features like an exclusive Shade Finder for "Double Wear" foundation. The launch includes a sports-themed campaign, “Game Day, Your Way,” promoting the products to female sports fans via Prime Video. Holiday Beauty Haul discounts will be available through November 3rd.

AliExpress is launching a promotion to attract U.S. retailers, waiving commission fees and onboarding costs. The move offers local sellers access to a global audience. AliExpress also provides tools to simplify setup and optimize sales, aiming to boost U.S. participation in a competitive eCommerce landscape with rivals Temu, Amazon, and Walmart vying for market share.

Amazon’s Rufus AI shopping assistant, which supports search, comparisons, and recommendations, expands to Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Launched in the U.S. earlier this year, Rufus leverages Amazon’s data on customer reviews and product information to offer targeted recommendations. Shoppers can use the AI assistant through the latest Amazon app update. Amazon also announced investments of $230M to advance AI projects as it accelerates its presence in generative AI.

Bausch + Lomb launched Opal, a digital marketplace for contact lenses, aiming to simplify ordering and improve patient experience. The platform allows 24/7 ordering, integrates loyalty rewards, and offers free shipping for practices and patients.

Squarespace goes private in a $7.2B deal with Permira, finalized in October 2024. Initially set at $6.9B, Permira upped its offer to $7.2B, equating to $44.50 per share. CEO Anthony Casalena retains a significant equity share and leadership role.

Wayfair unveils Wayfair Rewards, a $29/year loyalty program. Customers get 5% back on purchases, free shipping, and special sales access. With perks like priority support, the program aims to drive customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Stripe's $1.1B acquisition of Bridge Network is a rare win for VCs during a dry IPO market. This deal, announced in October 2024, marks a 200% valuation boost for Bridge since August, rewarding investors like Index Ventures and Haun Ventures. Stripe, known for its payment solutions, aims to strengthen its position in the stablecoin payments space through this deal. The transaction, pending regulatory approval, is expected to close in a few months. Patrick Collison of Stripe calls this a major move in the $160B stablecoin market.

Salesforce now offers integrated ecommerce storefronts within its Starter and Pro Suites, targeting small and growing businesses. Available in the U.S. starting October 22, 2024, these suites combine marketing, sales, service, and now commerce in one package.

Facebook launches Local and Explore tabs to connect users with local content and interests. Messenger Communities aim to help small groups interact. AI tools like Comment Summaries enhance user experience. Tests roll out in 10 U.S. cities.

Apple’s Business Connect now lets all businesses, even without physical locations, manage their brand across Apple apps like Maps, Wallet, and Mail. Over 1B users can access accurate business info, driving brand visibility and trust.

Grubhub partners with Amazon Key for delivery access in restricted buildings. Nearly 1M deliveries completed with the system, reducing team calls by 50% and order cancellations by 22%. Integration started in 2022, scaling nationwide by 2024.

Walmart will offer prescription delivery in the U.S. by early 2025. Available in 49 states, the service promises delivery in 30 minutes, reaching over 86% of households. Walmart+ members get it for free; others pay $9.95 per order.

Poshmark reverses a fee structure change after sellers reported a sales drop. The new fee plan had a 5.99% fee for both buyers and sellers, but sellers saw a decline in purchases. Original fees return on October 24, with rebates offered.

Mike Jeffries, ex-CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, and partner Matthew Smith face charges of sex-trafficking. They allegedly coerced men into sexual acts using wealth and influence. A New York court granted Jeffries a $10M bond, while Smith remains detained.

Amazon has eliminated plastic air pillows from its global packaging. As of October 2024, all North American shipments now use 100% recycled paper fillers. The change aligns with a broader shift to reduce plastic by 17% in 2022 and 9% in 2023.

Amazon now offers Prime members a 10 cents/gallon discount at 7,000 BP, Amoco, and AM/PM stations. Members must enroll in Earnify for access. This comes four years after Walmart+ introduced similar gas perks. EV charging savings will follow in 2025.

Amazon is testing a new feature that highlights seller ratings in product search results. This aims to help shoppers make informed decisions by seeing seller credibility directly. With 60% of units sold by third-party sellers, the change could reshape shopping habits.

Amazon is launching a new budget store to compete with Temu and Shein. The store will sell items like $20 sofas and $8 jewelry. Products ship from China, taking 9-11 days. Fulfillment fees for sellers are lower than Amazon’s main platform.

Storfund has launched its Daily Advance solution with TikTok Shop in the US, offering quicker payouts to sellers. Sellers can now access cash as soon as goods are shipped, halving cash cycles from 14 to 7 days. This partnership aims to enhance seller growth and improve the cash flow of high-growth ecommerce businesses.

autone has raised $17M in a Series A funding led by General Catalyst. The platform uses AI to optimize inventory management, helping retailers reduce inventory by 55% and increase sales by 30%. The funding will accelerate its US and European expansion, aiming to make inventory decisions more accurate and sustainable. Existing investors like Speedinvest, YCombinator, and business angels from LVMH and Moncler reinvested. autone works with 50 global brands and is positioning itself to tackle mid-market retail complexities by integrating data-driven insights and predictive analytics.

Uber is in early discussions to acquire Expedia for $20B, marking a strategic shift beyond car travel and food delivery. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, who led Expedia from 2005 to 2017, may return to his travel roots. Expedia’s stock surged 5% on the news.

General Motors is converting OnStar into an e-commerce platform. It will offer Super Cruise plans, auto insurance, SiriusXM, and accessories. This shift aims to streamline shopping for services with a responsive, flexible system.

Starting soon, canceling subscriptions like Amazon Prime or streaming services will be as simple as signing up. The FTC's new "click-to-cancel" rule is designed to eliminate obstacles, going into effect 180 days after publication.

Square introduced a new Orders Platform in Q3 2024 to help U.S. sellers. The platform offers flexible options like pre-authorization, bar tabs, and subscriptions. This shift aims to improve business operations and customer experiences.

Apple Pay celebrates 10 years with new features in iOS 18. Users can redeem rewards from Discover cards and use Klarna's flexible payments. Installment loans are available with Affirm in the US and Monzo in the UK, expanding payment flexibility.

WP Engine files for an injunction to restore access to WordPress.org after being banned by co-creator Matt Mullenweg following a lawsuit. The company seeks to return to its pre-September 20, 2024, status to update its plugins.

Serve Robotics has introduced its third-gen robots for Uber Eats. These bots are faster, carry 15% more, and run for six more hours daily. The company plans to roll out 250 units in L.A. by Q1 2025, aiming for $60M–$80M in revenue.

Uber Eats users can now create shareable lists of their favorite meals. Food influencers like Sam Roby are joining the fun, curating lists for Uber Eats. This is the latest in a series of changes, including fresh produce delivery and driverless cars.

Amazon is joining the nuclear energy race alongside Google and Microsoft. The tech giant has signed deals to develop several small modular reactors (SMRs), aiming to meet its carbon-neutral target by 2040 while supporting the growing energy demands of AI. The company’s agreements include partnerships with Energy Northwest and Dominion Energy. This shift reflects Big Tech’s response to rising carbon footprints from AI-driven data centers, which could account for 9% of U.S. electricity by 2030.

Amazon extends its returns window for items bought between Nov 1 and Dec 31, 2024. Shoppers can return these items until Jan 31, 2025. Apple products have a shorter window, eligible for returns until Jan 15, 2025.

Amazon Ads unveiled AI Creative Studio and Audio Generator at unBoxed 2024. These tools simplify ad creation by using AI to generate content, from images to audio, in minutes. Early users saw a 5% sales increase from AI-powered ads.

OroCommerce launched AI SmartAgent and SmartOrder to revolutionize B2B sales. These tools enhance the customer experience by automating catalog navigation and offline purchase orders, improving speed and accuracy.

Dave Clark, ex-Amazon CEO, raised $100M to start Auger, an AI-driven supply chain platform. Auger promises real-time insights and improved efficiency for businesses. Clark aims to fix inefficiencies he calls "human problems," like delays and high prices.

Pinterest unveils its new Performance+ Suite, blending AI and automation to supercharge ad campaigns. Prada saw a 64% CPA reduction, and Walgreens achieved 55% more clicks. The tools are available globally for advertisers in multiple markets.

TikTok is facing lawsuits from 13 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. They accuse it of causing harm to young users, citing mental health impacts and addiction to its app. The lawsuits aim to increase financial penalties on the platform.

The US government is considering dismantling Google after it was found guilty of violating antitrust laws. The Department of Justice may recommend separating its search engine from Android, Chrome, and Play Store.

Google updates AI-powered tools in Search, making it easier to find information visually, by video, and voice. Lens now handles 20B visual searches monthly. AI Overviews and voice search boost satisfaction and engagement.

Allbirds, known for sustainability, will offer shoe deliveries through Uber Eats. Starting near stores in San Francisco, LA, Chicago, and New York, Uber Eats will use bikes and EVs for eco-friendly last-mile delivery. This expands Allbirds’ distribution efforts after launching on Amazon in 2023.

DoorDash has expanded its partnership with Wegmans across six states and added four new local grocers to its marketplace, including Kowalski’s, Mar-Val, Geissler’s, and Milam’s. This is part of DoorDash's continued effort to grow its grocery delivery services and diversify beyond restaurants.

Sam’s Club will open its first-ever checkout-free store in Grapevine, Texas on Oct. 17, 2024. Shoppers will use the Scan & Go app for purchases, marking a shift in the retailer’s tech-driven strategy. CEO Chris Nicholas highlighted the move to eliminate friction for customers.

Instacart is adding interactive games, location-based coupons, and aisle-aware ads to its Caper Carts. These innovations, aimed at enhancing the in-store experience, increase customer engagement while offering new ad opportunities for brands.

Amazon will let Prime members in Phoenix get same-day deliveries for both groceries and Amazon products. The company is expanding this service and adding micro-fulfillment centers and low-cost grocery items to compete with rivals like Walmart.

Kroger's Boost members now get a Disney+, Hulu, or ESPN+ subscription. Members paying $99 annually can enjoy a full year, while $59 members get 6 months free. This follows similar moves by Walmart and Amazon to boost subscriptions with entertainment perks.