Investments
Fresha Raises $80 Million to Bring AI to Beauty Scheduling
May 21, 2026

Beauty-and-wellness scheduling software firm Fresha is now a $1 billion company. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today. By completing...

Artificial Intelligence
President Trump Delays AI Executive Order Over Competitiveness Concerns
May 21, 2026

President Donald Trump delayed signing an executive order that would have given the United States government more oversight over the artificial intelligence industry. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no...

Transportation
Fleetworthy Debuts Enhancements to Its Fleet Readiness Platform
May 21, 2026

Fleet management software company Fleetworthy has unveiled what it calls three major enhancements to its platform. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS...

Investments
Variational Raises $50 Million for On-Chain Derivatives Protocol
May 21, 2026

On-chain derivatives trading protocol Variational has raised $50 million in new funding. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today. By...

B2B Payments
Stablecoins Target B2B Settlement as Marketplaces Scale
May 21, 2026

Stablecoins have always been an answer in search of the right problem. As issuers chase a breakout scaling moment across a crowded field of use cases, one opportunity is drawing serious institutional attention: the back-end settlement infrastructure connecting global B2B marketplaces, where trillions in commerce...

Investments
Hark Raises $700 Million For AI Hardware Development
May 21, 2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) lab Hark has been valued at $6 billion following a $700 million funding round. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. yesSubscribe to our...

Economy
UK Business Activity Hits 13-Month Low Due to Middle East War
May 21, 2026

Business activity in the United Kingdom is declining amid a “perfect storm” of economic factors, said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS...

Retail
Fanatics Builds Data Engine to Personalize Sports Commerce
May 21, 2026

A sports fan’s relationship with their team doesn’t stay in the stands. It follows them online, into team stores, onto betting apps and through endless searches for the right jersey at the right moment. For a retailer sitting at the center of that behavior, the...

Artificial Intelligence
Microsoft and EY Team to Promote Corporate AI Adoption
May 21, 2026

Microsoft is working with professional services network EY to help companies launch AI projects. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today. By completing...