October 06, 2023
FinTech IPO Index Slides 3% as Affirm and Blend Lead...

The FinTech IPO Index gave up nearly 3%, coming into the end of the first full trading week of the fourth quarter. Affirm led declining names, sliding 16% through the...

October 05, 2023
Cobre Raises $13 Million to Expand Payment Automation Platform

Cobre has reportedly raised $13 million to take its treasury platform beyond its native Colombia. As TechCrunch reported Thursday (Oct. 5), the company plans to enter Mexico next year, while also updating...

October 05, 2023
Mastercard Teams With Peacock and Instacart as Consumers Seek Rewards

Mastercard has debuted its first streaming subscription offering via a partnership with Peacock. That collaboration is one of two announced Thursday (Oct. 5) by the payments giant, which is also expanding its earlier...

October 05, 2023
Veeps Launches All-Access Concert Subscription as Streaming Finds New Niches

As more types of media become streamable, Live Nation-owned livestream concert platform Veeps is launching an all-access subscription. The streaming company announced Tuesday (Oct. 3) the launch of Veeps All...

October 04, 2023
Kroger’s Home Chef Launches Heat-and-Eat Meals as Consumers Seek Takeout...

With consumers looking for lower-cost options to replace restaurant delivery and pickup without compromising on speed or convenience, Kroger is expanding its meal solutions business. The grocery giant’s meals business...

October 04, 2023
Blackbird Labs Raises $24 Million for Restaurant Loyalty Platform

Blackbird Labs raised $24 million to scale its restaurant loyalty and membership platform. The company announced the Series A round, led by a16z crypto, with participation from new backers Amex...

October 04, 2023
Blue Apron and SmileDirectClub Prove Profits Are Ultimate Test for...

A hallmark of subscription startups has always been the lure of recurring revenues.  A recurring theme has also been that profits are elusive — and sometimes the pressures on the business...

October 04, 2023
How Netflix Shows the Importance of Getting Innovation’s Timing Right

There Are Ghosts, of Course A bit more than 25 years ago, on March 10, 1998, Netflix shipped its first DVD, “Beetlejuice,” about two ghosts played by Alec Baldwin and Geena...

October 03, 2023
Taco Bell Revives Subscription as Restaurants Seek New Loyalty Incentives

As restaurants look to drive traffic and frequency, Taco Bell is bringing back its taco subscription. The quick-service restaurant (QSR) giant announced Tuesday (Oct. 3) that it is bringing back...